About the book
Ghost House is a gathering of history, of fables and facts of Chester County and its participation in the quest for and preservation of freedom. It is a story sketched in black and white as the lives of three men intertwine over centuries in the house on Brag Hill.
This story, this legacy—none of it would exist if this house hadn’t existed. For over two centuries, the House on Brag Hill has stood near the banks of the Brandywine, witnessing generations of Americans fighting to protect an evolving democracy, a democracy that proves fragile still. The lore of the house is revealed through the cinematic telling and retellings of the joy, the humor, the terror, and the sadness—the living histories, that transpired within these walls. These stories are told by three boys who grow from boyhood to manhood on Brag Hill Farm, and the family members who made them who they are..
Meet our main characters....
The Main Characters
John Hickman
John Hickman
John Hickman
John Hickman, born to the house in 1810, reveals the house's secret participation in the struggles for freedom. A brilliant legal prodigy, labeled the “Party Crasher” and later lauded by Abraham Lincoln, John brings his political genius to bear to dismantle pro-slavery factions from within. The nation’s turmoil has been no stranger. His f
John Hickman, born to the house in 1810, reveals the house's secret participation in the struggles for freedom. A brilliant legal prodigy, labeled the “Party Crasher” and later lauded by Abraham Lincoln, John brings his political genius to bear to dismantle pro-slavery factions from within. The nation’s turmoil has been no stranger. His family lane leads directly to Trimble’s Ford, one of the region's most traversed Underground Railroad crossings, drawing the hostile attention of the Scrimshaws, a local family with deeply rooted prejudices.
Jamison
John Hickman
John Hickman
Jamison makes his way to Brag Hill in 1825 after a daring escape from Jefferson’s Monticello Estate. He finds refuge on the farm and risks his life to guide others to freedom, unwittingly plunging the families into a perilous clash with their neighbors. His uncommon bravery was common for the time, tragically necessary, desperately neede
Jamison makes his way to Brag Hill in 1825 after a daring escape from Jefferson’s Monticello Estate. He finds refuge on the farm and risks his life to guide others to freedom, unwittingly plunging the families into a perilous clash with their neighbors. His uncommon bravery was common for the time, tragically necessary, desperately needed by our country–that courage shared by those who refused to tolerate the evils of the era.
Cam
John Hickman
Cam
Cam comes to the house in 1962, the year his parents find and fall in love with the farm despite its weathered scars and vanquished barn. Cam grows up amidst its rare beauty and solitude, watched over by the spirits of John and Jamison. As an adult, Cam becomes the home's fierce caretaker, refusing to let it be destroyed. But preserving t
Cam comes to the house in 1962, the year his parents find and fall in love with the farm despite its weathered scars and vanquished barn. Cam grows up amidst its rare beauty and solitude, watched over by the spirits of John and Jamison. As an adult, Cam becomes the home's fierce caretaker, refusing to let it be destroyed. But preserving the house means inheriting its enemies. The Scrimshaw legacy of hatred has not faded with time, and as a multigenerational feud resurfaces in the modern era, Cam must confront the same malice that threatened John and Jamison centuries before.
The Real History of The House
Facts are important. Click on the maps below to see a history of the key research that lead to this creation of this novel
1777 Property Ownership Map
The 1777 Chester County Property Ownership Map shows the location of the house featured in Ghost House, including its owner and the surrounding Quaker homesteads. The map documents how the farm was plundered during the Revolutionary War, offering a vivid glimpse into the real history behind the novel.
Interactive Battle Map
The Pocopson Township Interactive Battle Map traces the movements of General Cornwallis and General Washington in the days leading up to the Battle of Brandywine. Cornwallis’s column passed directly along Bragg Hill Road, stealing their way behind Ghost house on their crossing of the Brandywine at Trimble’s and Jefferis Fords.
Underground Railroad Map
Chester County served as a vital, high-traffic artery on the Underground Railroad, sustained by local residents. Discover the verified historical record of the stationmasters, conductors, and local safehouse owners who, at great risk, helped guide the courageous fugitives northward to freedom.
about the author - Charles Benzel
Charles Benzel is a lifelong resident and recent student of the history of Southern Chester County. The son of a steeplechase jockey and an avid horticulturist, Charlie, AKA Chaos, accidentally became an options floor trader and then purposely, a husband, father, soccer coach, and writer. He graduated from Wesleyan, Connecticut, pivoting away from economics to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in writing. Never “an angry young man” and concerned he had nothing to say, he pivoted yet again, this time away from writing. Choosing the “safer” path, he became an equity options floor trader, living in the world of yelling crowds, colorful jackets, and paper mayhem.
On his sixtieth birthday, he returned to his love of writing and ever since has been writing short stories, screenplays, and historical fiction. His debut novel, Ghost House, would not be denied. It came along, again by accident, as Charlie delved into the deeds of his historic home on Brag Hill. The discovery that he walked the same floorboards as Dr. Abraham Baily and Congressman John Hickman grounded his conviction to pursue more. The books and newspaper clippings found at the Chester County History Center served as the primary springboard for his research, allowing the characters of the house to reveal themselves and their unsung contributions to history.
His stories draw from where he grew up—from the beauty of the land, the towns, and the people. He writes of the everyday heroes, the stationmasters, and the political figures who shaped the towns of West Chester, Kennett Square, and our nation. His purpose is to describe the past, what it was like to grow up in rural Chester County, and the rhythm of the day as compared to the pace our children and grandchildren face today, questioning what we lost when we traded the "rhythm of the day" for modern digital noise. His themes of family and friendship run through the wanderings of his depictions of character and countryside. When not writing, his activities include caretaking the farm, spending time with family, and playing guitar.
