Halloween





I figure that since it’s nearing Halloween, we need to learn about some of the spooks and ghosts still rambling and roaming around in the White House. I’ll save the best for last and begin with who supposedly have seen which apparitions that float around the floors of our Executive Mansion.

President Lincoln’s footman, Jerry Smith, believed that he saw the presidential spirits of Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, and a few first ladies. I don’t know which ones, but I question if Dolley Madison doesn’t attend balls wearing her empire waist, red ball gown. Eleanor Roosevelt’s secretary became very frightened at seeing President Lincoln’s ghost sitting on the bed. I think he’s probably wondering how he fit his long legs in and under the sheets. Did he keep his stovepipe hat beside him at night so he could riffle through all the pages he’d stuck inside of it? The same person also had encounters with Andrew Jackson. He’s probably wondering if he’s still considered, Old Hickory, or not? She also spoke of experiences with President Truman, but not his wife. He’s probably practicing the piano so he can play better than President Nixon. All of the above apparitions have been sighted in the grand staircase.



Mary Lincoln held séances and tried to seek her deceased children and husband. However, Abraham did sit in on one, and was surprised at the strange movements around the room. Carl Sandberg quoted the Boston Gazette,that ‘tables were moved, a picture of Henry Clay swayed more than a foot, and two candelabras were twice nearly raised’. The events took place in the Red Room.

Abigail Adams’ spirit is still in the East room hanging up the wash.



In 1884, Grover Cleveland was the first president to have grown up carving pumpkins. He was one of the first Americans to go ‘trick or treating’. While in school, he used to play pranks like ringing the school bell at midnight and removing garden gates.



Thanks so much for reading!  Please feel free to leave a comment. 
Barb
  
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