As Thick as the Sands of the Sea**
05/15/2007
Sammons, Mary Beth, and Robert Edwards. City Ghosts: True Tales of Hauntings in America’s Cities. New York: Sterling, 2006. 247 p.
Although America is young in comparison to the ancient civilizations of the world, its cities are nonetheless rich with history, tradition, and, most importantly, spectral activity. All across the country, there are reports of jilted lovers, murder victims, and intensely dedicated proprietors who could not bear to part with the earthly sphere. They are said to be the sources of disembodied voices, mysterious breezes, floating objects, and other paranormal activities that both terrify and excite hosts of ghost hunters.
In City Ghosts, Mary Beth Sammons and Robert Edwards introduce the famous, as well as the obscure, spirits inhabiting America’s cities. The tales are organized by geographic region, and subdivided by city. Thanks to this structure, paranormal enthusiasts can easily plan a vacation wrought with ghostly experiences. Even more useful are the addresses provided at the end of each subsection and the resources listed at the end of the book. Ghost aficionados may, for instance, seek out St. Augustine’s Ancient City Tours, which is said to be “the only walking tour that enters a certified haunted building.” For readers that are titillated enough to further investigate these urban ghost stories, the resource section lists websites, archives, books, and the names of ghost tour companies that may aid in the supernatural search.
Anyone who has read a book of scary true tales or heard ghost stories while sitting around the campfire knows that these accounts can run the gamut from chilling to amusing, and from heart-wrenching to terrifying. Some of the most spellbinding tales are those that describe loss and deep sadness. Somehow a spirit in perpetual mourning is both sympathetic and intriguing. Sarah, a ghost reported in Seattle, is a prime example of a melancholy soul that still walks among the living. According to the story, Sarah had been raped and impregnated by her brother-in-law while making a visit to her sister. In another disturbing turn, Sarah’s demented in-law allegedly abducted and murdered the child shortly after Sarah gave birth. Now the Victorian home is host to poltergeist activity and poor Sarah is said to walk the halls, “crying for her baby.” The thought of her hazy figure emerging from nothingness and quietly weeping in the place that caused her so much pain in life is quite compelling. It is understandable that ghost hunters would be drawn to such a spirit. Unfortunately, unlike some of the publicly accessible haunted sites, this house is now a private residence.
The Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, on the other hand, is quite another story. Not only is it open to the public, Room 3327 is ostensibly reserved throughout the year. According to Sammons and Edwards, the hotel’s ghost has been identified as Kate Morgan (A.K.A., Lottie Anderson Bernard), a late 19th century con-artist. Room 3327, of course, had been Kate’s suite during her short stay. Apparently, less than a week after checking in, her body was found on the property with a bullet wound to the head. Although her death was widely considered a suicide, some speculate that she was murdered by her estranged husband, fellow con-artist Tom Morgan. As the story goes, they parted ways when Kate became pregnant and wanted to terminate their criminal career. Despite the falling out, Tom was supposed to meet his wife for Thanksgiving, but that reunion never materialized. Now, over a century later, paranormal experiences are a regular occurrence at the hotel and some individuals have even reported seeing a woman dressed in black lace in Kate Morgan’s room. Kate is not ready to depart from her quarters and thus, curious present-day guests may just have the otherworldly encounter that they seek.
On a lighter note, City Ghosts also presents ghostly tales that elicit full-fledged laughter. The authors indicate in the introduction that some of the stories may be considered humorous. They are indeed true to their word. One such story involves an officer at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. As he sat in his patrol car outside of the university’s playhouse one evening, he was inexplicably “rear-ended by a ghostly car.” Later, the same officer “saw a disembodied arm in a blue sleeve appear and turn out a light.” Clearly, some guys have all the luck.
As often happens, the book does contain occasional typographical errors and other editorial oversights. Williamsburg, for example, is printed as “Wiulliamsburg” in one case and Maryland is recorded as “Marytland” in another instance. Additionally, it is highly unlikely that downtown Savannah was “ravished” by fire. A more perplexing blunder involves the story of the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago, which caught fire in 1903, killing over six hundred people. As the story begins, the authors note that “the Iroquois Theatre burned to the ground during a matinee performance.” On the next page, however, the theater apparently “sustained only light interior damage [and] was repaired and reopened less than a year later as the Colonial Theater.” The previous statement seems to contradict the latter. Even so, the flaws are forgivable in light of the book’s engaging stories.
Beyond Sarah, Kate, and the ghosts that plagued the University of Missouri security officer, City Ghosts tells the tales of dozens of restless spirits all across America. They are an eclectic mix of souls, attracting ghost seekers of varying interests. One need only jot down an address or check out a website listed in the book to begin planning a ghostly encounter. Sammons and Edwards allow the spiritually curious to take one step closer to the experience of a lifetime.
*"Ghosts must be all over the country, as thick as the sands of the sea," Henrik Ibsen, Ghosts