The Ghosts of Anderson's Corner
On the corner of SW 232nd Street and 157th Ave, Redland, Florida sits a two-story building encircled by a chain link fence. The openings for the windows are boarded up and it dilapidates by degrees. None would guess by its appearance now that over 100 years ago, it served the farmers in the area, not only to purchase supplies but a place to trade information.
William Anderson was born September 24, 1877. He left Indiana and arrived in Jupiter, Florida in 1898. There he worked in butchering cattle. By 1900, he moved to the Silver Palm area of South Florida, and lived with his sister Flora in a small house on Farm Life Road.
In 1902, he worked for William Krome who surveyed for the Florida East Coast Railway for a route to Key West from Miami via Cape Sable.
William Anderson was born September 24, 1877. He left Indiana and arrived in Jupiter, Florida in 1898. There he worked in butchering cattle. By 1900, he moved to the Silver Palm area of South Florida, and lived with his sister Flora in a small house on Farm Life Road.
In 1902, he worked for William Krome who surveyed for the Florida East Coast Railway for a route to Key West from Miami via Cape Sable.
Anderson's Corner c.1911
In 1904, the Florida East Coast Railroad founded Homestead as settlement for the railroad families. Gaston Drake opened the Drake Lumber Mill, which supplied all of South Florida, the Keys and Cuba until 1923, when the lumber gave out.
Anderson worked at the mill, running the commissary car at the skidder camp, which was where the cut timber was being hauled away.
In 1908, Atka (AKA Atta, Atha, Avka) Harper a widow moved to the area from Palatka, Florida with her three children, Francis W. Harper 8, John W. Harper 6 and Ann Vandora "Annie" Harper 5, as well as her mother Elizabeth Newlan.
She ran the hotel for the lumber company in Princeton. William Anderson and Atka Harper married in August 1912, and decided to go into business for themselves. They purchased five acres for $500 on what became known as Silver Palm Drive (SW 232nd Street). This was a logging road connecting the Everglades to the shipping port of Black Point in South Biscayne Bay.
Anderson worked at the mill, running the commissary car at the skidder camp, which was where the cut timber was being hauled away.
In 1908, Atka (AKA Atta, Atha, Avka) Harper a widow moved to the area from Palatka, Florida with her three children, Francis W. Harper 8, John W. Harper 6 and Ann Vandora "Annie" Harper 5, as well as her mother Elizabeth Newlan.
She ran the hotel for the lumber company in Princeton. William Anderson and Atka Harper married in August 1912, and decided to go into business for themselves. They purchased five acres for $500 on what became known as Silver Palm Drive (SW 232nd Street). This was a logging road connecting the Everglades to the shipping port of Black Point in South Biscayne Bay.
They hired a shipbuilder by the name of Mr. Rawls to build the structure using sturdy Dade County Pine. He designed the interior of the upper story like an inverted ship's hull. They named it William Anderson General Merchandise Store.
A small grocery store operated on the first level and the family lived on the second floor. The east side of the store sold staples such as beans, flour, sugar, lard and bacon; the west side had sundries such as men's work clothes and yard goods. Horse and cattle feed, fertilizer and gardening needs were contained in a lean-to on the west side.
Community meetings were held at the school house across from the store. During those years William Anderson became known as "Uncle Will" to those who lived in the area. Atka bore William 5 children in addition to the three she already had: Francis, William, Elizabeth, Mabel and Jessie.
A small grocery store operated on the first level and the family lived on the second floor. The east side of the store sold staples such as beans, flour, sugar, lard and bacon; the west side had sundries such as men's work clothes and yard goods. Horse and cattle feed, fertilizer and gardening needs were contained in a lean-to on the west side.
Community meetings were held at the school house across from the store. During those years William Anderson became known as "Uncle Will" to those who lived in the area. Atka bore William 5 children in addition to the three she already had: Francis, William, Elizabeth, Mabel and Jessie.
In 1919, Annie Harper was attending the university in Gainesville, and those were tumultuous years for her. By 1920, only Annie the youngest of Atka’s three Harper children still lived in the household. The rest of the household was made up of the five Anderson children, Atka’s mother Elizabeth, and William’s 80-year-old father. The household was completed by a 25 year old servant named Samuel Speller.
In October of 1920, a newspaper announced Annie's marriage to R. F. Saulers who was a depot agent. Nothing more is mentioned of this marriage, and perhaps this was due to a possible annulment of the marriage since she was only 16 or 17 years old.
In 1922, Annie who is now 18 years old, married Ansley Grantham a sergeant in the armed forces who served in France during WWI. However the marriage was short-lived and they divorced in 1925. In 1926, a marriage license was issued for Annie Grantham and William James Wallace, however the marriage never took place. She returned to live with her mother and stepfather.
