A historic home known as the Murder Mansion is up for auction

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – One historical feature of Bowling Green is up for auction – a place many know as Murder Mansion.

The stately brick home sits back from Fairview Avenue and sparks interest for more than one reason.

In 1948, Dr. Charles Martin and his wife, Martha, were brutally murdered in their home. Seventy-five years later, the story continues to captivate our community.

Several people have owned the Murder Mansion over the years, the current owners being Norm and Jimmie Lou Johnson. Norm Johnson says that the landscape and property draw attention, and “it gets a lot of interest just because it is significant in several ways, including a notorious crime scene.”

The fascinating history behind Murder Mansion brings enthusiasts to Bowling Green each fall during the Unseen Bowling Green walking tour. The Historic Rail Park’s Unseen Bowling Green tours offer a glimpse of what happened on that night in 1948. Executive director of the Historic Rail Park, Jamie Johnson, says the tour has brought in both locals and visitors since the beginning.

She says, “We’ve been able to do this tour for a few years in a row now, and during the pandemic, one of the only things going on in town was the Murder Mansion tour.” She adds that the tour has received great feedback, and “people love the nature of the tour, they love the information that’s being shared with them and they appreciate that it is all true, all real.”

If you are familiar with the story of Murder Mansion and want to take a look inside the famed home, your chance is coming up. An auction is set to be held on Oct. 26 for this historic home.

Norm Johnson says, “People drive by the house because it’s visible, and they are curious as to what it looks like on the inside. This will be an opportunity for people who have always wanted to check it out, to come to the pre-auction event and see it up close and personal.”

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the auction, but likely out of curiosity rather than actual bidding. However, the Johnsons will be passing the keys to someone else nonetheless.

If you are curious about the Murder Mansion and want the chance to see what the tour doesn’t show, the auction is set for 5 p.m. on Oct. 26.