Hamlin House

One of the most fascinating old houses in Glendora is the Hamlin House located at 201 W. Bennett Avenue. Ghost sightings have been well documented right up to the present day. This home was bought by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1982.  

This was the “Dream House” of Mr. & Mrs. Rueben Hamlin. It was built for them and completed in 1909. 

When first approaching the Hamlin House, one of the first things that you will notice is the extensive stonework done on the fence surrounding the yard, the fireplaces, and the foundation. The material for this stonework was taken from the San Gabriel Riverbed. These features are representative of the Craftsman home construction. 

Parts of the upright posts are still visible where a grape arbor or rose arbor once stood. Before entering the house by way of the front door, you will see the evidence of the “glassed in” front which was, at the time, called a “sunroom”. The front door is solid oak on the outside and pine on the inside with wrought iron hinges individually designed for the house. 

There is an interesting legend regarding Mr. Hamlin’s ghost, which allegedly comes back and smokes in the library at night. When the library is closed at night, the next morning upon opening, the smoke can be detected in the air and cigar ashes can be found in the ash tray over the fireplace. Mr. Hamlin did smoke cigars. Also, in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the Hamlin house was referred to as being “haunted” and that an “old witch” lived there. The “old witch” no doubt refers to Mrs. Hamlin, who did get out in the yard at times and always wore black after the death of her husband. 

Helen Dye, director of the local DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), related the experience of the DAR lady who once spent the night in the den in a sleeping bag. "She was alone there, and at 1:30 a.m. she swears she felt one of her toes being pinched!"

Mrs. Dye also told the tale of how on occasion a ball of light was seen by members as it moved to the bottom of the large old staircase, where it disappeared. 

Another time, six DAR members were meeting in the parlor. Suddenly there was a loud popping noise, and a ball of flames appeared over the fireplace. It quickly dissipated, leaving no damage or even marks. 

The lady of the house, Mrs. Helen Hamlin, lived into the sixties. When she was alive, she used to spend time in the upstairs office just above the parlor. Some DAR ladies meeting in the living room have heard the distance sounds of someone moving around above them, and the opening up of filing cabinets. But when they investigated, there was never any human entity to be found. 

Shorey, Elizabeth . The Hamlin "Ghost" House The DAR State Headquarters. The Glendoran Magazine. 15 - 24.

Cochran, Ginni. Spontaneously Speaking Ghosts . The Glendoran Magazine. 64.

Elizabeth Shorey, Elizabeth . The Hamlin "Ghost" House The DAR State Headquarters . The Glendoran Magazine. 15.

Price, Ryan Lee. Past & Present Glendora. Charleston, SC. Arcadia Publishing, 2021.