Rock Ford Plantation Ghosts

881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, PA 17603
717-392-7223
Hours:Apr-Oct Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm

The Plantation

Just completed some research on this site...Keep an eye out for the details in our upcoming book "Spooky Creepy Peensylvania". New and exciting details about the ghosts of Rock Ford - the lady of the house and the playful ghost that followed us around on our exploration!

Edward Hand

This mansion was the home of an Irish immigrant and American Patriot, General Edward Hand. Hand came to America after studying medicine at Trinity College in Dublin.
In 1775, he joined the Continental Army as Lieutenant Colonel of the first Battalion of Pennsylvania Riflemen. He became Adjutant General to Washington in 1781. After the war, he returned home to Lancaster and remained active in local politics. In 1794, he moved to Rock Ford and lived there until his death in 1802.
The Plantation was built in 1794. The mansion contains a furnishings and artifacts from the time period - some are from the Hand family and some have been donated.
After Edward Hand died, his family remained in the house until 1810, at which time the family sold the property. It was then operated as a tenant farm into the 20th century. The house has been known as a "haunted" house since the Hand family experienced some misfortune and unhappiness there.
During the second half of this century, the house was turned into a museum and the ghosts of Rock Ford have been documented in Ghost:Investigating the Other Side by Katherine Ramsland.