The Tragedy of Jennie Wade

The modest brick house on Baltimore Street sits quietly in the heart of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Sunlight warms its walls during the day. Tourists walk past on their way to the battlefield monuments and Civil War museums. The house looks unassuming, almost ordinary.

But step inside and you feel it immediately. The weight of the past pressing down. The sense that time stopped here on a July morning in 1863 and never fully started again.

The home marks the site of the only civilian death during the Battle of Gettysburg. Its history is closely tied to the chaos and sacrifice of the Civil War.

Mary Virginia Wade (May 21, 1843 – July 3, 1863), also known as Jennie Wade or Ginnie Wade, was a resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Battle of Gettysburg. At the age of 20, she was the only direct civilian casualty of the battle, when she was killed by a stray bullet on July 3, 1863.

The house where she was killed is now a popular tourist attraction and museum called the “Jennie Wade House”.

But the Jennie Wade House is more than a museum. According to countless witnesses over more than a century, it’s a place where the dead still walk. Where a young woman continues her unfinished task. Where the past reaches out for the living.

Many visitors and staff have reported paranormal activity at the property.

This is the story of a house frozen in one terrible moment. Of innocence destroyed. And of a spirit that has never left.

The Life of Jennie Wade

Jennie Wade was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and lived with her mother, Mary, three brothers, and two sisters.

Jennie’s father, James, wasn’t in the picture very often; a tailor by trade, James frequently had battles with the law, to the point that he was admitted into a mental institution over his erratic and troubling behavior.

With James away, the Wades had to find another way to make ends meet. Jennie and her mother took over the responsibility of the finances and worked out of their home as seamstresses, tailoring clothes for their surrounding community.

To further assist in providing income, the Wades cared for a local family’s young disabled son named Isaac.

By all accounts, Wade was a kind, charitable and virtuous person. She came from a large family and loved reading, baking bread, and stitching socks and scarves for the struggling members of the Gettysburg community.

At just 20 years old, Jennie was on the cusp of adult life. She may have been engaged to Johnston Hastings “Jack” Skelly, a corporal in the 87th Pennsylvania, who had been wounded two weeks earlier in the Battle of Winchester.

Jennie was said to be betrothed to Corporal Johnston “Jack” Skelly, a childhood friend turned romantic interest.

When the Civil War came to Gettysburg, Jennie did what countless women of her era did. She helped. She served. She contributed the only way civilian women could.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, a pivotal and brutal clash between Union and Confederate forces, Jennie moved to her sister Georgia’s home to help care for Georgia’s new baby and assist Union soldiers with food and water.

Georgia had married her sweetheart in 1862, and on June 26, 1863, she gave birth to her first child while her husband was on a faraway battlefield. Jennie and their mother moved into Georgia’s house, a two-story brick house at 548 Baltimore Street, to look after Georgia and her newborn son.

Although she could’ve avoided and ignored the constant door knocking from Union soldiers for food and water, she instead gave them what she could in fresh baked bread and pails of water.

She was brave. She was kind. She was doing her duty as she understood it.

She had no way of knowing that her simple act of baking bread for hungry soldiers would be her last.

The Day Everything Changed

The Battle Comes to Baltimore Street

On July 1, the first shots of the Battle of Gettysburg rang out just down the block from where the Wade family hid. Over 160,000 soldiers were trying to take the other side down and the Wade home sat in the middle.

Within hours, the side of Georgia’s home was riddled with bullet holes. While Georgia was resting in her bed, a bullet flew through the window and struck her bedpost. An artillery shell crashed through the roof into the home but thankfully never exploded.

Jennie, Georgia and Susan were warned to leave because of their precarious situation. While Susan left, both the sisters baked bread and gave out water to passing Union troops, perhaps thinking about their own loved ones, far away and also probably fighting the confederate soldiers on some distant battlefield.

The house was caught in no man’s land. Confederate forces to the north. Union troops to the south. Bullets flying constantly. The Wade family huddled inside, praying, waiting, hoping the battle would end soon.

The Wade family knew they were in danger, but there was nowhere else they could go. So, they tried to put their attention elsewhere.

Jennie kept baking. It gave her something to do. It helped the soldiers. It was all she could contribute to the madness unfolding outside.

The Fatal Shot

The morning of July 3rd 1863, Jennie and her mother were making bread to bring to Union Soldiers. While in the kitchen, Confederate soldiers began firing on the North side of the house, which was hit by over 150 bullets.

Then, at approximately 8:30 in the morning, it happened.

One such bullet, a Minié ball, passed through two doors and struck Jennie in the shoulder, penetrating her heart and finally coming to rest in her corset, ending her life at approximately 8:30AM.

