The Perron House in Haunted Rhode Island

This sprawling 18th century farmhouse is located in the peaceful suburbs of Burrillville, Rhode Island. It was built in 1736 on 8.5 acres of land believed to have been the site of several battles between English invaders and indigenous Native American populations during the 1670s. Since 2019 it has been owned by paranormal investigation enthusiasts Jennifer and Cory Heinzen and was recently put back on the market in 2021 for an impressive $1.2 million dollars.

This spooky site was formerly known as the ‘Old Arnold Estate’ before it was inhabited by the Perron family in the 1970s, whose name has remained attached to the house ever since. The hauntings that led to the Perron family fleeing the property in 1980 have made the house infamous and inspired the terrifying happenings depicted in The Conjuring franchise.

The Perron family’s haunting was a Hollywood-worthy horror show. They reported the pervasive smell of rotting flesh and beds that shook them awake, always at the same time in the early hours of the morning. Eventually it seemed that a creeping, furious, spirit resented the Perron family for their presence in the house.

The spirit escalated its attacks – possessing the children and eventually stabbing Mrs Perron with what felt like a long needle. During a séance, Mrs Perron was possessed by a spirit causing her to speak in tongues, levitate in the air, and be thrown across the room. The terrified family eventually moved out of the house in 1980.

It is theorized that the troublesome spirit was the menacing presence of Bathsheba Sherman who is buried close to the Perron House. Although she died in 1887, during her lifetime she was known to have practiced witchcraft and had even been accused of sacrificing a child to Satan via a long needle to the brain.

Since 2019 the Perron House’s new owners have reported mysterious knocking, creeping footsteps, voices, doors slamming, and flashing lights. They have even encountered a cloud of smoke that hovers in the corner of rooms before dissipating into the night.