Nestled in the serene coastal community of Orleans, Massachusetts, 22 Twiss Road appears like any other home in the Cape Cod area—quiet, charming, and seemingly peaceful. But beneath the surface of this picturesque New England property lies a shrouded history that has captivated locals, sparked urban legends, and drawn the attention of ghost hunters and skeptics alike. The story of 22 Twiss Road is not one of fame or grandeur, but rather of whispered rumors, unexplained occurrences, and a series of deaths that continue to raise questions decades later.
A House Built on Shadows
To understand the enigmatic aura surrounding 22 Twiss Road, one must go back to the early 1900s, when the house was first built. The area of Orleans was, at the time, a rural escape, known more for its cranberry bogs and fishing industry than for any signs of urban development. Twiss Road itself was named after a family of settlers who arrived in the late 1800s, and the property at number 22 was reportedly constructed around 1915 by a man named Elias Harwood, a former sailor who had chosen to retire in the tranquility of the Cape.
According to oral records and family journals later uncovered in town archives, Elias lived alone for much of his life, never marrying and maintaining an eccentric reputation among the townsfolk. He was said to have carved strange symbols into the beams of the house and spent hours on the nearby shore muttering to himself. Some dismissed this behavior as harmless, the ramblings of an aging sailor. Others, however, believed Elias was engaged in darker pursuits—rituals or invocations passed down through generations of seafarers and whispered through maritime folklore.
Elias was found dead in his bed in 1932, at the age of 68. Official reports listed heart failure as the cause, but the attending physician noted in his journal that Elias’s expression was “frozen in a manner not typical of cardiac arrest, mouth agape as though in silent terror.”
The Carson Tragedy
The property remained uninhabited for several years after Elias’s death. In 1941, the Carson family purchased 22 Twiss Road. The Carsons were a family of five who had relocated from Boston in search of a quieter life. They were active in the local church and well-liked by neighbors. Everything seemed idyllic—until tragedy struck just two years later.
In the winter of 1943, the youngest Carson child, Emily, just seven years old, went missing. Her body was found days later in the woods behind the house, her face pale, her limbs strangely twisted. No signs of external violence were present, but local authorities described the discovery as “deeply unsettling.” The case was never solved.
Less than a year later, Mrs. Carson was found unresponsive in the bathtub, having drowned despite no evidence of intoxication or a struggle. Some speculated she had taken her own life in despair over her daughter’s death. Others weren’t so sure. By 1945, the family had vacated the home, leaving it abandoned once again.
Patterns of Suffering
In the decades that followed, various occupants came and went from 22 Twiss Road. A trend began to emerge—owners or tenants rarely stayed for more than two or three years. Many reported feelings of dread, sleep paralysis, or hearing footsteps in the attic. The pets refused to enter certain rooms. Lights flickered for no reason. Some even claimed to see fleeting figures in the hallway mirrors.
In 1968, a young couple, David and Linda Porter, moved into the home. Within six months, Linda died from what was described as an accidental overdose. Friends, however, insisted she was not known to use drugs and had never shown signs of depression or instability. David reportedly moved out the following week and never returned to the property.
In 1981, a man named Carl Langston—an amateur paranormal researcher—rented the property for the summer with the intention of documenting the supernatural stories tied to the home. He kept a detailed journal of his experiences. While much of the entries described ordinary days, several passages mentioned “strange voices” calling his name at night and an overwhelming feeling of being watched. Carl was found dead in the kitchen in August of that year, a knife wound to his chest. The death was ruled a suicide, though many questioned how a man could stab himself in such a precise location without hesitation marks or signs of struggle.
Unresolved and Unexplainable
As the 1990s rolled in, the house remained mostly vacant. A few short-term renters stayed, but all left within weeks. One couple, the Murrays, lasted three months before packing up and moving without even collecting their deposit. When asked why, Mrs. Murray simply said, “The house doesn’t want people in it.”
In 2003, a renovation team was hired by a real estate firm attempting to resell the property. During their work, several workers claimed to experience disorienting headaches, sudden drops in temperature, and, in one case, what a carpenter described as “a hand pressing against my back when no one else was in the room.” The renovation was eventually completed, but no buyer would commit.
Despite the passage of time and the advances in forensic technology, no rational explanation has ever been given for the repeated tragedies and strange events at 22 Twiss Road. The deaths were all ruled natural or accidental, but locals often speak with a kind of reverence about the house, as though it were something not entirely inert.
Community Lore and Current Status
The house today stands in reasonable condition, though vacant. Some say it has been sold quietly to a private owner. Others claim it’s part of a trust that prevents public access. A few years ago, a paranormal YouTube team attempted to record a 48-hour investigation inside the property but allegedly left after one night, refusing to release their footage.
Residents of Orleans often tell newcomers to steer clear of Twiss Road after dark, especially near the stretch where number 22 stands. Children dare each other to touch the doorknob on Halloween, and adults still whisper about the “curse” of the house.
Whether it’s a case of mass hysteria, a chain of coincidences, or something unearthly is anyone’s guess. But the history is undeniable: multiple deaths, all within the same house, over the course of nearly a century. And as time passes, the legend of 22 Twiss Road continues to grow, becoming a permanent part of Orleans’ eerie folklore.
Conclusion
Some houses carry more than just memories—they carry legacies. 22 Twiss Road is one such place, with a history not just of owners and renovations, but of sorrow, silence, and questions that remain unanswered. Whether you believe in spirits or not, there is something about this unassuming home in Orleans that seems to defy explanation. And until those explanations come, the mysteries and deaths tied to its name will continue to cast long shadows over its front porch.
