High Society Never Dies
The Buford House stands as one of Tombstone's finest examples of Victorian architecture, a testament to the wealth generated by silver mining. Built by George Buford, a successful mine owner, this mansion hosted the cream of Tombstone society - and continues to do so over a century after their deaths. Unlike the violent hauntings of saloons and bordellos, the Buford House offers a glimpse into the genteel side of frontier ghosts. Here, spirits maintain the social graces they practiced in life, hosting elaborate dinner parties, playing parlor games, and ensuring that death doesn't interrupt proper etiquette.
When Silver Built Mansions
The Buford Fortune
George Buford struck silver in 1879 and immediately set about building a mansion worthy of his newfound wealth. The house featured imported wallpaper, crystal chandeliers from San Francisco, and the first indoor plumbing in Tombstone. The Bufords entertained governors, wealthy investors, and visiting dignitaries, establishing themselves as Tombstone royalty.
The Family Tragedies
Despite their wealth, the Bufords couldn't escape frontier hardships. Two children died of scarlet fever in the nursery, Mrs. Buford succumbed to consumption in the master bedroom, and George himself died of a heart attack in his study after losing his fortune when the mines flooded. Each death added another layer to the house's growing spiritual population.
The Servant Stories
The house employed numerous servants - Chinese cooks, Irish maids, Mexican gardeners - many of whom lived and died on the property. Their quarters in the basement and attic harbor their own hauntings, creating a class system that extends beyond death. These servant spirits continue their duties, maintaining a house that exists in multiple dimensions.
The Eternal Household
The Buford Children
Emma and Charles Buford, who died at ages 7 and 5, remain the house's most active spirits. They play hide-and-seek through the rooms, their laughter echoing from the nursery. Visitors report finding Victorian toys moved to different locations and small handprints on windows that quickly fade. The children seem drawn to young visitors, sometimes becoming visible playmates.
Mrs. Amelia Buford
The lady of the house continues her social duties, appearing in full Victorian dress to greet guests. She's been seen descending the main staircase, hosting tea in the parlor, and checking on her children in the nursery. Her spirit seems unaware of her death, treating modern visitors as expected guests for parties that ended over a century ago.
George Buford
George's spirit remains in his study, eternally reviewing ledgers and fretting over his lost fortune. Visitors report seeing him slumped at his desk, hearing him mutter about stock prices and mine yields. Sometimes he appears at the window, watching the street as if waiting for news that will never come.
The Chinese Cook
Known only as 'Chen,' the family's cook died in a kitchen fire but continues preparing meals. The smell of Chinese spices and American dishes wafts through the house at dinner time. Pots clatter in the empty kitchen, and some visitors report tasting phantom flavors - sweet and sour sensations with no source.
Genteel Hauntings
The Dinner Parties
The most spectacular manifestations are the phantom dinner parties. Witnesses report seeing the dining room filled with transparent guests in 1880s finery, eating invisible meals with silver that isn't there. Conversations in multiple voices discuss silver prices, fashion, and gossip from the 1880s. These gatherings occur most frequently on holidays and the anniversaries of significant social events.
The Music Room
The parlor's piano plays itself, usually pieces popular in the 1880s. Sheet music turns its own pages, and sometimes a transparent figure of Mrs. Buford can be seen at the keys. Dancing shadows waltz across the floor to music only they can hear, and visitors report feeling invited to join dances with invisible partners.
The Time Slips
The Buford House experiences temporal anomalies where past and present merge. Visitors report seeing the house as it was in the 1880s - gas lights instead of electricity, different furniture, even different wallpaper. Some experience full immersion in the past, finding themselves dressed in period clothing and participating in Victorian social events before suddenly returning to the present.
Tea with the Dead
The Buford House operates as a museum and event venue, offering tours that blend history with hauntings. The current caretakers maintain the house as the Bufords would have wanted, setting places for invisible guests and playing period music to keep the spirits comfortable. Special events include Victorian séances, ghost photography workshops, and 'Tea with the Dead' sessions where visitors can experience the phantom dinner parties. The house seems to respond to respect and proper behavior - visitors who maintain Victorian decorum report more paranormal experiences than those who don't. Whether you're interested in Tombstone's wealthy past or its persistent ghosts, the Buford House offers both in an atmosphere of faded elegance. Just remember your manners - Mrs. Buford is still watching.
