"Dreams in the Witch House" is a horror short story written by H.P. Lovecraft. It was first published in 1932 and is considered one of Lovecraft's most renowned tales. The story follows Walter Gilman, a student of mathematics and folklore, as he rents a room in a boarding house that has a sinister reputation. Gilman's room is in the Witch House, a house in Arkham that is rumored to be haunted.
Streeter, a 29-year-old cable-service repairman, didn’t know what to make of all her tal a stray mixed-breed pit bull that the Streeters had been feeding.
Pasco County Sheriff s deputies became unwilling referees in this religious debate last June, when, after a year of bickering, the neighborhood erupted in gunfire, with both the witches and the neighbors blasting away in the cypress woods. But when deputies arrived, the shooting match had turned into a street brawl, and the witches, some still in their black ceremonial robes, were having it out with the neighbors in the middle of the street.
Gilman's room is in the Witch House, a house in Arkham that is rumored to be haunted. The house is said to have been the dwelling of a witch named Keziah Mason, who disappeared mysteriously. As Gilman delves deeper into his studies, he becomes obsessed with the theories of non-Euclidean geometry and the connections between mathematics and occultism.
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Editor's Note: The following text is a verbatim transcription of an article written by George W. Murdock, for the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman newspaper in the 1930s. Murdock, a veteran marine engineer, wrote a regular column. Articles transcribed by HRMM volunteer Adam Kaplan. For more of Murdock's articles, see the "Steamboat Biographies" category
Copy of the S.W. Stanton drawing of the steamer "Water Witch," c. 1831. Saulpaugh Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.
The steamboat “Water Witch,” although not originally built for Hudson River traffic, was the storm center of an attempt by private citizens to break a monopoly on Hudson River travel- an attempt which failed only when the citizens were “sold out” by the owners of the steamboat. Thereby “hangs a tale” which was one of the colorful events of early steamboating on the river.
Brown and Bell built the wooden hull of the “Water Witch” at New York in 1831, and her engine was the product of J.P. Allaire, also of New York. Her hull was 138 feet long, breadth of beam 22 feet and over her guards 40 feet. depth of hold 7 feet 10 inches. Her engine was of the cross-head type.
The New York and New London route was the original path of service for the new “Water Witch,” running between these two cities as a day boat. She left New York on her first trip on Saturday, July 30, 1831, with Captain Charles Davison in command; and the fare to New London was $2.50 with meals extra. During her term of service on this route, the “Water Witch” is credited with making the passage of 120 miles in 8 hours and 50 minutes- considered very good time for such a distance for a steamboat of that period.
An advertisement appearing in the New York newspapers on August 12, 1831, heralds the event of the appearance of the “Water Witch” on the Hudson river. This announcement contained the information that “the new and splendid steamboat “Water Witch,” Captain Charles Davison, will leave the foot of Warren street, New York, for Sing Sing and Peekskill daily at 7 o’clock a.m., touching at all intermediate landings; returning the same day, leaving Peekskill at 1 o’clock p.m. This boat is put on this route for the season, and no pains will be spared to render every accommodation to the traveling community.”
But there was a great deal more behind this advertisement than appeared on the surface. In the summer of 1831 a number of citizens of Putnam and Westchester counties, having for years been force to pay an exorbitant rate of fare between Sing Sing, Peekskill, and intermediate landings to the Vanderbilt Line which was at the time operating the steamboat “General Jackson,” among others, formed themselves into a stock company for the purpose of operating an independent line. Looking around for a suitable vessel to meet their requirements, they found the “Water Witch,” recently completed for the New London Line.
Portrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt, c. 1850. "Commodore" Vanderbilt built his transportation empire in New York Harbor and on the Hudson River. Library of Congress.
James Smith, Daniel Drew, and another, were called upon to manage the affairs of the new company, and thus in the summer of 1831 the “Water Witch” entered service on the Hudson river, operating until late fall in one of the most spirited “oppositions” that was ever staged on the Hudson river.
In meeting this competition, the Vanderbilt Line cut fares until the “Water Witch” was carrying passengers for 12 1/2 cents. The people of the lower river towns rallied to the support of the new line and the “Water Witch” often carried from three to five hundred passengers while the Vanderbilt Line steamboat was carrying only 20 fares. This state of affairs continued until the close of the season and gave the stockholders of the new line plenty of confidence to continue their venture.
