Palestine's 1878 National Historic Landmark where Andrew Bowers Jr. killed his wife Mary in 1984 before taking his own life as police arrived
301 S Magnolia St, Palestine, TX 75801
Research updated June 2026
Age
18+
Cost
$$$
Paranormal investigation events through Haunted Rooms America typically $89 per person; ticket count capped at 20 per event
Access
Limited Access
Victorian Italianate home with stairs; older flooring
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1878 · National Texas Historic Landmark · Victorian Italianate architecture · Anderson County historic preservation
The Bowers Mansion at 301 S Magnolia Street was constructed in 1878 for merchant Henry Ash and his wife. The Victorian Italianate structure — characterized by its bracket-heavy eaves, tall narrow windows, and formal symmetry — is among the better-preserved examples of late-nineteenth-century domestic architecture in Anderson County and carries designation as a National Texas Historic Landmark.
The event that defines the building's modern reputation occurred in 1984. Andrew Bowers Jr., who had served as mayor of Palestine, shot and killed his wife Mary inside the home. When law enforcement arrived, Bowers shot himself. The double death in a landmark Victorian residence drew significant local attention and anchored the building's subsequent reputation as one of the most documented haunted locations in the Palestine area.
The mansion has since been used for commercial paranormal investigation events. Haunted Rooms America, which operates guided ghost-hunt events across the United States, currently books the property for overnight sessions. A 2021 article in the Palestine Herald documented local paranormal groups' activity at the site.
Sources
Paranormal investigators who have worked the Bowers Mansion consistently document a set of overlapping phenomena: sudden drops in room temperature, voices audible on recorders when no one was speaking, and electronic equipment behaving erratically or shutting down without explanation.
The two presences tied to the 1984 murder-suicide — the woman killed and the man who took his own life — are the most frequently cited figures in investigator accounts and in the materials published by Haunted Rooms America, which has run events at the property for several years. Reports describe a female presence in the main-floor rooms and a heavier, more agitated presence associated with the upper story.
Ghost Texas conducted an on-site investigation with team members Patrick, Melvin, and Morgan that documented several anomalous findings. Their account does not describe specific captured audio or video but characterizes the building as consistently active compared to other locations they have investigated in East Texas.
Notable Entities
Haunted Rooms America runs overnight paranormal investigation events from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., limited to 20 tickets per event. Includes EMF meters, dowsing rods, voice recorders, investigator training, full building access, and refreshments.
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