I really should not be researching the history of my home town all alone in the dead of night, let alone a place i lived a couple blocks from. Guess who won't be sleeping anytime soon!!

Emily Rose 1 month ago

I saw the Dead Files show, but the research Kelly Parks has done on Valeria puts her in a much different light from the way she is described in Dead Files. Valeria never lived in Theodore's house, so why would she be haunting it? Also, she seems to have been a busy, sociable, active woman who had many friends with whom she spent time. She seemed to divide her time between Minneapolis and Great Falls. She loved books, and she and her husband founded the Valeria library. She loved music. The Dead Files emphasized that there was almost nothing published on Valeria, despite her active life. Perhaps there is more information on her in Minneapolis? Her sons lived fairly long lives, and the family was well-liked according to what I've read. So was Valeria murdered by her son Philip? I'm confused.

Eloise 3 months ago

My research shows:

1. Valeria, wife of Paris Gibson, never lived in the Fourth Street house. It was the home of her son, Theodore, his wife Mary, and their children at the time of Valeria's death. The house may have been owned by Paris, but it was not his home until at least fifteen years after the death of his wife. Theodore and Mary had two children, a son (1889-1975) and a daughter (1891-1987), who were 11 and 9 at time their grandmother died (1900). Valeria may have visited the house upon occasion between 1885 and 1892; however, a newspaper story of 1894 stated that Valeria had not been in Great Falls for the previous six years. Paris did not move into the Fourth Street house until well after his wife’s death. When he did, he lived with Theodore, Mary, and Mary’s mother, Jane Johnson.

2. As a Victorian wife, Valeria enjoyed unusual latitude. During their time in Minneapolis, Paris was constantly working, managing their ranch, the flour mill, the woolen mill, in addition to an amazing number of community obligations. Paris held office in his church (Unitarian), was a Mason, an Elk, on the board of trustees of the University of Minnesota, a board member of the Western Bank, a director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and a director of the Minneapolis library. Valeria had household help, her amazing personal library, her music, and social functions. Paris maintained most of his civic obligations during the time he was developing Great Falls. His schedule was at least as hectic, if not more so, in Montana. During the 1880s the couple saw each other only on visits – his to Minnesota, or hers to Montana. Despite her health, Valeria was intelligent and involved. She maintained her own circle of friends and activities in her husband's absence and there is no evidence that she was subjected to heavy-handed repression.

3. The doctor who signed Valeria’s death certificate was her brother-in-law, but not on the Gibson side. Dr. Ladd was married to Valeria’s sister, Jesse. However, the Ladds had recently separated; two months earlier, in June, Jesse had taken their three children to Minneapolis, rented a house, and reported to the census enumerator that she was a widow. Their brother, Dr. John Sweat (Swett), was also a doctor living in Great Falls, but, the newspaper reported that both Valeria’s brother (John) and sister (Jesse) were in Minneapolis at the time of the accident. We can assume that Dr. Alfred Ladd was in Great Falls as he signed the death certificate.

4. The Park Hotel was owned by Paris and included a suite of rooms for Valeria and Paris. Her health made it difficult for her to run a household, so the couple maintained a personal suite at the Park Hotel. The hotel provided all the amenities, maid service, laundry service, and gourmet meals. It was reported that Valeria enjoyed socializing with the hotel guests.

5. Valeria did have a son and a daughter who died as an infant and a toddler. However, these deaths happened during the time the family lived in Minneapolis, at least fifteen years before Paris founded Great Falls, Montana. Neither child lived in Montana, let alone in the Fourth Street house.

6. Valeria and Paris did have a strong connection to books. Paris helped to start the Minneapolis Public Library and Valeria founded the Valeria Library and Arts Association in Great Falls. Most of the 800 volumes held by the Association had been donated by Valeria from her personal collection. She was interested in the Arts, her Church, The Humane Treatment of Animals movement, and social engagements. Paris, Phillip, and Theodore spent most of their time at the Fort Benton ranch and in Great Falls in the 1880’s while Valeria continued her social life and community work in Minneapolis.

