PARKERSBURG, W.Va. – Nestled into downtown Parkersburg, the Blennerhassett Lodge was constructed within the late 1800s. Regardless of a number of setbacks over time–fires, floods, and main renovations–the resort remains to be open for visitors to take pleasure in. With all of the recollections many locals have of the resort, it’s no shock that the resort has its justifiable share of ghost tales.
The resort was named after Harmon and Margaret Blennerhassett, however the ghosts reported on the resort are usually from the commercial period. Company and employees have stated that they’ve seen youngsters using tricycles, vaudevillians, and males carrying prime hats and bowler hats.
“That’s simply so cool as a result of it tells in regards to the historical past of the city by way of ghost tales,” stated Jason Burns, a West Virginia storyteller, “since you’ve received the colonial period on the island with Margaret and then you definately’ve received the commercial period on the mainland with the resort.”
Watch: Jason Burns discusses how ghost tales inform Parkersburg’s story
The girl within the elevator
One well-known ghost story on the Blennerhassett is the girl within the elevator. Legend has it that folks will see the ghost strolling into the elevator and vanish. Adam Dotson, Hospitality Visitor Companies Specialist on the Blennerhassett Lodge, recalled a time {that a} postman with a supply noticed the ghost.
“He had by no means been right here earlier than. I informed him to undergo these doorways and get on the elevator and go downstairs and I might be proper with him,” Dotson recalled.
After a couple of minutes, Dotson determined to go along with the postman to verify he knew the place he was going. He caught the supply man earlier than the elevator closed.
“He appeared over at me and the very first thing he stated, severe as might be, ‘Is that this place haunted?’” remembers Dotson.
The supply man continued on to say that he caught the top of a lady getting on the elevator and that earlier than the door shut, he stopped it, however there wasn’t anybody on the elevator.
The cigar room door
The ghost of a lady has been identified to frequent the door going through Fourth Road on the Blennerhassett Lodge. The door had as soon as been the doorway to the gents’s cigar stand and smoking room in 1889. Based on employees, the door now serves no goal. Sherry Stevens, Human Useful resource Supervisor on the Blennerhassett Lodge, stated she noticed the ghost not too long ago whereas strolling to her automotive one night.
“It was mid-afternoon. I used to be strolling down the sidewalk throughout the road, and one thing flashed, and it made me look in [the direction of the door],” Stevens recounted, “So I finished for a second, and I noticed a lady wanting proper at me in [the door] window.”
Stevens stated she noticed the girl twice inside per week, and he or she all the time appears to be like within the window when she passes by now however hasn’t seen the ghost since then. She describes the girl as having a white, expressionless face and vivid purple hair. Stevens stated she might inform the girl wasn’t from this period as a result of she wore a light-weight blue costume that had a frilly, tall collar and a broach.
“I wasn’t scared and he or she didn’t look evil or something like that,” Stevens famous, “It simply made you cease and look, like, is that this what I’m seeing? After which it went away.”
Shadow figures
Workers have stated that they regularly see black shadow figures within the basement. The figures are described as being silhouettes of individuals, generally carrying prime hats, trench coats, and fur collars. The laundry room appears to be a scorching spot for the ghosts, as many employees members have reported seeing the figures stroll to a staircase on the finish of the washing machines that results in the bellman’s closet in the primary foyer.
Dotson stated he noticed a shadow determine stroll into his workplace, which can be within the basement. Pondering that the shadow was a server in black garments, he appeared in his workplace, and no person was there.
The person with the bowler hat
One of the well-known ghost tales on the Blennerhassett Lodge is the story of the person with the bowler hat. The person is thought to be seen within the dry storage space within the basement and in room 409, which is positioned a couple of tales above the storage space. Workers on the resort imagine that the ghost could also be linked to The Kaltenecker Constructing, which was constructed subsequent to the resort by businessman Johan Kaltenecker. The resort acquired the constructing and included that portion of the constructing throughout the 1985 renovation.
Room 409 is the one two-story suite within the resort. In addition to seeing the bowler hat man, visitors who keep in that room have reported listening to furnishings shifting round at night time. One visitor stated the bowler hat man tried to carry her down in mattress by her neck one morning.
Dotson stated he had an encounter with the ghost whereas staying in room 407, subsequent door to the notorious 409 room. He stated he selected the room as a result of it’s identified to be on the quiet facet of the resort, however he woke as much as what seemed like a celebration in room 409. The following morning, Dotson informed the entrance desk about how noisy the individuals in room 409 have been that night time, and the employees stated he was the one one on that flooring on that finish of the resort that night time.
Those that are considering taking a historic tour of the resort can name 304-422-3131.
