Written by: Leyton Furlong
Located on 619 S 13th Street, the Hallows feels more like Hogwarts than your typical Airbnb. Since 2021, the Hallows has provided Harry Potter fans and history buffs alike with an unforgettable weekend experience. Every room and every hallway has been carefully remodeled to provide guests with a magical experience. Four of the five bedrooms are based on one of the houses from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; each room goes all out on the decoration scheme. Antique paintings, 120-year-old books, mystery potions, statues of owls and dragons are everywhere. I’ve never once read the Harry Potter series, but at the end of my visit, even I could say, “Yup, that’s definitely straight out of the books.”
How The Hallows Came to Life
The Hallows was the creation of Karen and Brian Hand, who purchased and restored the old Mosman-Morton home in 2021 to create a Harry Potter-themed vacation rental. Karen’s sisters were specialized in both fantasy art and antique collecting. Karen’s sister Jeanie Abbett had previously operated an Airbnb in the Ozarks, which had a Harry Potter-themed closet that made it a popular choice among travellers. Together, they envisioned a plan to step it up a notch and create a Harry Potter-themed Airbnb. Since then, it has attracted fans from across the nation. Although many other houses were scouted out for, the Mosman-Morton House was impossible to ignore. Within a few months, the formerly dilapidated mansion was restored and turned into something truly magical.
Before the Magic: The Mosman Era
The house has a long and colorful history. Built in 1885 by decorated Civil War veteran and judge Chesley A. Mosman, the house served as the residence and office for Mosman’s legal career. One of the most dramatic incidents in the house took place between 1899 and 1900. Mr. Mosman’s young Swedish servant, Olga Pedersen, was dissatisfied with her life in St. Joseph and had kept in frequent contact with her family in Sweden. In 1900, her family received two suspicious letters claiming to be from different men who had taken an interest in Olga and intended on running away to start a new life. These incidents prompted an international investigation by the St. Joseph Police Department and the Swedish Consulate in Washington, D.C., which eventually found that she had moved to Omaha and changed her name.
The Morton Family Years
After Mr. Mosman died in the house in 1914, ownership briefly transferred to Joseph Ford before coming under the possession of Joseph Morton Sr. and his family. Joseph Sr. owned a massive collection of books and was regarded as one of the smartest men in St. Joseph before he died in 1938. His son, Joseph Jr., was a wartime journalist who was executed by the Germans in 1945 after being captured alongside American OSS commandos during the Slovak National Uprising. Joseph Jr. has the grim reputation of being the only known war correspondent from either side to be executed during World War Two.
A Home That Still Feels Welcoming
When Joseph Sr. died in 1938, the funeral was so complicated that the house’s interior was redesigned to make family funerals easier in the future. Despite some of the darker chapters in the house’s history, Karen told me that if any spirits are haunting the place, they’re certainly friendly. “The whole place is like a giant hug,” she told me. “There’s a positive energy with the place that just makes it feel so welcoming.” The guestbook seems to back this sentiment up, too. Every entry was nothing but positive feedback about the quaint and enchanted nature of the house’s amenities.
What to Expect When You Book
Despite being an Airbnb, Karen told me that the place is geared more towards the Harry Potter fandom, sight-seekers, and anyone else staying the night for the experience. Most people only stay for two nights, which is the minimum requirement. Although The Hallows is great for groups of all sizes, it’s perfect for larger family events such as weddings, birthdays, group getaways, and especially for family reunions. The house comes with WiFI, 2 bathtubs, laundry units, and air conditioning. Currently, the Hallows charges $350 per night, although this is well worth it for anyone looking for a truly magical experience.
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The Hallows
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