Pasadena Mystery House

From GURPSworld Wiki

Location

571 Champlain Avenue, Pasadena, CA

History

Constructed in 1899. Original occupant was Forrest Lynch family, who sold the house in 1926 to Jakob Jansen. Jansen was a flamboyant magician who gained some prominence in the 1930s for a persistent rumor that he was in possession of the notorious Kitab al-Babi, a Persian grimoire of gate magic that is cursed such that its spells cannot be copied or memorized. Jansen died of a brain hemorrhage in August 1963. His wife Olivia Wellington Jansen continued to live in the house until her death in January 1964.

Recent Events

January 1, 1964 – Owner and sole occupant of the house, Olivia Wellington Jansen, dies in her sleep at the home.

January 13, 1964 – Fidelity Insurance investigator Chet Isaacs disappears while cataloging items in the house. His car and briefcase were left behind, but there was no other sign of the man.

February 11, 1964 – Three insurance investigators claim to have heard Chet Isaacs' voice while they are removing artwork. Several of the workers hired to assist also hear voices.

February 17, 1964 – Despite nearly a week of searching the house with sonar and x-ray equipment, police are unable to locate any trace of Chet Isaacs.

February 19, 1964 – Police investigator Joe Yates commits suicide in Culver City. Yates had been in charge of the search for Isaacs and had spent considerable time in the house, including several overnight visits.

February 21, 1964 – Police investigator Steven Carver murders his wife and two children while they are sleeping. He is shot to death when he attempts to enter a neighbor's home wielding an axe. Carver had worked on the Isaacs investigation with Yates.

May 15, 1964 – Self-style ghosthunter Jason Javits vows he will spend the weekend in the house. He receives permission from the Hellestromme family to stay in the house, provided he disturb nothing that remains within. Police are called to the residence late Saturday night when neighbors first report the sounds of a loud party and later, the screams of at least a dozen people coming from within the house. Police enter the house and find nothing disturbed. There is no sign of Javits, who is presumed by police to have staged the incident and faked his own disappearance.

September 22, 1964 – Rebecca Fountain, who lives across the street from the house, murders her husband when he comes home late for dinner. She tells police that she heard voices that were emanating from the house.

October 19, 1964 – While everyone is watching live television coverage of the first moon landing, a young boy from the neighborhood disappears. Police and volunteers search the neighborhood, including the house. No trace of the boy is found. The boy's dog begins to bark incessantly at the house, running to windows to do so when he is kept indoors.

Art Collection

Jansen possessed an extensive collection of the works of British artist-magician Austin Osman Spare.

Paintings in Jansen Gallery

"Temptress." Painting by Austin Osman Spare.
"Mystic Dreamscape." Painting by Austin Osman Spare.
"Night Fantasia." Painting by Austin Osman Spare.
"Vampires." Painting by Austin Osman Spare.

Floor Plans

Pasadena Mystery House - First Floor.jpg
Pasadena Mystery House - Second Floor.jpg


See also

Report on Enchanted Paintings of Austin Osman Spare