The White House Spooks

The first (or oldest anyway) spirit ever recorded at
the White House is that of Abigail Adams. She was
the wife of President John Adams, who served from
1797 to 1801. The White House had just been built
in Early Washington D.C. and though the streets
were unpaved, and the White House was still being
built, Mrs. Adams cheerfully went about her daily
chores. One chore that she still seems to enjoy
doing is hanging up the wash in the East Room. Her
aparition has been seen many times on her way
there with her arms outstretched, as if holding a pile
of invisible clothes. She is recognized by the lace
shawl and cap she often wore.

The second spirit is identified as Dorothea Paine
"Dolly" Madison. She was married to President James
Madison, who was elected in 1809. The Rose
Garden seems to be her favorite spot to linger in
now. She planted those roses, and now she cares
for them today. Once when Mrs. Woodrow Wilson
was about to dig up the garden, Dolly appeared, and
frightened of the workers.

In 1953 a ghost was sighted in a second floor
bedroom. He appeared to be a British soldier, and
he tried to light the bed on fire with a spectral torch
he carried. He is believed to be the spirit of one of
the British soldiers who light the building on fire in
1814.

In 1828, Andrew Jackson became President of the
United States. His ghost now haunts the Rose
Room, which was his former bed chamber. Cold
spots and booming laughter come from the bed.

Another strange thing happened in the Rose Room.
Queen Wilhemina of The Netherlands was staying at
the White House during Franklin Roosevelt's
Administration. One evening, she heard a knock at
the door, and thinking it may be something
important, she answered it. What greeted her was
the full apparition of Abraham Lincoln! The Queen
fainted, and when she came to, he was gone.

Old Abe is another person who never left the White
House. During his presidency, his wife often held
seances to try and contact their son, Willie, who
died there. Mary Todd Lincoln was a great believer
in the occult, and her influence spread to her
husband. Abraham was said to receive many
suggestions for the nation from spirits (including
freeing the slaves!), and even had a premonition of
his own death. He knew exactly what day he would
die, and sure enough, on that day, April 14, 1865, he
was shot in the back of the head while watching a
play called, Our American Cousin. He died the next
day.

Mr Lincoln's ghost has been seen many times in his
bedroom.

A quick rundown of spooks.

A.) Sights: Abraham Lincoln- sitting in bed
pulling on his boots, standing at window gazing
out over the Potomac, lying on his bed peacefully.
Abigail Adams hanging laundry in the East room.
Andrew Jackson in his room. Dolly Madison in the
Rose Garden. Willie Lincoln in a second flooe
bedroom. Unknown British soldier in a second
floor bedroom. Second Floor Halls- Abraham
Lincoln, Abigail Addams. Yellow Oval Office-
Abraham Lincoln (seen by Grace Coolidge),
Thomas Jefferson (Now that's strange!), and John
Tyler (seen by Mary Todd Lincoln.)

B.) Sounds: Attic- Ghost of William Henry
Harrison heard rumaging through attic. Voice of
David Burns (who owned the property in 1790)
saying "I'm David Burns." Rose Room- Andrew
Jackson laughing and cursing. Knocking, heavy
footsteps. Second Floor Bedrooms- Willie Lincoln
talked to members of President Grant's staff. The
Screaming of Mrs. Grover Cleveland (First
presiden's wife to give birth in the White House).
Second Floor Halls- Footsteps.

C.) Smells: East room- Smells of damp clothes
and soap from Abigail Adams's wash.

D.) Extras: Spirits of the White House have been
sensed by many people. Some who have
admitted this are; Grace Coolidge, Theodore
Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Harry Truman,
Margaret Truman (Harry's daughter), Dwight
Eisenhower, James Haggerty, Jacqueline Kennedy,
Ladybird Johnson, Susan Ford, Maureen Reagan,
Mary Todd Lincoln, Lynda Johnson Robb (Presiden
Johnson's daughter).

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