White House Ghost Stories

[donna]

With Halloween approaching thought post on White House Ghost stories. It is said the White House is one of the most haunted places in America. It's most famous ghost is Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln is said to haunt the Lincoln bedroom and the yellow oval office. Those who claim they have seen his ghost are First Lady Grace Coolidge, Winston Churchill and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

Another ghost seen is Willie Lincoln., who died in White House during the Civil War. He was seen most often in 1870s by staff of President Grant.

Other famous ghosts seen or heard are Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, heard plating his violin, Dolley Madison, John Tyler and William Henry Harrison.

See:
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/press-room/press-fact-sheets/white-house-ghost-stories

 

[unionblue]

When my reenacting unit, the 76th OVI staged a sleep over in the rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse, we were told the story of the clerk who worked at the statehouse who saw the ghosts of Lincoln dancing with Kate Chase in the senate chambers by troopers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol who guard the building.

They also told us that when they made their rounds and security checks with their guard dogs, the dogs would 'hit' on something or someone who wasn't there when they checked.

We all slept with one eye open that night and one of our members claimed to have heard ball music down the hall around one in the morning.

True story.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

When my reenacting unit, the 76th OVI staged a sleep over in the rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse, we were told the story of the clerk who worked at the statehouse who saw the ghosts of Lincoln dancing with Kate Chase in the senate chambers by troopers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol who guard the building.

They also told us that when they made their rounds and security checks with their guard dogs, the dogs would 'hit' on something or someone who wasn't there when they checked.

We all slept with one eye open that night and one of our members claimed to have heard ball music down the hall around one in the morning.

True story.

How very cool @unionblue!

 

[unionblue]

How very cool @unionblue!

It was indeed, Belle!

My unit, the 76th OVI, used to stage this recreation of the original 76th OVI coming home to Columbus, Ohio, on Veteran's furlough. By the historical account, finding no room at the army barracks and it being past midnight, the regiment was ordered to march from the train station to the statehouse. There, over the protest of the janitors, the boys laid their blankets on the floor of the capitol rotunda and bedded down for the night.

We do the exact same reenactment at the invitation of the statehouse once a year and one year we had a troop of Boy Scouts join us in sleeping over. After telling them the ghostly tale of Lincoln dancing with Kate Chase, one of our boys played a hidden tape recorder with period music on it making it seem Lincoln and Kate were just down the hall and dancing once more! Should have seen the look on those Scouts faces!

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Just as long as it isn't you dancing with Kate Chase

 

[diane]

The last person you'd expect would see a ghost anywhere is Ulysses Grant. But he did indeed see one in a second floor bedroom at the White House and it was a beaut. It was a bent over old geezer with wild glowing eyes and hair to match and the air was electric around him. Either Grant saw a heck of a ghost or he was having a heck of a seizure! Grant's reaction was priceless, though. As soon as it passed down the hall he laid back down and went to sleep.

 

[unionblue]

Just as long as it isn't you dancing with Kate Chase

If the descriptions of Kate are accurate, from her time and the time the Statehouse clerk saw her, I don't think I would have minded one bit to take the floor with Kate (after tapping President Lincoln on the shoulder to politely cut in, of course).

 

[dlofting]

I honestly hope that Lincoln still haunts the White House.....just to keep Presidents on their toes.

 

[Northern Light]

I honestly hope that Lincoln still haunts the White House.....just to keep Presidents on their toes.

What a tweet that might be! LOL

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

The last person you'd expect would see a ghost anywhere is Ulysses Grant. But he did indeed see one in a second floor bedroom at the White House and it was a beaut. It was a bent over old geezer with wild glowing eyes and hair to match and the air was electric around him. Either Grant saw a heck of a ghost or he was having a heck of a seizure! Grant's reaction was priceless, though. As soon as it passed down the hall he laid back down and went to sleep.

Well, he'd seen worse and this thing wasn't shooting at anyone, either. You just know any ghost hoping for a cheap thrill haunting any vet went away disappointed.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

We do the exact same reenactment at the invitation of the statehouse once a year and one year we had a troop of Boy Scouts join us in sleeping over. After telling them the ghostly tale of Lincoln dancing with Kate Chase, one of our boys played a hidden tape recorder with period music on it making it seem Lincoln and Kate were just down the hall and dancing once more! Should have seen the look on those Scouts faces!