In 1930, Atka’s mother Elizabeth, and William’s father James, both took falls that resulted in their deaths within a 24 hour period.
Atka filed for divorce from William on April 28, 1936, after 24 years of marriage. She moved to a different building on the Anderson property. Another part of the building was divided into apartments. It was around this time that the store stopped operating.
Rumors began circulating that William left his wife for his stepdaughter, Annie.
In 1940, Annie kept house for her step-father, her brothers James and William, and her 15-year-old son George Grantham. She died in September 1946. Gossip swirled the Annie had "accidentally" overdosed on sleeping pills and was found outside the back steps of the Andersons Corner store. Her death was thought due to a fall from the second story balcony. Annie is buried in the Anderson Family Plot at Palms Woodlawn Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
In October of 1920, a newspaper announced Annie's marriage to R. F. Saulers who was a depot agent. Nothing more is mentioned of this marriage, and perhaps this was due to a possible annulment of the marriage since she was only 16 or 17 years old.
In 1922, Annie who is now 18 years old, married Ansley Grantham a sergeant in the armed forces who served in France during WWI. However the marriage was short-lived and they divorced in 1925. In 1926, a marriage license was issued for Annie Grantham and William James Wallace, however the marriage never took place. She returned to live with her mother and stepfather.
In 1930, Atka’s mother Elizabeth, and William’s father James, both took falls that resulted in their deaths within a 24 hour period.
Atka filed for divorce from William on April 28, 1936, after 24 years of marriage. She moved to a different building on the Anderson property. Another part of the building was divided into apartments. It was around this time that the store stopped operating.
Rumors began circulating that William left his wife for his stepdaughter, Annie.
In 1940, Annie kept house for her step-father, her brothers James and William, and her 15-year-old son George Grantham. She died in September 1946. Gossip swirled the Annie had "accidentally" overdosed on sleeping pills and was found outside the back steps of the Andersons Corner store. Her death was thought due to a fall from the second story balcony. Annie is buried in the Anderson Family Plot at Palms Woodlawn Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
In 1938, J. Edgar Hoover used Anderson's Corner as his headquarters, while searching for a criminal who kidnapped a 5-year-old child named James “Skeegie” Cash from his home. This was the only crime he personally investigated.
Franklin Pierce McCall, 21, a tomato picker and one time boarder with the Cash family confessed to the kidnapping for ransom, and murder of the child. He was executed in Florida’s electric chair in Raiford, Florida in February, 1939.
In 1941, Atka and Will's son James Anderson, 23, was killed in an automobile accident along with his friend Vernon Durrance. He was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Palms Woodlawn Cemetery.
William Anderson remained at Anderson's Corner until he died on February 17, 1961, at age 83. Atka Anderson lived in the area until her death in August 1963.
Anderson's Corner underwent a series of transformation, both during and after William Anderson's lifetime, including portions of the building used as a flophouse for migrant workers.
In 1970, Anderson's Corner was sold to Mr. and Mrs. James Cothron by Mabel Anderson, and the building was once again converted into an apartment complex. The Cothrons rented two apartments in the old house for $15 per week, and they leased the newer grocery store and gas station next door.
In February 1975, it was condemned by the county’s housing inspectors.
Franklin Pierce McCall, 21, a tomato picker and one time boarder with the Cash family confessed to the kidnapping for ransom, and murder of the child. He was executed in Florida’s electric chair in Raiford, Florida in February, 1939.
In 1941, Atka and Will's son James Anderson, 23, was killed in an automobile accident along with his friend Vernon Durrance. He was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Palms Woodlawn Cemetery.
William Anderson remained at Anderson's Corner until he died on February 17, 1961, at age 83. Atka Anderson lived in the area until her death in August 1963.
Anderson's Corner underwent a series of transformation, both during and after William Anderson's lifetime, including portions of the building used as a flophouse for migrant workers.
In 1970, Anderson's Corner was sold to Mr. and Mrs. James Cothron by Mabel Anderson, and the building was once again converted into an apartment complex. The Cothrons rented two apartments in the old house for $15 per week, and they leased the newer grocery store and gas station next door.
In February 1975, it was condemned by the county’s housing inspectors.
Seven months later, the movie Jonah was filmed on location at Anderson’s Corner. It was a film produced by the First Baptist Church of Florida City.
In 1977, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, which held off the wrecking ball and the hope was to obtain funds to restore the structure.
In 1980, it was sold to a group of investors, and it was finally restored in 1985, and opened as an eatery by Tom Henry, however by 1986, the bank was foreclosing on it.
