Gertrude's Ghost (EJ Carpenter Mansion of Minneapolis)

E.J. Carpenter House ca 1915
Photo from the Minneapolis Historical Society

Today's post is dedicated to the people of Minneapolis who are fighting the good fight. The ice is melting. 

At 300 Clifton Avenue, in the Loring Park district of Minneapolis, MN, sits a palatial residence known as the E.J. Carpenter Mansion. The home was originally built in 1887 in the Queen Ann style by C.M. Douglas, owner of a coal delivery business. Several years later, it became home to banker Harvey Brown, who passed away there in late 1901. 

Mrs. Brown passed away several years later and the property was transferred in November 1905 to Eugene (E.J.) Carpenter, and his wife, Merrette. The two had a daughter, Olivia, born around 1898. Mr. Carpenter was a lumberman, and a rather wealthy one at that. Yet, he had an eye for the arts. In 1906, he hired architect, Edwin Hewitt, to do some massive renovations on the house. When all was said and done, the former Queen Anne was now a Georgian Revival. 

The Carpenters were instrumental in the arts in other ways, most notably with the creation of the Minneapolis Institute of Art and their own private collection of pieces, which decorated the home. This art collection plays a vital role in one of the home's most prolific ghost stories. 

According to sources, in 1911 fire broke out in the Carpenter home. Merrette's personal maid, a young lady named Gertrude, was trying to save a valuable painting and somehow ended up drowning in a cistern in the basement. Surprisingly, at the time of writing, I cannot find any documentation that this event took place. I cannot even find confirmation that a lady named Gertrude was employed by the Carpenters. In the 1910 census, the family employed multiple servants, most of whom were Swedish or Norwegian-born (see list below) but no Gertrude. However, Gertrude is believed to be the primary spirit haunting the property. 

Source: Wikipedia

Gertrude has been heard humming in the maids' quarters. She has been heard walking up the stairs at times. An original rocking chair belonging to the family mysteriously rocks, presumably by Gertrude.  On the rare occasion that she is seen, she is described as having long blond hair. 

Gertrude is also said to be a protective spirit, guiding the fate of the home. After Mr. Carpenter passed in 1922, the home went to his wife and daughter, who owned it until 1948. But after that, it went through a string of owners, including the Mack's, who broke the home up into several residences. At one point, the home was slated for demolition but was saved. Those close to the source believe it was Gertrude who saved the home. 

The E.J. Carpenter Mansion was added to National Register of Historic Places and today operates as a B&B called 300 Clifton.  In 2025, manager Norman Kulba admitted to not having SEEN the spirits, but definitely feeling and hearing them, including an incident where he was alone in the house and heard shuffling and the tinkling of glasses in an empty dining area. He also notes that guests to the B&B have seen an entire phantom family in the carriage house. 

Current owners have embraced this spooky history. Gertrude's Cistern (aka Gertrude's Haunted Lounge) is an area in the basement that guests can rent or otherwise utilize to enjoy snacks, watch horror flicks, and hopefully catch a glimpse of Gertrude herself. Those seeking a little more adventure can book a haunted trolley tour of Minneapolis, which leaves and returns from 300 Clifton. And, there are plenty of beautifully and historically decorated rooms to rent and hopefully have a spooky experience of your own. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Eugene J. Carpenter House (Wikipedia Article)

300 Clifton (Website) (FaceBook)

How to Explore Minneapolis' Haunted History This Halloween, by Shay Scanlan. 22 October 2025. The Minnesota Daily

The Most Haunted Places in Minneapolis--and Other Fun Scary Things to Do, by Meet Minneapolis Blog

List of Servants in the Carpenter Home (According to 1910 Census Records):

Hans Nichelson M/40

Emma Nichelson F/36

Kate Sullivan F/54

Carrie Kutteron F/26

Palma Frederickson F/23

Ella Carlson F/21

Milly Thompson F/25

The Minneapolis Journal
01 January 1902

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
23 March 1922

Meet Molly at the Elkhorn Inn and Theater

Empire Coal and Coke 'Miner's Clubhouse'
Source

The former town of Landgraff, located in McDowell County, WV, was a mining town under the operation of Empire Coal and Coke Company. In 1922, the coal company built a multi-story brick 'Miner's Clubhouse' to replace two wooden buildings that had burned down. Over the years, this building would go through many different incarnations. According to the Elkhorn Inn website, the building was used in the 1940's as housing for miners' families. In the early 1950's it was privately owned but became the office and residence of a mine supervisor and his family in 1957. Throughout the 1960's and 1970's, it was used as office space for Hawley Coal. In 1988, it became home to a company called Data Services. In the 1990's, it was owned by Billie Cherry and known as the Cherry-Key Inn. At one point, it even served as a dormitory for nurses, and later as a State Police barracks. 

