King House is a historic building on 4627 Ocean St, Mayport, Florida, believed by some to be haunted by the spirit of a sailor.[1]
It is not known when the original building was constructed.[2] The first record of the building is from April 25, 1881, when it was destroyed by a fire.[2] The records note that before its destruction it was used as a boarding house for sailors and that the land had previously been used as a Spanish graveyard.[2]
The building was reconstructed by William Joseph King in 1907 and was occupied by his son until his death in 1977.[3] During this time, due to reports of hauntings, the house was investigated by researchers from the Rhine Institute of Duke University and several other paranormal research groups.[3][4][5] A rocking chair was purported to move on its own accord.[5][6] It had been reported that an aunt of William King had been pitchforked to death on the same chair by a jealous sailor ex-boyfriend.[5] The house was also used as the local Catholic church in the 1940s and mass was held there every week.[3] Congregants reported hearing high-heels moving about in the attic when no-one was there.[3]
Other supposed ghosts who occupy the building include a 'Little Butler' who is said to open doors for visitors and guide them into the living room.[5] There have also been sightings of a maid in the kitchen who acts aggressively towards those using 'her' space.[5] A bride who died in a car crash outside the house on her wedding day is also rumored to haunt the building.[7]
The book Jetty Man by Bill Reynolds was released about the hauntings and house in 1999.[4]
The house is currently used as a centre of operations for the Mayport Cats Program, which assists feral cats.[1]