The Cohen Bray House

Posted: 03.25.2025 | Updated: 03.25.2025

There are many haunting legends and scary ghost tales about old historic buildings that locals have passed down in the city of Oakland, CA, for generations. But if you ask around, most people will agree that the historic Cohen Bray House is the most haunted site of them all.

San Francisco is home to many exciting haunts where spirits of the dead still linger. If you are ready to face your fears and enjoy a spooky experience, book a ghost tour with us at San Francisco Ghosts today!

Is the Cohen Bray House Haunted?

Most people who visit the Cohen Bray House leave the property with a different perspective on ghosts and haunted houses. That is because the home is believed to be filled with many spirits of those who lived and died under the same roof. Many of the spirits seem friendly and welcoming, but some don’t take kindly to strangers.

The History of the Cohen Bray House

Stepping inside the Cohen Bray House in Oakland is like stepping inside a time capsule. This enchanting three-story stick-style Victorian house, with 17 rooms total, was built between 1882 and 1884. Today, it is a well-preserved museum that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The house seems as if it is stuck in time with all of its original furnishings still intact; not a single piece was ever replaced. The house was a wedding gift from Julia Moses and Watson A. Bray for their daughter Emma when she married Alfred H. Cohen on February 28^th, 1884.

The Joining of the Two Families

Both the Cohen and Bray families were from the Gold Rush era. They were very wealthy and members of the most prestigious social circles in the former Old Tree Farm community. Emma’s father was a successful commodities broker, and Alfred’s father established the railroad and ferry systems for Alameda County. While the bride’s family gifted the new couple their beautiful home, the groom’s family completely furnished the property as a gift to the bride and groom.

The Cohen Bray House was truly impressive at the time. It was situated on 200 acres of land within the Bray Estate in the Fruitvale District, which was established by Emma’s father in 1862. The house was also located across the street from Emma’s childhood home.

There were more than three hundred guests in attendance at the Cohen-Bray wedding. When the newlyweds left their reception, instead of heading out on their honeymoon in Del Monte, they snuck back to the quiet of their new home and watched the remainder of their reception from across the street. 

The happy couple lived in the Cohen Bray house for the rest of their lives and had four children: Alfreda, Marion, Douglas, and the youngest, Edith Emelita, who later simply went by Emilita.

Alfred passed away in 1925, and Emma continued living in the house until she died there in 1945. The property was then passed down to Emilita, who lived there until her death at age 90 in 1988.

The Ghosts of the Cohen Bray House

There have been several owners and caretakers of the home throughout the years, and they have all been descendants of the Cohen Bray family. The current president and collection manager of the museum, Patty and Nancy Donald, are the great-granddaughters of Emma and Alfred. They believe the energy that is felt inside the home by so many is from their ancestors who died there.

Several members of the Cohen Bray family were born in the home and died there as well, after living there for their entire lives. Spending that much time living in the same house would cause the spirits of the dead to cling to the property. The fact that all the original furnishings are still inside makes it even more believable that the former residents may be attached to the home and its belongings.

“We say it is haunted with spirits of the people that love this place. And if you come with good intentions and care for the house, then it will care for you.” Patty Donald said.

The Ghost of Emilita

Nancy stated that volunteers experienced sightings of apparitions and strange energies throughout the home. She believes she once witnessed the presence of Emilita while she was upstairs, cleaning her old bedroom. While there, Nancy heard a voice angrily saying, “Get out of here!” She says she still feels anxious about going back into the room.

Spiritual Encounters Throughout the Home 

Another descendant of the Cohen Bray family, Judy Anderson, visited the home and walked into the back hallway, which was once the servant’s hallway. As she approached the stairs, she felt a great sense of fear and unease. 

Soon after, she heard a loud knocking noise, continuously for several minutes. She noticed if she left that specific area in the hallway, she felt much calmer, but when she returned to the stairs, she became terrified once again.

Some caretakers reported items going missing and showing up again in other areas. They felt like the overall vibe or energy within the home would change from time to time. Another notable experience occurred when a caretaker was alone in the library reading.

The old chandelier hanging overhead began swinging violently, much too fast for it to be caused by a breeze flowing through an open window. He mentioned he’d also witnessed doors opening and closing all on their own.

An Expert’s Opinion on the Hauntings

With so many ghostly encounters reported, a psychic medium was invited to explore the house to find out if the house truly was haunted. 

As the psychic walked through the front corridor, she picked up the energy of a female who passed away inside the home. She stated it was a young woman and sensed she died from an illness that caused her to have a bad fever.

Emma Cohen had two sisters who were twins, Mary and Julia. Mary died at a young age, and Julia had a daughter who also died very young. The family believes the psychic may have picked up on the energy of one of them.  

An Unwelcome Guest 

The psychic stated she felt dizzy at times while touring the home. She mentioned feeling a strong force at the foot of the stairs as if something was pushing her away from that area. 

Other investigators who visited the home in the past had also mentioned feeling a similar force in the same spot. The psychic explained she felt like something, or someone, didn’t want her there. 

And they didn’t like strangers walking through the home. She sensed that many years of emotional energy were trapped within the walls of the house, and she didn’t feel welcome.

Later she sensed the spirit of a little boy, around the age of five, who was very active and playful. She then felt the energy of a party or celebration occurring inside the home. She could feel the presence of many guests or spirits congregating there.

The family members mentioned that Emilita talked about her family hosting big parties when she was a child. She remembered friends and family always stopping by the house at all hours. Her father, Alfred, shared his home openly with his guests and enjoyed entertaining. 

Which makes it peculiar that the psychic didn’t feel welcome. Before leaving, she mentioned feeling the presence of a very lonely woman, as if she had lost her beloved and been without him for many years. Alfred died several years before Emma, leaving her in the home alone. It’s believed it was her lonesome spirit she felt.

Haunted San Francisco

San Francisco and the surrounding areas have a vast history of haunted areas well known by the locals. From haunted hotels and homes to spooky graveyards, if you want to find a haunted place to visit in the Bay area, there are several places to choose from.

To learn more about the most haunted areas in San Francisco, check out our blog. Or let us show you where the best locations are by joining us here at San Francisco Ghosts on a ghost tour.

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Sources:

• https://www.cohenbrayhouse.org
• https://www.cohenbrayhouse.org/paranormal-nights
• https://localwiki.org/oakland/Cohen-Bray_House
• https://oaklandside.org/2021/10/29/are-these-oakland-landmarks-haunted/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwns9SV9yIA&t=243s