Historical Madison, North Carolina Landmark Provides More than Retail Therapy

Built in 1908, one of Madison, North Carolina’s most well-known historical buildings is once again the talk of the town, and soon-to-be world. Currently occupied by Madison Dry Goods and Country Store, this building has been home to a variety of businesses including a hotel, funeral home, and hardware store. For the last 27 years, the building has served as a retail and country store, and most recently, a museum.

Richard and Kathy Miller officially purchased 104 West Murphy Street, Madison, NC in 1998. While they were aware of the building’s historical uses, they were not prepared for the stories of unexplainable activity that would garner the attention of national paranormal investigators. Over the years, there have been numerous stories of sightings of a little girl wearing a white dress, displacement of pictures and objects, and an eerie feeling you are not alone. It is speculated that these sightings and unexplained activities are directly connected to the T.B. Knight Funeral Home which operated alongside Penn Hardware at this location starting in the 1920s. The second floor of the building was used to prepare bodies prior to funeral services, and more specifically the eight bodies of the Lawson family after the 1929 Christmas Day tragedy. T.B. Knight Funeral home was selected due to its larger size and elevator access. This undertaking was one of the most talked about funeral preparations in the history of the funeral home.

While the Millers have been contacted numerous times over the years by paranormal experts, one of the most recent inquiries was a bit different. A production team, equipped with Ed and Lorraine Warren’s theory that it takes 28 days to pierce the veil between the human and spirit worlds, approached the Millers with an idea for a new paranormal experiment.

From August 12 through September 15, 2021, the Millers closed the store for the experiment to be conducted. They were not allowed access to the store and were not told the outcome of the findings…until now. Find out with the world what was discovered during those 28 days with the premiere of the new Netflix series, 28 Days Haunted, airing October 21, 2022 and come experience the building’s aura for yourself, Monday through Saturday, 10 am until 6 pm at 104 West Murphy Street, Madison.