Ah. We, meaning some buddies and I tried to pull something like that. Backfire? I'll say. School I went to in the UK was said to be haunted ( it was ). New kids arrived on short courses every 3 months, a lot from the states. Best fun ever, filling them full of the ghost stories then not waiting around for the ghost- we did it. It was a dark, windy place ( I just described most of Exmoor ), Bristol Channel helpfully crashing waves down by some of the yards ( barns ). New kids had to go hay and water around 8 or 9 pm. WELL. There we were in the shrubs, giggling, a buddy in the yard clattering ghostly buckets, we were stomping with boots, etc. So behind us, we hear riding boots, walking, stopping, walking- we were not falling for that- it's exactly what we were doing. Coming closer, too- thought whomever it was would spoil the fun.

Big, stone veranda, turned on the flashlights? No one there. I mean right behind those darn shrubs- and we heard those stupid boots while looking at the empty veranda. Run? Like bunnies.

 

[unionblue]

Ah. We, meaning some buddies and I tried to pull something like that. Backfire? I'll say. School I went to in the UK was said to be haunted ( it was ). New kids arrived on short courses every 3 months, a lot from the states. Best fun ever, filling them full of the ghost stories then not waiting around for the ghost- we did it. It was a dark, windy place ( I just described most of Exmoor ), Bristol Channel helpfully crashing waves down by some of the yards ( barns ). New kids had to go hay and water around 8 or 9 pm. WELL. There we were in the shrubs, giggling, a buddy in the yard clattering ghostly buckets, we were stomping with boots, etc. So behind us, we hear riding boots, walking, stopping, walking- we were not falling for that- it's exactly what we were doing. Coming closer, too- thought whomever it was would spoil the fun.

Big, stone veranda, turned on the flashlights? No one there. I mean right behind those darn shrubs- and we heard those stupid boots while looking at the empty veranda. Run? Like bunnies.

EXCELLENT!

 

[unionblue]

I honestly hope that Lincoln still haunts the White House.....just to keep Presidents on their toes.

Dam straight!

 

[Dom71]

I honestly hope that Lincoln still haunts the White House.....just to keep Presidents on their toes.

Maybe wouldn't hurt to toss a little advice their way too. Every little bit helps.

 

[donna]

Both Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary reported seeing the ghost of their son, Willie several times. Lincoln stated he received regular visits from his son. Mary was so grief stricken after Willie's death that she did not come out of her room for weeks. She stated Willie appeared at foot of her bed several times. I believe they took comfort in these visits.

Mary also reported she heard Thomas Jefferson playing his violin and Andrew Jackson swearing.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

It was indeed, Belle!

My unit, the 76th OVI, used to stage this recreation of the original 76th OVI coming home to Columbus, Ohio, on Veteran's furlough. By the historical account, finding no room at the army barracks and it being past midnight, the regiment was ordered to march from the train station to the statehouse. There, over the protest of the janitors, the boys laid their blankets on the floor of the capitol rotunda and bedded down for the night.

We do the exact same reenactment at the invitation of the statehouse once a year and one year we had a troop of Boy Scouts join us in sleeping over. After telling them the ghostly tale of Lincoln dancing with Kate Chase, one of our boys played a hidden tape recorder with period music on it making it seem Lincoln and Kate were just down the hall and dancing once more! Should have seen the look on those Scouts faces!

Darn!...I live up near Cleveland do they still do it?

 

[unionblue]

Darn!...I live up near Cleveland do they still do it?

I don't think so anymore as I think the 76th OVI has "greyed out" but I can't be sure.

My advice, check the Ohio Statehouse event calendar.

They also used to do the Repose of Lincoln, a reenactment of Lincoln's body laying in state at the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda, with Union soldier reenactors as a Honor Guard and an exact replica of Lincoln's casket.

Hope it works out for you!

 

[Deleted User CS]

Donna. Thanks for posting this interesting historical information on the White House and its spirits. I have a question: is the Lincoln bedroom the most haunted place in the White House? David.

 

[donna]

According to former presidents, first ladies, visitors and staff many areas of the White House are haunted.

They are in order:

1. The Lincoln Bedroom
2. The Rose Room
3. The East Room
4. The North Portico
5. The Yellow Oval Room
6. The Second Floor Bedrooms
7. The Second Floor Halls

8. The Basement
9. The Rose Garden
10. The Attic.

So take your pick, the most haunted house in America.