The Untold History: 4 Families Who Lived In The Amityville House Before The DeFeo Murders

The Amityville Horror is globally synonymous with the brutal 1974 DeFeo murders and the subsequent, highly publicized haunting claims of the Lutz family. Yet, to understand the true, unsettling history of 112 Ocean Avenue, you must look further back—to the decades before Ronald DeFeo Jr. committed his horrific crime and before the house gained its infamous reputation. As of , the full timeline of the property reveals a quiet, suburban life that existed for nearly 40 years.

The Dutch Colonial house, once a symbol of the American Dream in Suffolk County, New York, was not built on a foundation of immediate terror. Its pre-DeFeo history is a crucial, often-overlooked chapter that establishes the house's local identity as a normal family home, occupied by a succession of residents who knew nothing of the nightmare to come. These are the forgotten names—the families and individuals who lived at the now-infamous address before the darkness descended in 1965.

The Complete Timeline of Residents Before The DeFeos (1924–1965)

The narrative of 112 Ocean Avenue begins long before the DeFeos purchased the home. Property records reveal a clear, documented chain of ownership, starting with the land itself. The house, a striking five-bedroom, four-bathroom Dutch Colonial structure, was not an old, colonial-era building, but a custom-built home from the 1920s.

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The key to understanding the full history is to trace the property from the land sale up to the DeFeo family's arrival in 1965, revealing a surprising number of long-term residents who never reported any unusual activity.

1. Annie Ireland: The Original Land Owner (Pre-1924)

Before the iconic Dutch Colonial house stood on the lot, the property was simply a piece of land on Ocean Avenue. The earliest known transaction related to the property involved a woman named Annie Ireland.

• Role: Original owner of the undeveloped land.
• Key Event: On January 14, 1924, Annie Ireland sold the property to John and Catherine Moynahan.
• Historical Context: This sale marked the beginning of the property's development into a major residential site in Amityville.

2. John and Catherine Moynahan: The First Family and Builders (1924–c. 1950s)

The Moynahan family are the most significant residents in the pre-DeFeo history, as they were the ones who commissioned and built the house that would become a horror icon.

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• Family Members: John Moynahan, Catherine Moynahan, and their four children (a family of six).
• Construction: The Moynahans removed a small, existing cottage from the lot and hired local Amityville builder Jesse Perdy (sometimes spelled Purdy) to construct the new, large Dutch Colonial house. Construction was completed around 1925 or 1927.
• The Name: It is widely believed that the Moynahan family originally named their new home "High Hopes."
• The Residence: The Moynahans enjoyed a quiet, long-term residency in the house, living there for approximately 25–30 years until the deaths of John and Catherine. No reports of paranormal activity or violence were associated with their long tenure.

3. Eileen Fitzgerald and Her Family: The Second Generation (c. 1950s–1960)

Upon the deaths of John and Catherine Moynahan, the property was inherited by their children. One of their daughters, Eileen Fitzgerald, and her own family, chose to move into the house, continuing the peaceful residential streak.

• Family Connection: Eileen Fitzgerald was the daughter of the original builders, John and Catherine Moynahan.
• Duration: Eileen and her family resided in the home for a number of years, maintaining its status as a normal, quiet suburban dwelling.
• Departure: Eileen Fitzgerald lived in the house until October 17, 1960, when she sold the property.

4. The Short-Term Interval (1960–1965)

Following Eileen Fitzgerald's departure in late 1960, there is a period of about five years before Ronald DeFeo Sr. and Louise DeFeo purchased the house in 1965.

• Property Status: While a five-year gap might suggest a short-term owner or a period of vacancy, the lack of a named resident in historical accounts suggests the house may have been held by a real estate investor or experienced a prolonged sales process following the Fitzgerald family's move.
• The DeFeo Arrival: The DeFeo family purchased the house in 1965, moving in with their children: Ronald Jr. (Butch), Dawn, Allison, Marc, and John Matthew. They would live in the house for nine years until the tragic murders on November 13, 1974.

The Significance of The Pre-DeFeo History

The forgotten history of the Moynahan and Fitzgerald families is critical for two major reasons: establishing topical authority and challenging the "cursed land" narrative.

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Challenging the 'Cursed Land' Narrative

A common trope in horror lore is that the Amityville house was built on cursed Native American land or was the site of a prior tragedy. However, the documented history of the Moynahans and Fitzgeralds directly contradicts this idea.

• Long-Term Peace: The Moynahan family lived in the house for decades, and their daughter's family lived there for several more years. For nearly 40 years (1925–1965), the house was a peaceful, uneventful family home.
• No Prior Reports: There are no documented police reports, local rumors, or property records suggesting any violence, unusual deaths, or paranormal disturbances during the Moynahan/Fitzgerald era.
• The Origin of the Horror: This evidence strongly suggests that the true "horror" began with the DeFeo family's tumultuous and abusive dynamics, culminating in the 1974 murders, rather than an ancient curse or a pre-existing haunting. Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s own defense attorney, William Weber, later claimed that the haunting story was fabricated by him and George Lutz for a book deal.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords for Amityville History

For those researching the deeper history of the 112 Ocean Avenue property, a number of key entities and related concepts are essential for a complete understanding of the Amityville saga:

• The Moynahan Family: John and Catherine Moynahan, the original builders and first residents of the Dutch Colonial house.
• Eileen Fitzgerald: The daughter who inherited and lived in the house before selling it in 1960.
• Jesse Perdy (or Purdy): The local Amityville builder commissioned to construct the house in the mid-1920s.
• Dutch Colonial Architecture: The specific style of the house, which is often misidentified in popular culture.
• Amityville Creek: The geographical feature near the house, which contributes to the property’s value and location.
• The Lutz Family: George and Kathy Lutz, the family who moved in after the DeFeo murders and whose claims formed the basis of The Amityville Horror book and films.
• Jim and Barbara Cromarty: The family who purchased the house after the Lutzes and lived there for ten years, reporting no paranormal activity.
• Suffolk County, New York: The county where the town of Amityville is located, providing the official jurisdiction for the property records and murder investigation.
• High Hopes: The alleged original name of the house, a stark contrast to its later moniker.

In conclusion, the Amityville house was, for nearly four decades, a peaceful, well-maintained residence occupied by normal families. The true horror did not begin with the land or the architecture, but with the arrival of the DeFeo family in 1965. The Moynahans and the Fitzgeralds serve as a powerful, factual counter-narrative, proving that the house's infamy is a result of the tragic events of 1974, not a long-standing supernatural curse.