The True Story Behind ‘The Conjuring’ Movie

The Haunting Legacy of the Harrisville Farmhouse

Image created by Author using Canva (A sinister-looking tree with bare branches looms in the foreground, and hanging from one branch is an old, rusted chain)

In 1971, the Perron family moved into a notorious farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, unaware of its dark history. The house had been home to a series of tragedies, including the infamous acts of Bathsheba Sherman, believed to be a witch.

She was accused of murdering a baby using a sewing needle and, after her death, her malevolent spirit supposedly haunted the house.

The Perrons experienced strange phenomena: objects disappearing, unexplained filth, and beds shaking at 5:15 a.m. They smelled rotting flesh and heard unsettling noises. Carolyn Perron’s needle-like leg wound intensified their fears, seemingly confirming the sinister past.

Paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated, confirming spiritual activity but failing to entirely cleanse the house.

Andrea Perron, one of the daughters, later recounted their experiences, which inspired “The Conjuring” film. She emphasized the movie’s authenticity but noted it didn’t fully convey their harrowing reality.

Whispers from the Old Mill