. In Kent County, Delaware, an old farmhouse near the Maryland border was used as an Underground Railroad stopping point for runaway slaves seeking their freedom in the north. They would paddle up river in small canoes, head into the marshland and, at night, make their way with the help of guides into the secluded outbuilding behind the main farmhouse and close to the marsh.

In the parlor of the plantation’s main house there were two very large oil paintings. They extended almost from the top of the wall, near the ceiling, to the area where the wall met the floor.

The owner had installed special hinges behind the frames so he could hide slaves inside the special indentations he had built in the wall. However, he decided that it would be best if he keep the existence of the secret hideaways to himself and told no one else about them, including his wife.

Late one night, when the lady of the manor was away and the servants were asleep, he went out to the shed and led two families of slaves into his home. Carefully, he directed them to the special hiding places inside the walls, told them to keep quiet and not make a sound. Then he shut them behind the large paintings, where they were to wait until the next afternoon, when he would lead them to the next hideaway station on their journey.

Unfortunately, before morning the plantation owner died, and with him went the secret of the escaping slaves.

Legend says that the terrified slave families never called out, for they did not know if the persons on the other side of their hideaway would be friendly and helpful or evil and sent them back to their former masters. They waited behind the paintings, in their secret spots, until they all died. Many years later, the passages were discovered and piles of dust-covered bones rested on the floor.

The current owners are careful not to tell the story to too many people. But, they swear that the tormented spirits still roam the house with abandon, seeking to take revenge on the man and his family who left them there to die.