Selma Mansion

General Andrew Porter built Selma Mansion in the late 1770’s. Since then, only two families have lived in the historic mansion.

General Porter had quite a few illustrious descendants. Two sons became governors and a great-granddaughter became a First Lady (yes, Mary Todd Lincoln had roots in Montgomery County). Andrew is buried in Harrisburg with his first wife, Elizabeth McDowell. His second wife, Elizabeth Parker, lived in Norristown until her death in 1821. Andrew Knox purchased the mansion and passed it to his son Thomas P. Knox, a most unfortunate man.

In 1846, Thomas lost his wife and three of their four children, probably to a disease of some type. Ellen. the only surviving child, married Joseph Fornance. Their son Joseph married Ruth Ryder in 1930. She was the last family member to live in the house, up until her death in 1982. Today the Norristown Preservation Society owns the property.

Like most old houses, Selma Mansion has its fair share of oddities. Footsteps sound above, cabinet doors open on their own, disconnected bell systems still manage to ring. And the quiet murmurs of barely heard voices remind one that the house is still occupied in some fashion. Occasionally, people hear children laughing or smell cigar smoke lingers in the air. For the most part, the spirits in Selma are peaceful. However a servants’ bathroom on the third floor has been the scene of a rather more disruptive encounter. Researchers near the room saw a blackish blob rise up from the bath tub, filling room and setting off all their detection devices.