Surrounded by historic buildings, covered in the shadows of ancient trees, and marked with statues memorializing some of our nation's greatest heroes, it's no surprise that Lafayette Square - sitting directly in front of the White House - is ripe with the history of our nation. However, this DC tourist hot spot hides many dark secrets which have earned it the nickname "Tragedy Square" over the years. Once again, we have chosen the top three haunts for your reading pleasure:
3. 708 Jackson Place: This modest townhouse on the square may look innocent on the outside, but behind its' doors lies a true American horror story. Former home of Union officer Henry Rathbone, 708 Jackson Place has seen its fair share of tragedy over time. Rathbone lived here with his fiance (who, oddly enough, was his step-sister) Clara during the later half of the Civil War. Once the war had ended and the North emerged victorious, Henry and his young wife were offered the prestigious opportunity to attend the theater with the President and his wife. On April 14th, 1865, the Lincolns and the Rathbones set off to see a show, but got more than they could ever have bargained for. As we all know, on the night of April 14th, President Lincoln was shot in the head and killed by assassin John Wilkes Booth. However, a lesser known fact is that while attempting to help the president, Rathbone was stabbed in the arm and slashed in the head by Booth. Although he survived the encounter physically unharmed, his mental state began to deteriorate after this night. Although he suffered from severe depression, Clara and Henry had three children before leaving DC for a government job in Germany. Despite this change in location, Henry never recovered from the trauma he experienced on April 14th, and on December 23rd 1883, he shot Clara in the head and attempted to kill his children. After household servants prevented him from harming the children, he pulled a dagger on himself, stabbing his head and slashing his arm, in the same place where Booth had assaulted him 23 years prior. Perhaps not coincidentally, Clara's head wound was in the same place as Lincoln's. Although Henry survived again, he blamed his murderous rampage on the advice of "the people behind the pictures". Needless to say, he spent the rest of his life in an insane asylum. Ever since then, people have reported strange happenings in the house Clara and Henry once shared. Most popularly heard haunts are the sounds of moaning and weeping throughout the night, perhaps the ghost of Henry's depression getting the best of him. Others have reported bumping noises heard in the walls, as if someone is angrily hitting a wall. The most confrontational encounters include people feelings as if someone has bumped their shoulder - followed by a feeling of cold dread. Although the horror of the Rathbone murder may not have happened inside the house itself, it seems as if the unhappy ghosts of Henry and Clara chose to live out their eternal misery in the place where it all started; Lafayette Square.
1. Dolley Madison, the friendly ghost: As the wife of the fourth president James Madison, Dolley Madison was the hostess of all White House soirees and functions for his eight years in office. In face, the previous president, Thomas Jefferson was a widower, so Dolley (as wife of the Vice President James Madison) served as White House hostess during Jefferson's terms as well. Dolley held her position as ultimate society hostess in Washington DC for almost sixteen years before she and her husband retired to Montpelier, Virginia in 1817. Dolley never quite liked the country life after her years in DC, and after James died in 1836, she moved back to DC and lived with her niece in a house on the corner of Lafayette Square. It was here that Dolley lived out the rest of her life, enjoying her favorite past time of people watching. Dolley would often sit out in her favorite rocking chair at all hours of the day and night, waving to whomever passed by her house. Her death in 1849 by no means stopped her from enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city however. Ever since her passing people have reported seeing a ghostly apparition rocking back and forth on the porch of her former home - sometimes even waving at them as they pass by, just like Dolley used to. Her rocking chair, which is currently on display inside the house, has been known to rock back and forth unprovoked, and many who work in her ormer home have reported that the chairs rocking is often accompanied by the smell of lilacs - Dolley's favorite perfume. Dolley Madison is not a hostile ghost, and it would seem that she simply wishes to remain in the place where she was most happy, and to enjoy the life of the city.
2. Hay-Adams Hotel: The present day hotel used to be the Washington home of president John Adams' grandson and his wife, Clover. Henry and Clover lived in the mansion after meeting in London, and quickly became a part of the city's high society. Clover loved to host intellectual salons and parties, and Henry was happy to oblige her. Unfortunately, Clover's happiness was marred by her depression: a condition known to affect the women in her family greatly (two relatives committed suicide during her lifetime). Henry was often away for business, leaving Clover alone in the mansion. On one such occasion in 1885, Henry returned home from a business trip, and found the house eerily silent. After calling his wife's name produced no response, her came to her bedroom and discovered her dead on the floor, a bottle of cyanide next to her lifeless body. It is widely accepted that Clover committed suicide, and after her death Henry did his best to avoid discussing his former wife at all, but it would seem as if Clover isn't quite ready to be forgotten. Ever since her death, especially during the two weeks leading up to the anniversary of her dear, visitors to the mansion have reported feeling an unexplained chill on the buildings fourth floor (where Clover's bedroom was), or an inexplicable feeling of sadness or despair. Even more disturbing, some hotel employees have been spooked by the sound of a disembodied female voice calling their name in the night, or the sharp smell of the mimosa flower appearing out of nowhere. The most active case of Clover's ghost reported would be that some people have actually felt a some unseen force embrace them when they are alone - always accompanied by the smell of the mimosa flower, Clover's favorite scent.
3. 708 Jackson Place: This modest townhouse on the square may look innocent on the outside, but behind its' doors lies a true American horror story. Former home of Union officer Henry Rathbone, 708 Jackson Place has seen its fair share of tragedy over time. Rathbone lived here with his fiance (who, oddly enough, was his step-sister) Clara during the later half of the Civil War. Once the war had ended and the North emerged victorious, Henry and his young wife were offered the prestigious opportunity to attend the theater with the President and his wife. On April 14th, 1865, the Lincolns and the Rathbones set off to see a show, but got more than they could ever have bargained for. As we all know, on the night of April 14th, President Lincoln was shot in the head and killed by assassin John Wilkes Booth. However, a lesser known fact is that while attempting to help the president, Rathbone was stabbed in the arm and slashed in the head by Booth. Although he survived the encounter physically unharmed, his mental state began to deteriorate after this night. Although he suffered from severe depression, Clara and Henry had three children before leaving DC for a government job in Germany. Despite this change in location, Henry never recovered from the trauma he experienced on April 14th, and on December 23rd 1883, he shot Clara in the head and attempted to kill his children. After household servants prevented him from harming the children, he pulled a dagger on himself, stabbing his head and slashing his arm, in the same place where Booth had assaulted him 23 years prior. Perhaps not coincidentally, Clara's head wound was in the same place as Lincoln's. Although Henry survived again, he blamed his murderous rampage on the advice of "the people behind the pictures". Needless to say, he spent the rest of his life in an insane asylum. Ever since then, people have reported strange happenings in the house Clara and Henry once shared. Most popularly heard haunts are the sounds of moaning and weeping throughout the night, perhaps the ghost of Henry's depression getting the best of him. Others have reported bumping noises heard in the walls, as if someone is angrily hitting a wall. The most confrontational encounters include people feelings as if someone has bumped their shoulder - followed by a feeling of cold dread. Although the horror of the Rathbone murder may not have happened inside the house itself, it seems as if the unhappy ghosts of Henry and Clara chose to live out their eternal misery in the place where it all started; Lafayette Square.
Next stop, Alexandria!
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