Wade’s mother heard her fall to the floor and went to tell her sister Georgia in the other room that her sister had been shot dead; two Union soldiers came from upstairs when they heard the screams of the women.

A life ended in an instant. One moment, kneading dough. The next, gone.

While it is uncertain which side fired the fatal shot, some authors have attributed it to an unknown Confederate sharpshooter.

When soldiers came to take her body, her mother insisted in having Jennie put in the cellar, until it was safe to move her.

At the time of her death, a photo of her beloved, Jack, was found in her dress pocket.

Jack Skelly, her fiancé, died from his injuries on July 12, 1863, unaware that Wade had died days earlier.

Jennie never learned of his injury or death.

Two young people in love, torn apart by war. Neither knowing the other’s fate. It’s a tragedy that echoes through American history.

And according to many, it echoes still through the rooms of the house where Jennie died.

Aftermath and the Mark on History

They temporarily buried Wade’s body in the back yard of the McClellan house, in a coffin originally intended for the Confederate General William Barksdale.

After the battle ended, Jennie’s story began to spread.

The announcement of Jennie’s untimely death made waves at the time. Unfortunately, everything that happened during the war was very rough and ready. For example, the newspaper reporter who wrote about her death misheard her nickname of “Ginnie” (short for Virginia) and wrote her name as “Jennie.” This is why she’s now remembered as “Jennie” Wade.

In November 1865, Wade’s remains were reburied in the Evergreen Cemetery near Jack Skelly. A monument to her, designed by Gettysburg resident Anna M. Miller, was erected in 1900 that includes an American flag that flies around the clock.

The house itself became a landmark.

Authentically furnished from cellar to attic, the Jennie Wade House is a shrine to Jennie and to life during the American Civil War.

Artifacts from that fatal day in 1863 are on display as well, including the artillery shell that punctured the roof of the house and a floorboard with Jennie’s blood still on it.

The bullet holes remain. Over 150 of them pockmarking the walls. The two doors the fatal bullet passed through are preserved, the holes testament to the randomness of death in war.

Here, you’ll find that the same floors are still intact and still covered in blood from when Jennie fell to the floor after being shot.

The house remembers. Every beam, every board, every brick holds the memory of that terrible morning.

And many believe Jennie remembers too.

The Hauntings of the Jennie Wade House

Jennie Wade’s Restless Spirit

Staff and visitors have seen Jennie walking about the house, most frequently in the kitchen.

Some have captured intriguing photographs showing unexplained orbs or mists, while others have recorded electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) of whispered voices and phantom footsteps.

Witnesses describe seeing a young woman in 1860s dress standing near the stairs or in the kitchen where she died. She appears solid, real, wearing a dark dress and white apron typical of the period.

Then she’s gone. Vanished between one blink and the next.

Many witnesses have claimed over the years that they have seen her walking through the Wade home, while others have spotted her wandering the surrounding countryside.

Unlike many hauntings where the spirit seems angry or malevolent, Jennie’s presence is described differently.

Visitors report feeling comforted by her. Soft touches on the shoulder. Gentle whispers that seem to offer reassurance. Warm drafts in cold rooms, as if she’s trying to provide comfort the way she did in life.

Psychic mediums and sensitive individuals have also reported experiencing intense emotions, sudden temperature drops, and a feeling of being watched while inside the house.

Many say she is waiting for him to come home. Waiting for Jack Skelly, her fiancé, who never knew she died. Perhaps she’s still hoping he’ll walk through the door. That they’ll finally be reunited.

People who die in the middle of an important task or work goal, often try to continue what they were doing before they died unexpectedly. The Spirit of Jennie Wade: Jennie was killed while in the middle of an urgent mission; Making bread for hungry soldiers. She didn’t get to finish the batch she was working on.

Unfinished bread. Unanswered love. A life cut short at just 20 years old.

No wonder she lingers.

The Soldier in the Cellar

Jennie isn’t the only presence in the house.

Some visitors have even seen the apparition of a young boy, his form flickering in and out of view.

But more commonly reported is a male figure, believed to be a Union soldier.

Some visitors have reported seeing the ghost of a Civil War soldier downstairs, pacing the floor or sitting at the foot of one of the beds.

The cellar is where this soldier is most often encountered. A shadowy male figure standing guard. The sound of heavy boots on wooden steps. The distinct click and rustle of a rifle being handled.

Soldiers stayed with the body until she could be buried in a temporary burial spot.

Perhaps one of those soldiers never left. Perhaps he’s still standing watch over Jennie, protecting her in death as he couldn’t in life.

Visitors to the cellar describe an overwhelming sense of presence. Of being watched. Of not being alone even when the room is clearly empty.