As the town of Landgraff suffered from population decline, fires, and at least two devastating floods in 2001-2002, the old clubhouse was left as the only substantial historic structure in town. And, it almost met a similar fate, as it was slated for demolition. Luckily, two FEMA relief workers, Dan and Elisse Clark, purchased the building, spent a year renovating it, and opened it in May 2003 as the Elkhorn Inn and Theater. 

Today, the Elkhorn Inn is a haven for tourists coming to the southern coalfields for trail-riding, trout fishing, and 'rail-fanning,' as the inn is located along both the Elkhorn Creek and the NS Pocahontas line. There's also a variety of weekend getaway packages, gourmet meals provided by Chef Dan, and wonderful views of the fall foliage throughout Autumn. The Elkhorn Inn, which has 14 guestrooms, is also a stop on the Coal Heritage Trail, and is the only attraction on the trail that offers both dining and lodging options. On the first floor, in an area that was originally a coal camp doctor's office, is the inn's museum and gift shop, where you can learn about the history of the building, the town, and the coal mining history of Southern West Virginia, and then take home a unique souvenir to remember it by. 

Since Dan and Elisse took over the inn, it has been featured on numerous television shows and in several books....including two GHOST books! That's because the old inn is believed to be haunted by a spirit known affectionately as 'Molly.' 

During the initial renovations to the Elkhorn Inn, the Clarks, as well as other workers and friends, would hear strange sounds, including what sounded like shattering crystal and banging wood. Lights would turn on by themselves, and paintings removed themselves from the walls. 

Many who spent time in the inn claimed to feel or even SEE the spirit of a woman that Dan named Molly. Molly is an adult female, who is seen wearing either a long dress and button-up boots, or a blue blouse with her hair done up in a bun. Several psychics have confirmed that there is a female presence that calls the inn home. Luckily, Molly is a benevolent spirit who seems to watch over the inn. She prefers to make her presence known to staff and family, but on rare occasions, she has let paying guests know she's around. Once, she rattled the doorknob in a guestroom two nights in a row!

The Elkhorn Inn Facebook page has several photos they believe may be Molly trying to manifest, and there have been paranormal investigations/events conducted most notably by local ghost hunter, Mark Painter. One such investigation led to strange noises being captured in the former doctor's office/current gift shop. And, while it doesn't give a name, a Facebook post about the hauntings suggests that a ghost hunter also received a spectral massage while staying at the inn!

The next time you're in the southern coalfields of West Virginia and are looking for spooky opulence that's also pet friendly, stop in at the Elkhorn Inn. You might even get an in-room spectral spa treatment! 

Sources and Further Reading:

Elkhorn Inn and Theater Website

Elkhorn Inn and Theater Facebook Page

Mark Painter's Blog (Signs of Ghosts)

The Railroad Connection---this guest post by Elisse gives a beautiful account of how she and Dan fell in love with each other, and fell in love with the Elkhorn Inn. It's a great account of the building's known history, how they acquired it, and the work they put into it. 

Ferris, Gina. Sleeping Where Ghosts Dwell: Southeast. Amazon Link

Davis, Deborah. Some Things Go Bump in the Night: Haunted Hotels, Inns, B&B's, and Restaurants. Amazon Link 

Ohio's Haunted Hammel House

Source

By some accounts, Waynesville is the most haunted city in Ohio, boasting no less than 36 haunted sites within town limits...and the historic Hammel House bed and breakfast is its most haunting building! Built on the site of a former log tavern known as Jennings House, Hammel House gets its name from one of its rather colorful owners, Enoch Hammel.

Hammel seemed like a rather fine, upstanding citizen to most residents of the town, but a Quaker woman who stayed across the street from Hammel House on a regular basis knew better.  Mrs. Anna O'Neal was known to park a wagon in front of her cabin so that her children wouldn't be able to see the "Bacchanalian revelry and ribald conduct which was hourly enacted." In later years, the inn was owned by Mr. W.O. Gustin who made major improvements, added modern amenities, such as electricity, and turned the place into a fine hotel, which hosted several presidents over the years. However, today, the inn is as much known for its ghostly goings-on as it is its famous guest list!