In the spring of 1832 the “Water Witch” was again in the service of the independent group, running until May 1 and carrying almost all of the passengers. Then came the blow to the “independents”- for without any notice or the knowledge of the stockholders, the “Water Witch” was withdrawn from service! An investigation brought out the fact that Commodore Vanderbilt of the Vanderbilt Line had “arranged” with Managers Smith and Drew, to halt the activity of the “Water Witch,” and since the stockholders had invested full power of operation in the hands of Smith and Drew, there was nothing that could be done. Law suits naturally followed this “treason” on the part of the managers, but soon the “independent stock” was selling for little or nothing to friends of the Vanderbilt interests - and Daniel Drew became the manager of there Vanderbilt Line!
In the fall of 1832 the “Water Witch” was placed on the auction block and finally went to the Hartford Line, and Daniel Drew and Commodore Vanderbilt proceeded to “make things lively” on the Hudson river for some years. Later the “Water Witch” returned to the Hudson river, and then was last heard from in service between New York and Elizabeth, N.J. [words cut off] 1849.
As he spends more time in the house, Gilman begins to experience strange dreams and unsettling occurrences. In his dreams, he is transported to a different dimension where he encounters bizarre entities, including the witch Keziah Mason and her familiar, a rat-like creature named Brown Jenkin. These dreams blur the line between imagination and reality, leaving Gilman unsure of what is truly happening. Through his dreams, Gilman learns about the witch's rituals and her connections to otherworldly beings. He discovers that she made a pact with the creatures from beyond, allowing her to travel between dimensions and gain forbidden knowledge. These revelations lead Gilman to realize that he too is being drawn into the witch's dark web. The climax of the story occurs when Gilman's room is invaded by the evil forces from his dreams. He witnesses unspeakable horrors and feels the chaotic presence of the entities around him. In a last-ditch effort to escape, Gilman destroys the Witch House, bringing an end to the ancient evil that resided within. "Dreams in the Witch House" explores Lovecraft's fascination with cosmic horror and the idea that there are ancient beings that exist beyond human comprehension. It showcases his mastery of creating a sense of dread and the blurring of reality and dreams. The story also touches upon Lovecraft's fear of the unknown and the dark forces that lurk just beyond the veil of our reality. Overall, "Dreams in the Witch House" is a haunting tale that delves into the depths of the human psyche and the boundaries of human knowledge. It exemplifies Lovecraft's unique brand of horror and has become a beloved addition to his Mythos..
Reviews for "In the Clutches of the Night Hag: Exploring Sleep Paralysis in the Witch House"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I really didn't enjoy "Dreams in the Witch House" by H.P. Lovecraft. The story was extremely confusing and hard to follow. The writing style was unnecessarily complicated and filled with archaic language that made it difficult to understand what was happening. Additionally, the characters were unrelatable and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their experiences or what happened to them. Overall, I found this story to be a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
2. Mike - 2 stars
"Dreams in the Witch House" by H.P. Lovecraft was a disappointment for me. While the concept of a witch's house and dreams merging together sounded intriguing, the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and the story took too long to build up any sense of tension or suspense. The horror elements felt cliched and predictable, lacking any real originality. I found myself losing interest and struggling to stay engaged throughout the story. Overall, it was a mediocre read that didn't live up to my expectations.
3. Lisa - 2 stars
I was not a fan of "Dreams in the Witch House" by H.P. Lovecraft. The storytelling felt disjointed and lacked coherence. The transitions between different scenes and perspectives were abrupt and confusing, making it hard to keep track of what was happening. The ending also felt rushed and left me with a feeling of dissatisfaction. While I appreciate Lovecraft's contributions to the horror genre, this particular story didn't resonate with me. I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a compelling and well-structured narrative.
4. John - 1 star
I struggled to find any enjoyment in "Dreams in the Witch House" by H.P. Lovecraft. The writing style was incredibly dense and verbose, making it a chore to read. The excessive use of descriptive language detracted from the plot and hindered the story's progression. I also found the characters to be uninteresting and lacking development, which made it difficult to invest in their experiences. Overall, this story was a tedious and frustrating experience that I wouldn't recommend to others.