Poison and Betrayal: The Dark History of Peck Mansion

It seems like something out of a movie. A story of what seemed like a fairy tale marriage, but all was not as it appeared when it was revealed that their new son-in-law had ulterior motives for marrying his lovely bride. Motives that resulted in an almost perfect crime had it not been for some meddling kids.

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The poisoning deaths of John and Hannah Peck, one of Grand Rapids' wealthiest families, back in 1916 garnered national attention for the devious scheme surrounding their deaths. Buckle in as we learn the story behind Peck Mansion, one of GR's most infamous buildings.

*Much of this information comes from US Ghost Adventures, Grand River Realty, and Metro Times. If you seek more information on this story, please visit these sites.

The Peck Family

Back in the early 1900s, the Peck family (John, Hannah, daughters Catherine and Clara, and son Percy) was one of Grand Rapids' wealthier families after creating a successful chain of drug stores around West Michigan. They built the still-standing Peck Mansion in 1887, a 6,500+ sqft mansion that once had the largest ballroom and living room in Grand Rapids.

Things were going well for the family, and they were excited when Clara announced she was engaged to Arthur Waite, a recent dental school graduate and son of a poor grocer. Shortly after the marriage, the new couple moved to New York. However, Arthur's real reason for marrying Clara soon became clear when he made a fuss about the dowry he received from the Pecks, believing it wasn't large enough.

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A Hypocratic Oath

Not only was he in the relationship just for the money, but he was also having an affair with a cabaret singer named Margaret Horton. Together, the two devised a plan to poison the Pecks and gain the inheritance. Using his health knowledge, he invited the Pecks to New York for a vacation, where he began dosing their food with various illness germs like influenza and diphtheria.

Hannah Peck fell ill and passed away quickly in January of 1916. John Peck proved to be more resilient, and when he wouldn't get sick, Arthur gave Mr. Peck an arsenic-laced eggnog and then suffocated Peck with a pillow.

And He Would Have Gotten Away With It Too...

Had Clara's brother Percy not been alerted via a telegram that the deaths of his parents had happened in New York rather than at home, Arthur likely would have gotten away with the murders. He was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to death via the electric chair in 1917.

Though the murders didn't happen at Peck Mansion, the house carries the gravity of the murders, with some claiming the house is haunted. Clara remarried after the murders and passed away in 1967. The house was recently sold in 2021, and you can view a full tour of the home below.