33 replies to this topic

[SacKen]

Thanks for the info on the "Smurf House". We have wondered about it since we came to Folsom 10 years ago! When we have people from out-of-town visiting, we always drive by to show it to them. Very odd.

[SpiritualSisters4Life]

My sister and I have lived in Folsom for about five going on six years now. We've heard from quite a few people we know who have lived here in Folsom since the early fifties, that in this particular home there was a man who lived there in the mid to late sixties who had a young daughter that he mistreated. It was said that he kept her in the attic, you know that part that has that window that over looks most of the town. Anyway, we were told that he kept her up there where she eventually died, and after she died he started kidnapping babies, and he would burn them and eventually store them up in that attic. Does anyone know if that is true or if it's just a made up story? All I know is, everytime I go past that home, I get the creeps so there has to be a reason why I get that feeling.

[Terry]

My sister and I have lived in Folsom for about five going on six years now. We've heard from quite a few people we know who have lived here in Folsom since the early fifties, that in this particular home there was a man who lived there in the mid to late sixties who had a young daughter that he mistreated. It was said that he kept her in the attic, you know that part that has that window that over looks most of the town. Anyway, we were told that he kept her up there where she eventually died, and after she died he started kidnapping babies, and he would burn them and eventually store them up in that attic. Does anyone know if that is true or if it's just a made up story? All I know is, everytime I go past that home, I get the creeps so there has to be a reason why I get that feeling.

Okay, this thread is talking about two different homes. The first one is the one on Coloma (sometimes called the Smurf house) It is actually called Gingerwood and is inhabited by Folsom's Library Lady, Jobekka Trotta and her artist husband. Here's more info on that house:

http://www.gingerwoo...ablishment.html

The second home asked about in this link is the Cohn house on the corner of Scott and Sutter which was renovated over the last decade by former Folsom Mayor Glenn Fait. My family has been here since the 1920s and the story you heard is untrue. No evidence of mistreatment of a family member, murders, burned, kidnapped babies. It's all urban legend (or in this case rural legend). Not true.

[tessieca]

But it does have that look to it that suggests that horrific things just might have occurred there.

[maestro]

The second home asked about in this link is the Cohn house on the corner of Scott and Sutter which was renovated over the last decade by former Folsom Mayor Glenn Fait. My family has been here since the 1920s and the story you heard is untrue. No evidence of mistreatment of a family member, murders, burned, kidnapped babies. It's all urban legend (or in this case rural legend). Not true.

Mystery novels were written about that house -- the huge Victorian on Sutter St..
Without going to my library, I can't remember the author's name, but I have a great mystery novel about the house and a body found in the basement.

The author was a friend of Eleanor Fait.

[SpiritualSisters4Life]

Okay, this thread is talking about two different homes. The first one is the one on Coloma (sometimes called the Smurf house) It is actually called Gingerwood and is inhabited by Folsom's Library Lady, Jobekka Trotta and her artist husband. Here's more info on that house:

http://www.gingerwoo...ablishment.html

The second home asked about in this link is the Cohn house on the corner of Scott and Sutter which was renovated over the last decade by former Folsom Mayor Glenn Fait. My family has been here since the 1920s and the story you heard is untrue. No evidence of mistreatment of a family member, murders, burned, kidnapped babies. It's all urban legend (or in this case rural legend). Not true.

I will check it out for myself because my ancestors go back farther than the 1920's. And I know my family wouldn't lie to me. Thanks for your opinion though. I'll check out the newspaper clippings for myself. It was in the Folsom Tribune - [I'm pretty sure that's the one.] They eventually closed down so that's why the articles are hard to find.

[4thgenFolsomite]

I will check it out for myself because my ancestors go back farther than the 1920's. And I know my family wouldn't lie to me. Thanks for your opinion though. I'll check out the newspaper clippings for myself. It was in the Folsom Tribune - [I'm pretty sure that's the one.] They eventually closed down so that's why the articles are hard to find.

sorry, that is another one of the ridiculous tales people have made up about Folsom's past. The Cohn house has no dark history. It was built by the Cohn family, merchants on Sutter Street. Nothing untoward ever happened in that house. I don't know why people insist on making up such stories, but its an insult to the people who actually lived there.

