1895 Holliday House
"Where the Dead Refuse to Be Silenced"
The Location
A House with History......
Built in 1895, the Holliday House was originally constructed as the private residence of Jesse Gray Holliday and Sarah Normal Davis Holliday. Like many homes of its era, the house quickly became intertwined with both family life and hardship.
Historical accounts note the heartbreaking loss of three of the Hollidays' young children — at just six months, two years, and three years of age — tragedies that left a lasting imprint on the property's story.
Today, the 1895 Holliday House stands not only as a historic structure, but as a testament to the many lives, stories, and eras that have passed through its doors.
The Story
Heading 6
130 Years of History
"Circa 1887-1895"
Jesse Gray Holliday relocates to Marion, SC from Galivants Ferry, SC. During this period, he marries Sarah “Sallie” Norman Davis, the Holliday House is constructed, and the couple welcomes their first child, Mary Holliday.
1886-1892
1892
Jesse and Sallie Holliday experience their first heartbreaking loss when their infant daughter, Jessie Holliday, dies at just six months old while the family is living in the Holliday House.
Tragedy strikes again when their two-year-old son, Joseph Frank Holliday, dies after ingesting matchsticks.
1896
1897
The family suffers another devastating loss when their three-year-old daughter, Loula Christine Holliday, passes away.
Sarah “Sallie” Norman Davis Holliday dies after a long battle with a blood infection at the age of 32, leaving Jesse Holliday widowed and marking another tragic chapter in the history of the Holliday House.
1901
1903-1916
Jesse Gray Holliday remarries Bessie Goldbold, and together they have three children during this period.
Jesse Gray Holliday sells the home to Alex and Eva Jenkins, marking the end of the Holliday family’s ownership of the house after more than two decades.
1916
1886-1916
It is rumored that there were alleged hangings, quartering, and other violent acts associated with the property and the remains were buried on the property; however, none can be historically verified.
Several tragedies occurred during this period. Alex Jenkins was killed after being struck by a train, and Eva Jenkins suffered from tuberculosis for several years before selling the property in 1940. Stories from the area also claim that servants, field hands, and others were murdered and buried in unmarked graves on the property, though these accounts remain unverified.
1916-1940
1940-1949
After years of suffering from tuberculosis, Eva Jenkins sells the property in 1940. Ownership records during the following years are unclear, with possible owners including individuals with the surnames Bryant, Monroe, and McIntyre.
P.B. Smith and Bill Smith purchase the home and convert it into Smith Bros. Funeral Home. During this period, several tragedies reportedly occur, including P.B. Smith suffering a fatal heart attack in the home, a suicide, and a mysterious fire.
1949-1980
1980-2015
Donald and Daniel Collins purchase the property and continue operating it as Smith-Collins Funeral Home until the building is ultimately abandoned in 2015.
After the closure of Smith-Collins Funeral Home, the property sat abandoned and fell into severe neglect. The building was frequently entered by squatters, vandals, and people attempting to ghost hunt or hold parties.
2015-2023
2023 to Present
On the verge of being demolished, the property was purchased by Jennifer VanBoskerck and her son, Zackery VanBoskerck, beginning efforts to restore and preserve the historic home.
WHAT WE OFFER
The Holliday House Experience
Private Paranormal Investigation
12-Hour)
Private Paranormal Investigation
(6-Hour)
Ghost Tour
History Tour
Guided Paranormal Investigations
The Story
130 Years of History
"Circa 1887-1895"
Jesse Gray Holliday relocates to Marion, SC from Galivants Ferry, SC. During this period, he marries Sarah “Sallie” Norman Davis, the Holliday House is constructed, and the couple welcomes their first child, Mary Holliday.
1886-1892
1892
Jesse and Sallie Holliday experience their first heartbreaking loss when their infant daughter, Jessie Holliday, dies at just six months old while the family is living in the Holliday House.
Tragedy strikes again when their two-year-old son, Joseph Frank Holliday, dies after ingesting matchsticks.
1896
1897
The family suffers another devastating loss when their three-year-old daughter, Loula Christine Holliday, passes away.
Sarah “Sallie” Norman Davis Holliday dies after a long battle with a blood infection at the age of 32, leaving Jesse Holliday widowed and marking another tragic chapter in the history of the Holliday House.
