Greg Jenkins - Haunted Inns, Pubs and Eateries of St. Augustine

Published by Haunted America

A Division of The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2012 by Greg Jenkins

All rights reserved

Cover image: Harrys Seafood Bar & Grille, located at 46 Avenida Menendez.

Photo by the author.

Images are courtesy of author unless otherwise stated.

First published 2012

e-book edition 2012

Manufactured in the United States

ISBN 978.1.61423.818.8

Library of Congress CIP data applied for.

print edition ISBN 978.1.60949.408.7

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

I dedicate this book to my sisters, Lauren Moller and Lois Trudeau, and aunt, Isabelle Moller, all of whom have believed in and supported me. My heartfelt thanks!

CONTENTS

PREFACE

In 2003, I began collecting ghost stories and tales of haunted incidents that have allegedly taken place throughout the state of Florida. In my travels, I found that there was a plethora of eyewitness accounts, most from down-to-earth sources such as business owners, retired schoolteachers and public officials. Some of these reports came from law enforcement officers, and one even came from an agent retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Once I had an amazing collection of stories and personal accounts, I began putting them to paper, in order of my investigation route, from city to city, throughout the state. In 2005, I published my first books: Floridas Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore, volumes one and two, with Pineapple Press. Since then, I have written a third for this series, as well as another book on various preternatural oddities within the Sunshine State, Chronicles of the Strange and Uncanny in Florida, which explores such phenomena as UFOs, skunk apes and all manner of monstrous creature that have been reported throughout the state. I felt content with this accomplishment, yet I always knew that there was so much more out there to be explored.

By now, I thought I had run the gambit on writing about ghosts and the paranormal, but lo and behold, I came to the conclusion that I had neglected a good portion of Florida: that glorious ancient city, St. Augustine, likely one of the most haunted places in the United States. Although I had highlighted a few notable locations in this wonderful city, such as the Castillo de San Marcos and the Old Spanish Hospital, as well as the Huguenot Cemetery, Flagler College and a spattering of rustic inns, I felt that there should be a further selection of this citys haunted locations. Therefore, I am focusing my ghostly investigations on what are likely the most important places to anyone visiting St. Augustine: the bed-and-breakfast inns and the many fine restaurants and eateries.

The primary purpose of this book is to chronicle the ghostly phenomena and otherwise paranormal happenings that have occurred and continue to occur throughout the city. It is a registry of some of this citys strange and haunted accounts that have survived via our states oral traditions and urban legends. These supernatural events, as far-fetched as they may appear to some, are nonetheless considered true by the many witnesses involvedthe countless vacationing guests, innkeepers, restaurateurs, touring companies and assorted business owners. For that reason, I am offering these stories as both an anthology of specific paranormal events and as a scholarly contribution to the schools of cultural oral traditions and folkloric research.

During my investigations this past year, which involved visiting St. Augustine on several occasions, as well as interviewing many of the citys residents in the process, I have been fortunate to learn far more about St. Augustines haunted legends than I could ever have hoped. I also had the chance to take the majority of the ghost tours offered here after the sun goes down, during which I was treated to the fantastic anecdotes that only this city can offer. In addition to this, I had the chance to take part in an up-close and personal ghost tour under the direction of Dr. Harry Stafford with his company Paranormal Investigative Tours. While there, a small group of us was offered the chance to use various devices of the modern ghost hunter, such as the electromagnetic field (EMF) meter for detecting the presence of ghosts, as well as other equipment. We were also treated to a two-hour class and walking tour about the history and purpose of parapsychology and even visited the ancient Spanish fort Castillo de San Marcos and several old cemeteries within the historic district.

My research led me to the St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library, where I spent many hours during my visits examining the many particulars of this ancient cityits countless battles and various occupations by European conquers, as well as the indigenous peoples in this area of Florida, right on up to the illustrious era of Henry Flagler and his Gilded Age. Indeed, there is far more to St. Augustine than most people could ever suspect.

Having remembered my first series of interviews and explorations into St. Augustines ghostly history, I made my way back to a few of my old haunts, so to speak. I started my tour at Flagler College, formally the gorgeous Ponce de Len Hotel, to walk around the main rotunda, where some have witnessed the ghostly figure of Henry Flagler walking about in dismay. I had hoped that I would spy the sullen spirit of the Lady in Blue that is said to have been one of Flaglers many mistresses. I tried to see if I could catch a glimpse of the spectral little boy that has been seen playing with a little green rubber ball, eerily searching for a playmate.

As I continued my journey, heading down the path along the sparkling Matanzas Bay known as Avenida Menendez, I stopped by the Casablanca Inn to speak with the proprietors. I wanted to see how the resident ghost of a lantern-waving lady was faring these days. I did indeed find that this zealous spirit, which in life helped notorious, seafaring bootleggers into the bay area, was still being witnessed by a few visitors and locals. Later, I ventured down to Harrys Seafood Bar & Grille to have a snack, only to learn that its patron ghost Catalina is still there and happily showing herself through the windows and mirrors of this historic eatery. I was pleased to learn that things had changed very little in St. Augustine, especially when it comes to its ghosts.

After a light lunch at Harrys, I made my way to the Casa de la Paz bay-front bed-and-breakfast, only to find that it has become a private residence. A beautiful B&B, a lodging that truly lived up to its reputation of being one of the finest inns in the ancient city, was gone. Having stayed there once years ago, I can say that I truly miss it, as well as its delightful (if tragic) legend of the waiting bride named Mabel, a former guest at the inn more than a century ago. I waited a moment to see if I could hear her gentle voice asking Is it all rightCan I go home now? or if I could detect the faint scent of violets and primrose. Sadly, I did not experience these things, only the echoes of a busy street and the clomping hooves of horses giving carriage rides in the distance. A glorious bed-and-breakfast was no more.