[john]

sorry, that is another one of the ridiculous tales people have made up about Folsom's past. The Cohn house has no dark history. It was built by the Cohn family, merchants on Sutter Street. Nothing untoward ever happened in that house. I don't know why people insist on making up such stories, but its an insult to the people who actually lived there.

Probably because it's spooky looking and haunted houses are cool. Hence, the rumors.

[SpiritualSisters4Life]

It's nothing to get upset over. I would rather do my own research.

[Gwyneth]

I don't know why people insist on making up such stories ...

Because people like to be scared and titillated by spooky stories, especially kids. I think all kids, and all towns, have such houses or other buildings in their history. I remember, when I was in elementary school, that kids spread rumors about witches living in certain houses, houses that were haunted, houses where horrific crimes were supposed to have occured, so of course we all had to dare eachother to walk - or run - by and get those oh so exciting chills.

I know the people who live in the house at the corner of Figueroa and Coloma, and they are quite lovely. I've also met the people living in the big Victorian with the widow's watch, and they seem very gracious.

[sat]

I like the Gingerbread house, it's unique. It's not the same cookie-cutter house you see everwhere (and, yes, I live in one of those cookie-cutter homes).

[newsblaze]

Glen once said they were told before they bought it that it was unrestorable - he said he may yet prove them right! But they are doing a great job and there have been a lot of improvements. They put a huge effort into the garden, as you see. Now they have something beautiful to look out at every day and the neighbors and visitors have something beutiful to look at too. - I've been walking past it every day for 5 years and it looks great.

[Beargrasswoman]

Oh how intersting to read all of the comments on our beloved GINGERWOOD HOUSE in the historic district of Folsom.
We didn't know about this forum until friends from England perusing the internet were delighted to see our home mentioned and called us on SKYPE to tell us to click on to the informative page and see for ourselves.

To clear any misconceptions first and foremost I wish that we could have had funding for our ongoing architectural art inspired building, however I have to smile a little when I think of that. Not one cent from any grant or government tax generated funding ever crossed our hands or in our pocketbook. My husband who is a gifted artist and who graces spaces in Crocker Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum has devotedly dedicated a labor of love to each hand carved curved shingle and each nail driven to secure its place in time.

We have been given attention by those who have loved the inspiring gardens and old european turrets and carrying their enthusiasm in writing about Gingerwood House in: books, magazines, newspapers, television and endless curious visitors who catch us in the gardens and stay to exchange their compliments.

What is Gingerwood House? It is the pleasant, peaceful place wherein art, music, poetry and life abound, whose very exhistence serves to uplift, inspire and entreat one to live beyond the "box" and enjoy the soverignty of expression and choice.

[ducky]

Oh how intersting to read all of the comments on our beloved GINGERWOOD HOUSE in the historic district of Folsom.
We didn't know about this forum until friends from England perusing the internet were delighted to see our home mentioned and called us on SKYPE to tell us to click on to the informative page and see for ourselves.

To clear any misconceptions first and foremost I wish that we could have had funding for our ongoing architectural art inspired building, however I have to smile a little when I think of that. Not one cent from any grant or government tax generated funding ever crossed our hands or in our pocketbook. My husband who is a gifted artist and who graces spaces in Crocker Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum has devotedly dedicated a labor of love to each hand carved curved shingle and each nail driven to secure its place in time.

We have been given attention by those who have loved the inspiring gardens and old european turrets and carrying their enthusiasm in writing about Gingerwood House in: books, magazines, newspapers, television and endless curious visitors who catch us in the gardens and stay to exchange their compliments.

What is Gingerwood House? It is the pleasant, peaceful place wherein art, music, poetry and life abound, whose very exhistence serves to uplift, inspire and entreat one to live beyond the "box" and enjoy the soverignty of expression and choice.

I think your place is wonderful. I enjoyed watching the brick walkway go in. So many masonry cuts to create that! Love the landscaping and rock on the outside.

[stangage70]

What animal is suspended from the ceiling? (Gingerwood Kitchen)