Some report feeling an intense, almost oppressive masculine energy. Not threatening, but watchful. Protective, even.

Poltergeist-like Activity

Beyond apparitions, the Jennie Wade House is known for objects that move on their own.

There’s also video evidence of orbs zooming through walls and congregating around the blood mark where Wade fell in the kitchen.

Dough bowls shift position. Kitchen utensils found in different places from where staff left them. Doors opening and closing without explanation.

Children on tours often see things adults don’t.

They point at empty spaces and ask who the boy is. They wave at figures no one else can see. They describe a young boy in old-fashioned clothing running through walls and playing hide-and-seek.

Guests have reported hearing the sounds of children laughing or running up the stairs.

Are these the spirits of children who lived in the house before the battle? Or residual energy from happier times, replaying like a recording?

The Door Jennie Never Walked Through

The two doors the fatal bullet passed through hold particular significance.

Just 20 years old at the time of the Battle, Jennie was kneading dough in the kitchen when a rifle bullet pierced two doors and claimed her life.

These doors, preserved with their bullet holes intact, are focal points for paranormal activity.

Visitors report sudden cold spots near the doors. The temperature drops 20 degrees in seconds, making your breath visible even in summer.

Unexplained knocking comes from the doors when no one is near them. Three knocks. Always three. Deliberate and impossible to ignore.

Some guests claim the door handle jiggles by itself. Turning slowly, as if someone on the other side is trying to enter. But when you open the door, nothing is there.

Just cold air rushing past. And sometimes, the faint scent of fresh-baked bread.

Paranormal Investigations & Famous Encounters

The Jennie Wade House has attracted intense scrutiny from paranormal investigators.

“Ghost Adventures” Zak Bagans/Travel Channel, Jason Hawes “Ghost Hunters/Sci-Fi have both investigated the property.

In October 2008, the Jennie Wade House was featured on television’s Most Haunted and was singled out by the lead investigator as the MOST HAUNTED IN GETTYSBURG.

So often do reports come forward that the television series Ghost Adventures, and Ghost Lab have both featured the Wade residence on their respective shows.

The evidence collected is compelling.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the tour is when actual video evidence is given, proving the existence of a supernatural entity at work in the Wade home. If that wasn’t compelling enough, EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) recordings are played, providing even more proof of the hauntings that take place within.

Some have captured intriguing photographs showing unexplained orbs or mists, while others have recorded electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) of whispered voices and phantom footsteps.

One particularly haunting EVP was captured during the Ghost Adventures investigation. When the “Ghost Adventures” crew was here, they asked if Jennie Wade had a message, and the EVP that was recorded said, “Pregnant.” So….it is believed that Jennie was pregnant when she was shot and killed…so sad!!!

If true, this adds another layer of tragedy to Jennie’s death. Not just a young woman killed, but a mother-to-be and her unborn child.

Such claims that accompany those of the popular television documentaries are that of orbs floating, people getting touched, a full apparition of a boy, and countless EVP’s.

Equipment batteries drain instantly in certain areas of the house, despite being fully charged moments before. EMF meters spike without explanation. Cold zones so intense that thermal imaging cameras capture dramatic temperature differences.

Upon review directly after our departure, I did happen to capture a very cold figure crouching in the upstairs bedrooms by the wall opening.

The evidence continues to accumulate. Year after year. Investigation after investigation.

Touring the Jennie Wade House Today

What the Museum Offers

The Jennie Wade House features guides in period attire who are well-versed in the history of the home. For years, they’ve enthralled visitors with passionate retellings of the tragedy that befell young Jennie and her family.

This historic house looks very much like it did back in 1863. “Authentically furnished from cellar to attic, The Jennie Wade House Museum is not only a shrine to a heroic martyr but has become a museum of life and living during the American Civil War.

Also on display are several photographs that have been taken from inside the home. Some of them feature objects that will make you question reality, seemingly capturing the spirit of Jennie Wade.

The guides share not just historical facts but their own experiences. Many have worked at the house for years and have their own encounters to share.

Joe Svehla, manager of the Jennie Wade Museum tells his tale of a haunting.

The house isn’t sanitized or modernized. It feels authentic. The blood stain on the floor where Jennie fell. The bullet holes in walls and doors. The artillery shell that never exploded, still displayed where it crashed through the ceiling.

History feels immediate here. Real. Raw.

The Cellar — The Most Haunted Room

Do you have the courage to confront the vengeful spirits of the Orphanage, or the mischievous entities that lurk in the cellar of the Jennie Wade House?

Many tours end in the cellar for good reason. This is where Jennie’s body was kept after she died, soldiers standing watch until it was safe to move her.

This is also where the most intense paranormal activity is reported.

