Viewers of Netflix’s The Watcher will undoubtedly have one pressing query as they binge: What the heck happened to that house?
The series helmed by Ryan Murphy relies on the true story of a family moving into a wonderful home in Westfield, Recent Jersey in 2014; but they get harassed by an anonymous letter-writer called The Watcher who claimed to be watching the home. The series fictionalizes the nightmare the Broaddus family experienced, however the house itself could be very real. Here’s what to learn about it.
Where is the Watcher House situated?
The now infamous Watcher Home is situated at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, a reasonably upper middle class neighborhood in Recent Jersey.
Why is the Watcher House scary?
Once they purchased the property, the Broadduses almost immediately began renovations on it. Luckily, they hadn’t yet fully left their old house, because shortly after the papers were signed, the husband Derek Broaddus received a letter within the mail. This letter was from an anonymous person calling themselves “The Watcher.”
The author claimed that they were one Watcher of many generations tasked with observing the home. That is creepy enough, however the letters made very specific references to Derek, his wife Maria, and their children, even calling them by name.
As more letters rolled in, the Broaddusses were driven increasingly mad by police investigations, accusations of forgery, and attempts at finding a buyer for the home. (In an act of transparency, they insisted potential buyers read The Watcher’s letters, which sunk most sales.)
How much did the Watcher House cost?
The colonial style house cost $1,355,657 for 3,920 square feet in 2014. In point of fact, Derek and Maria weren’t sure at first in the event that they should just try to remain in the home, however the letters began to get much more specific. The Watcher also continuously got threatening, referring to their children as “young blood.”
Why didn’t the Watcher House sell straight away?
As police investigations began on their neighbors, it got harder for the Broadduses to maintain the story to themselves and the home developed quite a repute. Once they decided to sell, that they had to lower their price. While some people thought they’d have a possibility to get an ideal deal, most of them backed away from it after actually reading The Watcher’s letters. Here’s a taste:
657 Boulevard is anxious so that you can move in…It has been years and years for the reason that young blood ruled the hallways of the home. Have you ever found the entire secrets it holds yet? Will the young blood play within the basement? Or are they too afraid to go down there alone.
Yikes! The couple then tried to get permission to drag down the home and break the property in two constructing lots. They may not get the move approved by the local council.
Who bought the Watcher House?
Finally, in 2019, the Watcher House was sold to an anonymous buyer for $959,000. The Broaddus family took a lack of $400,000. But in addition they not should take care of The Watcher, which is really priceless.
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will probably be released by Dial Press in February 2022.