7. Contemporary newspapers report that Valeria was an invalid from approximately the 1870s until her death. Her condition was such that she was accompanied by their family doctor when she traveled to Great Falls in the 1880’s. After her father, Dr. Jesse P. Sweat (Swett) retired from his medical practice in Maine, he lived with Valeria in Minneapolis until his death in 1885.

8. Great Falls was a planned community, each city block designed and plated very carefully, in the same manner as present-day subdivisions. It was not a mining town that grew up helter-skelter atop mine shafts. The Park hotel was at least eight city blocks from the location of the house. The hotel wasn’t built until 1892, years after the residential section began construction. There was no reason to dig a tunnel under the residential section of town – and it would have been near impossible to dig under eight blocks of homes in secret, especially a tunnel large and dry enough for a man to carry a body through. However, it is plausible that there was a root cellar under the house at one time. Paris personally designed the residential blocks to include a service alley behind each house; perhaps this was interpreted as a tunnel.

9. The older lady who did live in the Fourth Street house was Jane Johnson, mother of Mary, Theodore’s wife. She was in the house for both the 1920 and 1930 Federal Census. She was in her nineties when she died and could have been a bit on the dotty side, either mentally or physically. It is not unusual for elderly dementia patients to begin hiding things or having feelings of paranoia. She was still living in the home when Paris died.

10. The ghost story mentioned illness involving the stomach for one of the men haunting the house. Paris did have an ailment that culminated in abdominal surgery in December of 1910. It was serious enough for Paris to be treated in Baltimore, Maryland, by Dr. Hugh H. Young, chief of his department at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Paris lived another ten years, losing his vision as he aged. His oldest son, Phillip, died in 1915, of the same ailment that would take Theodore in 1932.

11. In the Federal Census of 1920 Paris, 89, was living with his son Theodore and daughter-in-law, Mary, at 402 Fourth Street in Great Falls. [2] Paris was almost totally blind at this time. Also in the household was Jane S. Johnson, the mother of Mary. Paris died later that year at age 90, on December 16, 1920, and was buried in Highland Cemetery next to Valeria. [3] Jane Johnson died on October 3, 1930. Theodore was taken to Warm Springs before the end of that year. He died as a patient in 1932.
12. Both of the Gibson boys died from the same ailment as reported on their death certificates, general paralysis of the insane also called paralytic dementia, and both died in the Warm Springs State Hospital in Deer Lodge. This is a type of dementia caused by an infection of the brain and nervous system. In its late stages there can be sudden psychosis.

Sandi 3 months ago

yes i just seen the dead files on tv.i have family all over united states.i wonder where pais gibson resided fom i looking for family of mine i have up to my ggggrandfathes so far my father was born in towns county,ga.thank you i really would like to know if he is family of mine.Dessie

Dessie Gibson 3 months ago

Yes I know exactly what book you are looking for I was just being funny (silly) :-D

Suzzette 3 months ago

I have some really odd similarities with Valeria number wise. I have been told I am a medium or even a portal, all I know is I do have a gift but still learning how to control it. Kelly kudos to you for living there girl. I hope you find that "book" you're looking for. I just watched the episode from Dead files and wished I could help. I want to help you find it so the truth will finally come out. Maybe one day. Until then have a great one and may God be with you and your family.

Suzzette 3 months ago

Well this haunted house I bought is really interesting. Valeria Gibson is here but there are also several other resident ghosts, both inside and outside the house. If you go to www.parisgibson.com you can see the guest book and blog about the Gibson Mansion on Millionaires row.
Kelly Parks

Kelly Parks 4 months ago

If you like to read about haunted places I think you should check this out http://www.hauntedhovel.com/realhauntedplacesinamerica.html they also have http://www.hauntedhovel.com/realhauntedhouses.html and for those that dont like reading, they have pictures, videos and also something I personally find really interesting EVP recordings http://www.hauntedhovel.com/evprecordings.html you can decide what you think :)

Trickwood 4 months ago

I love listening to horror stories. I also want to know about the story of this haunted house. Can you explain in detail the history of this house?

Regards, Heriberto

Heriberto 6 months ago