Haunted House

John Anderson is the guest star in this episode. Anybody who's watched any old television show has seen this guy. He's been in numerous television shows - especially westerns. He plays well in any role he plays. He and Melissa Gilbert played very well in this episode.

Who knew that a little girl wanting to give into a dare would end up helping an old man face the truth about the woman from his past. Yet, this episode tugs at your heartstrings. Mr. Pike is feared by many. Mrs. Olsen thinks he's disgusting (though his money seems good enough to handle). She doesn't want her children anywhere near him.

But Laura is dared by Nellie and Willie to touch the house. She chickens out at first, then goes back to get a piece of wood to prove that she had been there (though it's unclear why Nellie would believe the wood was actually taken from that house). After Jack chases a cat into the house, she ends up inside. Soon, the odd relationship begins.

Charles is Charles in this episode. He tells Laura to stay away from the old man who just wants to be left alone. Then he allows her to go apologize. Soon, he comforting her after Mr. Pike demands she goes away and never come back.

My favorite part in the whole episode Is Laura reading the Bible and giving Mr. Pike the Bible so he'd have something to hope in. I thought that was sweet, and that was followed by a tearful scene as Laura held Mr. Pike and let him cry out his grief.

By the way, it appears the DVD this episode is on has the show out of sequence...Just for a heads up!

What a lovely story. Guts, understanding, empathy, caring, & love are all expertly portrayed by a girl just 10yrs old at the time of release. Melissa Gilbert & Melissa Sue Anderson (Mart Ingalls) are about as good as any child actresses could be back in the 70's.

These shows as well as shows like The Waltons need to be watched more by the wild liberal minds of today who are trying to destroy America.

The way Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls) is always up to the challenges ahead in this show as well as others shows the true grit of the people back then living off the land and helping their neighbors.

Looks like my episodes are a bit scrambled on my season 2 DVD this one is episode 5 but on mine its episode 3. Anyway that's beside the point.Haunted house!!! When you see the name you think its going to be a Halloween episode but no its just about a old man who lives in an very old house and the town thinks he is crazy and a maniac. Laura befriends him in a strange manner and soon finds out what's wrong with him why he's acting that way.... The episode is moving. This is the first of many episodes where laura "fix" people (and I dotn mean it in a bad way). Laura is one wise little girl and she knows what she's doing, give this one a try it might surprise ya.

Another episode where Laura hangs out with a complete male stranger. Similar to the storyline of E. Sprague a few episodes back.....How does Charles condone this? "It's ok Laura go hang out with that weird man on the edge of town." Makes me laugh. What is misleading is the title.....Im assuming this was released around Halloween and titled 'Haunted House".....this story has NOTHING to do with that at all. It is simply about a man is holding on to the memory of his dead wife. Laura lightens his spirit by giving him scripture and realizes that he will see her in Heaven. His whole attitude changes....Laura saves the day! ......I think they were trying to create the magic similar to Ernest Borgnine in the previous season.....might have missed the mark

Loved this episode. This is also the house that became the blind school, wasn't it? It looks familiar as it is a house sitting out of town by itself. Did Mr. Hansen actually live there? I don't remember an episode of him being there. I was wondering if there was ever any mention of him perhaps renting it out?