Visitors feel immediately uneasy upon descending the stairs. The atmosphere grows heavy, oppressive. The sense of being watched intensifies.

Some people can’t stay in the cellar. They feel physically pushed toward the stairs. Overwhelming anxiety forces them to leave.

Others report being touched. Invisible hands on their shoulders. Tugs on their clothing. The sensation of fingers running through their hair.

Some guests have even left with unexplainable scratches or icy chills.

Temperature drops are extreme in the cellar. Even in summer, your breath becomes visible. The cold seeps into your bones, a chill that has nothing to do with lack of heating.

EMF equipment goes haywire. Spirit boxes capture words that shouldn’t be there. Cameras malfunction. Batteries die.

The cellar is where the veil feels thinnest. Where the past and present blur together.

Tips for Visitors

Guided tours are available daily and special themed tours are available seasonally.

Best time for atmosphere: Late afternoon and evening tours offer the most atmospheric experience. As shadows lengthen and daylight fades, the house takes on a different character.

What to bring: If you decide to visit the Jennie Wade House, make sure that you bring a camera. You never know what might later show up in your photographs.

Cameras are essential. Many visitors capture anomalies they didn’t see with the naked eye. Orbs. Mists. Shadows. Sometimes even faces in windows.

Focus particularly on doorways and windows. These seem to be where apparitions most frequently appear.

Ghost tours: You can purchase Gettysburg ghost tour tickets directly through Civil War Ghosts online. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak tourism seasons.

Exclusive Access to the most haunted areas of the Jennie Wade House and Gettysburg Orphanage. Ghost Hunting Vigils. Structured Vigils led by experienced investigators. Use of Paranormal Equipment, including EMF meters, trigger objects, recording devices and more.

Practical considerations:

• This is a historic home with multiple sets of stairs. The home is NOT handicap or stroller accessible.
• Book in advance, especially during October
• Tours typically last 30-45 minutes
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Expect stairs and uneven floors
• Children are welcome, though some of the content is graphic
• Be respectful, this is where a real person died

What to expect emotionally:

Many visitors report feeling sad or emotional during their visit. Some cry without understanding why. Others feel overwhelming grief or anxiety.

This is normal. The house holds trauma. Even skeptics report being affected by the atmosphere.

If you feel overwhelmed, step outside for fresh air. The staff understands and won’t judge you for needing a break.

Why the Jennie Wade House Still Echoes with Spirit

Jennie Wade’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact that war has on civilian lives. Her tragic death symbolizes the innocent casualties that often accompany armed conflicts.

Why does this house remain so actively haunted?

Perhaps because Jennie’s death was so sudden, so random, so unfair. One moment alive and hopeful. The next, gone. No time to say goodbye. No chance to tell Jack she loved him one last time.

Unfinished business concerning loved ones has caused entities to hang onto this world. She is perhaps still waiting to hear the fate of her beloved, Jack, who she knew was fighting in a battle.

Perhaps because extreme trauma imprints itself on a location. The terror of that moment, the screams, the chaos, the blood, all soaking into the walls and floors.

Perhaps because Jennie was so devoted to helping others that she can’t stop, even in death. She continues her work, offering comfort to visitors, baking phantom bread for soldiers who died 160 years ago.

Chilling happiness descends over visitors to the Wade house, as they become possessed by the happy, optimistic spirit of its mistress, but then remember the terrible fate that befell her.

Or perhaps it’s all of these things. A perfect storm of unfinished business, sudden trauma, and a spirit too kind to move on when others might need her.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a horrific part of the American Civil War that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. Astonishingly, Jennie Wade remains the only civilian to die during the fighting that took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Closing Scene: The House That Still Waits

Evening settles over Baltimore Street. The last tour group has departed. The Jennie Wade House stands quiet in the gathering darkness.

Inside, the museum is locked and empty. Or should be.

A soft knocking echoes from the kitchen. Three times, deliberate and clear. The bullet-scarred door vibrates slightly with each knock.

Then silence.

In the kitchen, the scent of fresh bread drifts through the air. Yeast and warmth and something wholesome. The smell of home. The smell of caring for others.

But no bread bakes here anymore. The ovens are cold. The house is empty.

Or is it?

A figure steps briefly into the lamplight from the street. A young woman in a dark dress and white apron. She stands near the spot where she fell that terrible morning.

She looks toward the door. Waiting. Always waiting.

For a soldier who will never return. For a love that was cut short. For the life she never got to live.

The figure fades. The scent dissipates. The knocking stops.

But tomorrow, it will happen again. And the day after. And every day for as long as this house stands.

Because in the Jennie Wade House, July 3, 1863, never truly ends.

In the Jennie Wade House, history breathes, and the past still reaches out for the living.