1901
1903-1916
Jesse Gray Holliday remarries Bessie Goldbold, and together they have three children during this period.
Jesse Gray Holliday sells the home to Alex and Eva Jenkins, marking the end of the Holliday family’s ownership of the house after more than two decades.
1916
1886-1916
It is rumored that there were alleged hangings, quartering, and other violent acts associated with the property and the remains were buried on the property; however, none can be historically verified.
Several tragedies occurred during this period. Alex Jenkins was killed after being struck by a train, and Eva Jenkins suffered from tuberculosis for several years before selling the property in 1940. Stories from the area also claim that servants, field hands, and others were murdered and buried in unmarked graves on the property, though these accounts remain unverified.
1916-1940
1940-1949
After years of suffering from tuberculosis, Eva Jenkins sells the property in 1940. Ownership records during the following years are unclear, with possible owners including individuals with the surnames Bryant, Monroe, and McIntyre.
P.B. Smith and Bill Smith purchase the home and convert it into Smith Bros. Funeral Home. During this period, several tragedies reportedly occur, including P.B. Smith suffering a fatal heart attack in the home, a suicide, and a mysterious fire.
1949-1980
1980-2015
Donald and Daniel Collins purchase the property and continue operating it as Smith-Collins Funeral Home until the building is ultimately abandoned in 2015.
After the closure of Smith-Collins Funeral Home, the property sat abandoned and fell into severe neglect. The building was frequently entered by squatters, vandals, and people attempting to ghost hunt or hold parties.
2015-2023
2023 to Present
On the verge of being demolished, the property was purchased by Jennifer VanBoskerck and her son, Zackery VanBoskerck, beginning efforts to restore and preserve the historic home.
WHAT WE OFFER
The Holliday House Experience
Private Paranormal Investigation
The Story
130 Years of History
"Circa 1887-1895"
Jesse Gray Holliday relocates to Marion, SC from Galivants Ferry, SC. During this period, he marries Sarah “Sallie” Norman Davis, the Holliday House is constructed, and the couple welcomes their first child, Mary Holliday.
1886-1892
1892
Jesse and Sallie Holliday experience their first heartbreaking loss when their infant daughter, Jessie Holliday, dies at just six months old while the family is living in the Holliday House.
Tragedy strikes again when their two-year-old son, Joseph Frank Holliday, dies after ingesting matchsticks.
1896
1897
The family suffers another devastating loss when their three-year-old daughter, Loula Christine Holliday, passes away.
Sarah “Sallie” Norman Davis Holliday dies after a long battle with a blood infection at the age of 32, leaving Jesse Holliday widowed and marking another tragic chapter in the history of the Holliday House.
1901
1903-1916
Jesse Gray Holliday remarries Bessie Goldbold, and together they have three children during this period.
Jesse Gray Holliday sells the home to Alex and Eva Jenkins, marking the end of the Holliday family’s ownership of the house after more than two decades.
1916
1886-1916
It is rumored that there were alleged hangings, quartering, and other violent acts associated with the property and the remains were buried on the property; however, none can be historically verified.
Several tragedies occurred during this period. Alex Jenkins was killed after being struck by a train, and Eva Jenkins suffered from tuberculosis for several years before selling the property in 1940. Stories from the area also claim that servants, field hands, and others were murdered and buried in unmarked graves on the property, though these accounts remain unverified.
1916-1940
1940-1949
After years of suffering from tuberculosis, Eva Jenkins sells the property in 1940. Ownership records during the following years are unclear, with possible owners including individuals with the surnames Bryant, Monroe, and McIntyre.
P.B. Smith and Bill Smith purchase the home and convert it into Smith Bros. Funeral Home. During this period, several tragedies reportedly occur, including P.B. Smith suffering a fatal heart attack in the home, a suicide, and a mysterious fire.
1949-1980
1980-2015
Donald and Daniel Collins purchase the property and continue operating it as Smith-Collins Funeral Home until the building is ultimately abandoned in 2015.
After the closure of Smith-Collins Funeral Home, the property sat abandoned and fell into severe neglect. The building was frequently entered by squatters, vandals, and people attempting to ghost hunt or hold parties.
2015-2023
2023 to Present
On the verge of being demolished, the property was purchased by Jennifer VanBoskerck and her son, Zackery VanBoskerck, beginning efforts to restore and preserve the historic home.