GHOST STORIES...

West Main Street

Grass Valley, California

Grass Valley was originally known as Boston Ravine,

 later officially named Centerville 

and when the post office was established in 1851, 

it was renamed Grass Valley,

 for unknown reasons.

Pelton Wheel

Many of the first settlers

 were tin miners from Cornwall, England.

  They were attracted to the California gold fields

 because the same skills needed for deep tin mining

 were needed for hardrock (deep) gold mining. 

 Many of them specialized in pumping water out of very deep mining shafts.

Holbrooke Hotel

Grass Valley, California

Grass Valley has eight designated historical landmarks,

 one of which is the Holbrooke Hotel.

  The Holbrooke is the oldest hotel

 that has been in continuous operation

 in California's Mother Lode 

and the Golden Gate Saloon 

is the oldest continuously operating saloon west of the Mississippi.

The original building was constructed in 1852

 by Stephen and Clara Smith 

as a saloon called The Golden Gate Saloon.

  The following year,

 a single story annex, 

The Exchange Hotel,

 was added at the back of the saloon.

  A fire in 1855

 burned down the saloon

 but it was rebuilt with fieldstone and bricks.

 The Exchange Hotel

 also caught fire in 1862,

 after which it was renovated into a two story structure

 and in 1879, 

it was named the Holbrooke Hotel

 after the owner, D. P. Holbrooke.

  Currently the hotel has 27 rooms 

and is 19,400 square feet in size,

 which includes a restaurant along with the Golden Gate Saloon.

 The bar in the saloon

 was shipped around Cape Horn.

Several notable people have stayed at the hotel including

 Black Bart, "Gentleman Jim" Corbett, Lotta Crabtree, Bret Harte, Jack London, Lola Montez and Mark Twain,

 and five US presidents:

  Grover Cleveland, James Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison

 and Herbert Hoover.

The reception area of the Holbrooke

 Throughout the hotel's history

 many reports of otherworldly spirits

 have surfaced.

 According to the hotel manager 

when she goes downstairs by herself,

 she never feels alone

 and many visitors to the hotel

 have reported a presence in their rooms.

  Hotel staff have reported signs of ghosts

 in the hallways and in the rooms of the establishment,

 tugging on the feet of guests

 and unplugging electrical sockets.

 One such staff member reports 

her hair being pulled in Room 10,

 and a guest recently complained

 about a ghost sitting on top of them

 as they slept.

 A pet was reported to have problems

 in one of the rooms,

 the dog was uneasy all night. 

 It wouldn't rest or lay down 

and the owner said 

he felt a cool breeze

 all night.

The card room

This past week

 the Travel Channel has been investigating the hotel 

for their show, "The Dead Files". 

 They will try to substantiate

 whether these paranormal claims 

are true or not

 and if they are,

 whether the spirits are

 friendly 

or 

unfriendly.

The Golden Gate Saloon backbar

The hosts of the show,

 psychic medium Amy Allen

 and former NYPD homicide detective, 

Steve DiSchiavi,

 will explore and then meet

 with the owners

 to discuss their findings.

 Amy Allen sees ghosts 

and she will come at night

 to walk the whole hotel

 and nobody can be in the building

 except for her

 and her cameraman.

From left to right:

Susan, Sandy, Judy (me) and Cheryl

These ladies

 are members of the

 C..ute - S..ocial - S..ecurity - J..unkies.

We are all retirees

 from the Grass Valley School District

 and we've formed our club,

 using the initials of each of our first names.

  We meet for lunch, once a month,

 at different establishments around town.

  Here, we are pictured, in the dining room 

of the Holbrooke Hotel.

  We were hoping a rich ghost

 would show up that day

 and pay for our lunches,

 but

 no 

such

 luck!

The front entrance to the hotel

As of yet,

 no air date has been set for the show,

 but I will let you know

 when that happens.

  Just be aware

of a little tap

 on your shoulder!

...Judy...

The stairway leading up to the rooms.

You never know 

who you will meet

 on your way

 up to bed.

Sharing today with:

Roses of Inspiration at The Enchanting Rose

Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage