HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
17th-Century Manor Where Franklin Is Said to Have Flown His Kite
Bensalem, PA
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Check with Bensalem Township Historical Society for current admission details.
Access
Limited Access
Historic grounds, some uneven surfaces
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1683 · National Register of Historic Places · Colonial Pennsylvania · Benjamin Franklin Connection · William Penn Land Grant
Lawrence Growdon and his son Joseph purchased roughly 5,000 acres from William Penn in October 1681 — among the earliest land grants in the new Pennsylvania colony. Joseph settled the property in 1683, constructing the family seat that would become known as Growden Mansion, or Trevose Manor. The Georgian-influenced structure was expanded by later generations and reflects more than three centuries of continuous use.
The mansion passed through several prominent families. Joseph Galloway, a significant figure in colonial Pennsylvania politics, acquired the property in the mid-eighteenth century. Benjamin Franklin visited frequently to see Galloway, traveling the 25 miles from Philadelphia on horseback or by carriage. Franklin's son William was close friends with Galloway, deepening the family connection to the estate.
A local tradition holds that Franklin conducted his famous kite-and-key lightning experiment on the grounds of Growden Mansion. Historians generally place the experiment closer to Franklin's Philadelphia home, but the Bensalem connection is supported by the physical presence of an outbuilding called The Vault — a small stone structure that once stored early county deeds, local records, and papers of Franklin's own hand. Bullet holes remain visible in the shutters of The Vault, which the Historical Society attributes to Revolutionary War-era military activity in the area.
The mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 1976. The Historical Society of Bensalem Township now operates the property as a museum, preserving both the architecture and the archival materials associated with the Growdon family and their famous guests.
Sources
The paranormal reputation of Growden Mansion is inseparable from its most famous historical connection. According to accounts reported by local visitors and documented by a Bensalem Patch article, an apparition resembling Benjamin Franklin has been observed on the grounds during storms — the figure appearing to fly a kite into the charged sky.
The Historical Society's own treasurer acknowledged she was largely unaware of the ghost stories until they surfaced in local coverage. Her explanation for the battle sounds reported by some visitors was grounded: she pointed to the bullet holes still visible in the shutters of The Vault, suggesting that Revolutionary War-era gunfire left a physical record on the building, and that the stories of audible conflict may have grown from that documented reality.
The Franklin apparition legend follows a pattern common to sites with strong historical associations — the dominant historical figure becomes the focal point of the folklore, their presence seemingly too significant to remain confined to the past. Whether the figure witnesses describe is genuine or an artifact of expectation shaped by the site's reputation is a question the Historical Society leaves unanswered.
Notable Entities
Tour the late 17th-century Growden Mansion, operated by the Historical Society of Bensalem Township. The property includes 'The Vault,' an outbuilding that once housed deeds, county records, and papers of Benjamin Franklin. Contact the historical society to confirm current hours and access.
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