HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
An 1857 limestone farmstead that hosted ghost-hunt fundraisers — investigators recorded EVPs and reported a rocking chair moving without cause.
2149 St Lawrence Ave, Beloit, WI 53511
Research updated September 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Ghost-hunt fundraisers were ticketed events listed on HauntedWisconsin.com. The Beloit Historical Society sold the farmstead in 2024, so confirm current access and any fees before visiting.
Access
Limited Access
Two-story limestone farmstead with stairs; some original 19th-century flooring
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1857 · 1857 limestone farmstead construction · 1918 influenza pandemic community history · Beloit Historical Society museum site · Ghost-hunt fundraiser programming
The Hanchett-Bartlett Homestead at 2149 St. Lawrence Avenue is one of the oldest intact limestone farmsteads in Rock County, built in 1857. The property passed through several family hands before the Bartlett family became its primary occupants, using it as a working agricultural operation well into the 20th century.
The homestead's connection to the 1918 influenza pandemic is documented in local sources: medical care for the surrounding immigrant and working-class communities was administered from or near the property during the pandemic's peak years. The 1918 flu killed tens of millions worldwide and hit Beloit's industrial and immigrant workforce hard.
The Beloit Historical Society acquired and restored the limestone farmhouse, operating it as a museum that documented local 19th-century farm life until the Society sold the farm site in 2024. The building's original features — wide-plank floors, low-ceilinged rooms, and a second-floor sleeping area — have been preserved. Paranormal investigation events hosted at the site have served as fundraisers for the historical society, connecting the building's dark-tourism interest to its preservation mission.
Sources
The paranormal reputation of the Hanchett-Bartlett Homestead centers on the upper floor and a specific rocking chair that investigators and staff have observed moving without anyone near it. The Beloit Daily News documented an investigation team's visit, noting audio anomalies (EVP recordings) alongside the physical phenomenon.
A female apparition is described in multiple accounts — standing near the upper-floor windows or crossing the room before vanishing. The 967 Eagle radio station's Beloit haunted-buildings feature corroborated both the rocking chair report and the female presence.
The building's history as a site of illness-era medical care and its intact 19th-century character contribute to its investigative appeal. HauntedWisconsin.com has listed it as a verified ghost-hunt venue, drawing outside investigation teams whose independent reports match earlier local accounts.
The Beloit Historical Society operated the homestead as a museum covering 19th-century Rock County farm life, the Bartlett family's history, and the site's role in the 1918 influenza era. The Society sold the farm site in 2024, so confirm whether any tours are offered before you visit.
HauntedWisconsin.com hosted ticketed overnight-style paranormal investigation events at the homestead as fundraisers for the Beloit Historical Society, which sold the farm site in 2024. Confirm whether any events are still scheduled. Past events focused on the upper floor and the area near the rocking chair reported to move on its own.
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