In 1988, it was known as the Inn at Anderson’s Corner, and operated by restaurateur Dick Hissing. He managed it on a lease from the bank.
Tropical fruit farmer, Joan Green and chef Mario Martinez bought Anderson's Corner and opened it in December 1991, renaming it to the Harvest House. Nine months later, Anderson's Corner was severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew, and the restaurant went out of business. The property was sold after Green was unable to meet the historical criteria while refurbishing the house.
When did it develop its reputation as a haunted house is not known. Was it during the 1970s, or even earlier before that? Was there any truth to Annie's untimely demise, or James Anderson's untimely demise when he was only 23 years old?
According to Alan Long in his book, Stories from the Haunted South detailed the following:
In 1977, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, which held off the wrecking ball and the hope was to obtain funds to restore the structure.
In 1980, it was sold to a group of investors, and it was finally restored in 1985, and opened as an eatery by Tom Henry, however by 1986, the bank was foreclosing on it.
In 1988, it was known as the Inn at Anderson’s Corner, and operated by restaurateur Dick Hissing. He managed it on a lease from the bank.
Tropical fruit farmer, Joan Green and chef Mario Martinez bought Anderson's Corner and opened it in December 1991, renaming it to the Harvest House. Nine months later, Anderson's Corner was severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew, and the restaurant went out of business. The property was sold after Green was unable to meet the historical criteria while refurbishing the house.
When did it develop its reputation as a haunted house is not known. Was it during the 1970s, or even earlier before that? Was there any truth to Annie's untimely demise, or James Anderson's untimely demise when he was only 23 years old?
According to Alan Long in his book, Stories from the Haunted South detailed the following:
A former tenant named Beulah Glenn lived there only two months, but her short stay was long enough to convince her that someone other than she and her family were occupying the downstairs apartment. She said that at night they were frequently awakened by lights that came on by themselves. It was what they heard upstairs though that really put their nerves on edge:
'We heard people screaming and chains were dragging. Nobody else lived upstairs... The door was padlocked, and it was used for storage. My husband would look upstairs, and nobody was there. We thought it might be neighbor kids playing tricks, but we would go outside and nobody was there.'
One night, after hearing a girl's voice screaming, 'Help! Help!' Mrs. Glenn decided she had had enough and the family moved.
The haunting continued following the destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew (in August, 1992). In January 1994, Scott Strawbridge, a contractor hired by Joan Green hired two Iroquois Indians, David and "Hawk" Hawkins and a few other workers to refurbish the house. During this time, Hawk kept a journal to record his observations. While they were stabilizing the building with shoring, Hawk saw a female apparition, in her mid-twenties, in the building.
He described her as being five feet tall with long, light hair. The workers left after 2 months but returned in the summer of 1994. In September Hawk and Dave often felt the presence of someone standing beside them. On December 22, the Hawkins brothers were standing near the walk through by the kitchen when they heard the sound of a metal pipe being dropped on the floor above. They ran upstairs to investigate and found an iron pipe on the 2nd level subflooring. Both upstairs doors had been nailed shut, making it impossible for someone to sneak inside.
A few days later, the brothers heard tapping coming from a mirror. They removed the mirror, but found nothing inside the 4 inch recessed space. Hawk's unsettling feelings about the house intensified over time. On several occasions he saw a badly beaten woman. He had to fight off a compulsion to kick a ten-ton hydraulic jack onto his brother's head.
Walking upstairs, Hawk began to feel what he described in his journal as a 'strong sexual presence.' When he entered the bath, he had a vision of a young woman being molested by an older man while she was taking a bath. After the older man left the room Hawk said he was overcome with 'a feeling of shame and endless pain.'
That night, Dave dropped what he was doing and ran outside. Once Dave had regained his composure, he told Hawk that he had been chased out of the house by spirits. Realizing that he could no longer work in a building infested with 'bad energy' Hawk performed a cleansing ritual. Minutes before he started Joan Green was driving over to the site to take pictures. As she walked through the door, Joan was shocked to find a noose tied to the stair railing and smoke wafting through the building. Hawk explained that he was 'smudging the structure of spirits'.
After listening to Hawk's stories about his encounters, Joan showed him an old photograph of the Anderson family. He immediately picked out William and Annie as the two spirits he had seen in the house. Hawk's ceremony seems to have achieved its purpose. No new occurrences were reported at the site while Joan Green owned Anderson's Corner.
In 2017, Anderson's Corner located at 15700 SW 232nd St. was put on the market for $1.1 million. Brian Simmons bought the property 20 years before, with the intention of opening a restaurant which never came to pass. It sold in 2021 for $600,000.