In an interview, owner Pam Bowman describes the hauntings of Hammel House.  As the stories go, in 1823 a traveling merchant, possibly a jeweler or gold merchant came to Waynesville and stayed the night in Room #4 of Hammel House.  He was never seen from again...at least, not in the flesh.

Since then, visitors have reported that in addition to the apparition of a ghostly cat, the murdered merchant still makes his home at the inn. He is seen as a shadowy form that will manifest in one area of Room #4 and make his way out into the inn and into the dining area.  Some guests sleeping in that particular room and the one next door claim that this shadowy manifestation has even climbed into bed with them! If you're a little uneasy about booking a room with a possible ghost, each October the inn features a special Ghost and Goblet Dinner and Tour where you enjoy a wonderful meal at the inn, followed by a ghost tour of some of those Waynesville hot spots!

Sources:
Interview with Pam Bowman
Hammel House website

The Haunted Ivy House Inn of Casper, Wyoming

With a name like Casper, you'd expect the town to have at least one good haunted location!  While there are several other haunted places around the area, today's location I've chosen in the former Ivy House Inn, located on South Ash Street.

The home was originally built in 1916, and construction officially concluded in the 1940 with the addition of the wonderful, grand porches.  Many sources out there say that the home was built by Mr. and Mrs. W. Frank White, but I've found that not to be the case.  However, the White Family did play a major role in the history of the home, and as you'll see a little later on, are the prime candidates for the hauntings!

Rhea Eliza Porter was born on March 10, 1902. She and Willis Frank White were married in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 15, 1929, and as you might have guessed from that location, were Mormons. The White Family lived in various locations throughout Casper and Cheyenne during the 1930s and 1940s, but settled into their final home on South Ash Street between 1944 and 1945.  Here it is rumored that the Whites hosted Mormon missionaries over the years.  Together, the couple are listed in the 1940 census as having three children: Dale, Joe, and Charmaine.  Frank may have also had at least one daughter, if not more children, from a previous relationship.

It is said that Rhea ruled the home with all the strictness that her Mormon upbringing afforded her.  She refused to allow drinking and smoking in her home and forbade any other type of immoral activity as well.  After Frank passed away in 1957, Rhea continued to live in the home until her own death on May 15 1995 (her wedding anniversary) at the age of 93.  The following year, the home was purchased by Tom and Kathy Johnson, who immediately began the task of renovating the large private residence into a cozy bed and breakfast.

Almost immediately, strange activity began.  Tom was working with a power drill when it suddenly stopped.  He turned around and saw that the cord had not only been unplugged, but it was floating mid-air, as if someone was holding it up before letting it fall! Another time, a hammer mysteriously just disappeared.  In paranormal research, we often associate an upswing in paranormal activity with any type of renovations, but the strangeness didn't stop even after the Ivy House Inn opened for business.

The main entity seems to be that of Mrs. White.  A female form has been seen walking down the hallway, a ghostly female face has been spotted in not just mirrors and windows but caught in photographs as well.  Guests often report a knocking at their door at night, only to find no one there when they answer.  Phantom smells are also quite common--especially those of chocolate baking and vintage cold remedies.

Other members of the White family also seem to still be sticking around.  Two Siamese cats, believed to have belonged to Mrs. White, have been seen darting around the inn and one guest even reported that one of the cats jumped up in bed with her and slept, purring, at the foot of the bed all night long.  Mr. White tends to favor the parking area out back---a shadowy figure of a man has been seen in that area who likes to activate car alarms.  Mr. White has also been seen inside the house, particularly creeping out one guest who reported that a man's figure stood over the bed one night and stated "Isn't it funny how people get lost?"  One can only imagine what that phrase might be in reference to...

The lower level of the home is no stranger to weird occurrences, either.  Guests staying in one of two suites have claimed to have very vivid dreams of a young man who constantly paces back and forth between the sink and the closet area.  Could this be one of the White sons?

Before purchasing the home, Tom Johnson didn't believe in ghosts.  However, with all that activity, he quickly became a little more open to the idea.  In fact, he became a paranormal investigator!  He and his son, Eric, gave tours and held annual October events in the home to share the history and the haunts of the Ivy House.  They also held an annual party for Mrs. White and no less than nine official paranormal investigations were conducted.

Unfortunately, opportunities to explore the hauntings for yourself are now limited to non-existent.  In 2009, the Ivy House Inn was purchased by The Self-Help Center and converted into Turning Point, a transitional group home for female victims of domestic violence.

Legends of America: Haunted Ivy House Inn in Casper

Self Help Center Buys Ivy House--Casper Star Tribune