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Roff Home

Roff Home paranormal

Location submitted by: sdonley on 04/12/2026 DBA Approved: Y

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300 E Sheridan St
Watseka, IL 60970
Phone: 773) 949-6650
Open to the public: Unknown

https://www.facebook.com/roffhomewa...

Lat: 40.783077
Lon: -87.7310449

PANICd#: 2270

Publication date: 04/12/2026

Roff Home: Built by Spiritualists in 1868. Site of a possession in 1878. Now restored to its former Victorian Italianate glory. Open for overnight stays, paranormal investigations, open houses, and public events.

Database Summary:

Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 1
Claims: 9
Evidence: 0
Resources: 8
Retrievals: 375
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0

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History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.


The Roff Home in Watseka, Illinois, stands as one of the most historically significant houses tied to the Spiritualist movement of the late nineteenth century. Constructed in 1868, the home was built in the Italianate style and originally belonged to Asa Roff and his family, who were active participants in Spiritualism during a time when communication with the dead fascinated much of the nation.

During this period, Watseka was a small rural community, but it became nationally known because of events connected to the Roff family. The household became a center for seances and spiritual discussions, reflecting a broader cultural movement in post-Civil War America where grief and curiosity about the afterlife led many to explore supernatural beliefs.

The home gained lasting notoriety due to its connection with the Watseka Wonder, one of the most famous alleged possession cases in American history. In 1877 and 1878, a young girl named Lurancy Vennum was said to be possessed by the spirit of Mary Roff, the deceased daughter of Asa Roff. During this time, Lurancy reportedly lived in the Roff Home and behaved as if Mary had returned from the dead.

Following the events of the Watseka Wonder, the Roff family eventually left the spotlight, and the home passed through several owners over the decades. By the twentieth century, neglect had caused the property to fall into decline, and its historic significance faded from public awareness.

In the early twenty-first century, the Roff Home was restored by new ownership, preserving its original nineteenth-century character while reintroducing it to the public. Today, it operates as a historic destination and overnight stay location, drawing visitors from across the country who are interested in both its architectural heritage and its paranormal reputation.

Added by: sdonley on 04/12/2026 DB#:903
Source(s):
Various Sources


Stories & Folklore

Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.


The Roff Home is most closely associated with the lingering presence of Mary Roff, whose spirit is believed by some to have returned during the Watseka Wonder case. Visitors and paranormal researchers often claim that her presence never truly left the house after the events of the late nineteenth century. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

One of the most commonly reported experiences involves guests sensing an unseen presence moving through the home, particularly in areas believed to have been used for seances. These sensations are often described as a sudden shift in atmosphere or the feeling of being watched, especially during quiet nighttime hours.

There are also accounts of visitors experiencing vivid dreams or visions while staying overnight, sometimes involving a young woman or fragments of another life that do not feel like their own. Some interpret these experiences as echoes of the possession story that made the house famous.

Paranormal investigators have reported unexplained sounds such as footsteps, faint voices, and movement in empty rooms. While these claims are not universally experienced, they have been repeated often enough to contribute to the home’s reputation as an active location.

Despite many investigations and personal accounts, no definitive evidence has ever confirmed the presence of Mary Roff or any other spirit. Still, the powerful historical narrative of the Watseka Wonder continues to shape the way visitors interpret their experiences inside the home.

Added by: sdonley on 04/12/2026 DB#: 1867
Source(s): Various Sources


Paranormal Claims

Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.


Claim # Added Added By Claim
5061 04/12/2026 sdonley Reports of a lingering spirit believed to be Mary Roff
5062 04/12/2026 sdonley Feelings of being watched in certain rooms Sudden cold spots and atmospheric changes
5063 04/12/2026 sdonley Unexplained footsteps heard throughout the house
5064 04/12/2026 sdonley Voices or whispering with no visible source
5065 04/12/2026 sdonley Objects appearing to move or shift slightly
5069 04/12/2026 sdonley Vivid dreams or visions tied to another identity
5066 04/12/2026 sdonley Emotional reactions such as anxiety or calm without cause
5067 04/12/2026 sdonley Unusual sensations during overnight stays
5068 04/12/2026 sdonley Apparitions rarely reported but occasionally described as a young woman

Additional Resources

This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.


Roff Home - 1868 Victorian Italianate Villa - Houses for Rent in Watseka, Illinois, United States - Airbnb
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
Apr 12, 2026 · Entire home · Step into a meticulously restored 1868 Victorian Italianate villa, where history comes alive and creativity flourishes.
Roff House, Watseka | Landmarks Illinois
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
Information about the preservation.
What’s That Building? Homes of the Watseka Wonder - WBEZ Chicago
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
About 82 miles south of Downtown Chicago sit two residences famous for their connection to a 19th-century spiritual possession tale.
THE POSSESSED THE TRUE STORY OF THE WATSEKA WONDER
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
Information about the possession and the story.
The Mysterious Possession of the Watseka Wonder - US Ghost Adventures
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
Information about the house and story.
WikiPedia Entry
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
Information about this location on WikiPedia
Mary E. Roff (1846-1865) - Find a Grave Memorial
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
Mary Roff was born in Warren County, Indiana, on 8 October,1846. When she was thirteen years old the family moved to Watseka, about 70 miles south of Chicago, Illinois. By that time Mary's health had been badly weakened by epileptic fits, which she suffered from about twice a day. In spring, 1865, in an attempt to...
Mary Lurancy Vennum Binning (1864-1952) - Find a Grave Memorial
Added: 04/12/2026 By: sdonley
Lurancy was one of seven children born to Thomas Jefferson Vennum and his wife, Lurinda Jane Smith. Lurancy married George J. Binning; one of six known children born to Stephen Binning and his wife, Ellen Elizabeth Francis. Both of his parents were born in England. Lurancy and George were wed on New Year's Day of 1882...

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