Holbrooke Hotel, Iceland Fairies & Poppy Ridge Road

Holbrooke Hotel, Iceland Fairies & Poppy Ridge Road
By Paul Dale Roberts, HPI Esoteric Detective & 1 Other
www.hpiparanormal.com
Paranormal Hotline: (916) 203-7503
Email: [email protected]

The pictures added to these 3 stories, have nothing to do with the stories, but in the pictures are people that are associated with HPI. On 5/18/2013, Saturday I went to Ashley D. Webb / Andrew D. Boxall’s Wedding in Sacramento. Great wedding, very touching, especially when the couple gave their personal vows. They served Mexican food at the wedding and the food was GREAT! Ashley looked stunning in her wedding dress! After the wedding, I went to the Rubsam’s Maypole Party and enjoyed conversing with this extraordinary family. Most of the Rubsams are my investigators. Enjoy the pictures.

HPI Chronicles: The Haunted Activities of The Holbrooke Hotel and The Owl Tavern

This was a stealth reconnaissance excursion for HPI (Haunted and Paranormal Investigations International). I was informed by email from an unknown source to check out The Holbrooke Hotel and The Owl Tavern in Grass Valley. I ran it by the President of HPI, Shannon ‘Ms. Macabre’ McCabe. The stories that are being told by people who frequent these establishments, is that both places are haunted. Shan gives me the green light to check it out and that is what I plan to do. But, let me do some researching first and see what I can dig up. This is what I found:

Goldminers dream of striking it rich and boom towns are popping up all over the place. One of those places is Grass Valley. Stephen and Clara Smith were one of the first to invest into the boom town called Grass Valley and built The Golden Gate Saloon. This is known as the oldest, continuously operated saloon west of the Mississippi River. Then in 1862 one of their relatives Charles Smith did some additional building around the saloon and it became the Exchange Hotel, this was a place that you could exchange your gold. Finally in 1879, the hotel was purchased by Ellen and Daniel Holbrooke and a new name was given to the hotel, it became the Holbrooke Hotel. Many famous guests came to this hotel, such as Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, James Garfield, prize fighters ‘Gentleman Jim’ Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons. Famous authors stopped by like Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Entertainers stayed the night like Lola Montez, Lotta Crabtree and Emma Nevada. Even bad guys like Black Bart have frequented this prestige establishment. The Holbrooke Hotel is a California State Landmark and if you ever visit this hotel, you will understand why.

My research on The Owl Tavern is that it consists of two structures built in 1857 and 1862. The original saloon opened in 1813 as The Bank Exchange Saloon. I will discuss more about this bar as you read on.

Today is March 15, 2008, Saturday and it was time to round up my posse. I don’t like ghosthunting by myself. I brought along ghosthunters-in-training Nancy Towne who has her own online store called Annabelle’s at: stores.ebay.com/Anabelles – Sparky Parker and Angel Kesti. Equipment being used are digital cameras, electronic audio voice recorders, Listen Up sound enhancers.

Nancy rode with me up to Grass Valley and we met up with Angel on the freeway headed to Grass Valley, I was wondering who was blowing their horn at me like a madman, I casually look over and it’s Angel waving. Sparky was already waiting for us at the hotel and she brought her cute Chihuahua. The first employee we met was Kelly Sheehan who works the Front Desk. She is a Guest Service Representative. She greets everyone with a smile. She is a new employee, so she really hasn’t experienced anything yet. Kelly has definitely heard the stories though. We get a grand tour of the hotel, it’s quite accommodating for many guests. We meet Renee Smith – housekeeper and she tells me how she will never forget on how she heard the exit door rattling continuously for a long period of time. The exit door is next to Room 9, which is reputed to be very haunted. She allows my investigators and I, to visit the various rooms that were frequented by the famous people who stayed at this hotel. There is a big picture on one wall and the blazing words that Mark Twain slept on this bed! The ambiance of history resonates throughout this hotel. Each room is completely different from any other room. There is the touch of the Old West and Victorian, you feel like you have walked into the past. The decor is exquisite and I can see why ghosts haunt this hotel. Why would anyone want to leave paradise?

We are told that in Room #1, is where a couple on their honeymoon heard the clanging sounds of chains and bangings on the wall. The honeymooner woman placed her hand on the wall and an unseen force pushed her hand to the wall not letting it go for a few good minutes, which really spooked her. In the kitchen, an employee by the name of Denise heard her name called by a unseen woman and later by an unseen man. Kelley Garitty, the chef once was walking downstairs and she was physically pushed from behind, she could feel two hands on her back. She felt they were men’s hands. The push made her fall into the employee in front of her. She has seen an apparition of a woman in a flower dress, 1800s style clothing with a high neck standing over the mixer like she was looking at something. Kelley watched the apparition for about 2 minutes and then it vanished. Then the second time around, she saw the same apparition standing in the corner of the kitchen looking towards the corner and it appeared that the apparition of this woman knew that Kelley was watching her, showing intelligence.
Kelley tells me that she came across a little girl apparition that she feels has the name of Elizabeth. When she saw the little girl, a bunch of cans flew off the shelves. Kelley has worked here for awhile, so she has many stories and her last story was that she once came across a weird mist near the sink by the kitchen. There was no reason for the mist to be there, there was no hot running water or anything else that could cause the mist. Finally the mist evaporated as fast as it came.

Rubsams Maypole Party 5/18/2013

One thing about the Holbrooke Hotel, you don’t have to stay in one of their rooms to experience the paranormal, the women’s bathroom is haunted downstairs and the Iron Room (storage room that once was a bar) is haunted. Patrons have heard the door slam in the women’s bathroom for no apparent reason. Patrons have seen shadows underneath the doorway in the woman’s bathroom and The Iron Room.

As I was getting down the stories of this hotel, the General Manager shows up. His name is Sean Gilleran. He has been at this establishment for one year. Sean has a superb personality and the hospitality he shows my investigators and I, are exceptional. If you ever visit the Holbrooke Hotel, you will feel like you know Sean and the other employees for a lifetime. I instantly bonded with Sean. Sean personally takes us to various rooms of the hotel and shows us the backyard part of the hotel, where there is another structure with more gorgeous rooms!

Kelly Sheehan and Sean Gilleran tell me that the legend is that one of the managers got into trouble at this hotel and when he passed on, he came back to haunt this hotel. They have heard stories from the patrons that children have been heard playing in the hotel, which sounds to me to be a residual haunting activity. TVs have been known to go off and then go on by themselves in various rooms of the hotel. The deceased manager that may haunt this hotel, is known as Edgar the Ghost. I learn that the Iron Room was once a speakeasy and that Room 14 and 15 were once used as a strongbox, a place to count gambling money.

The bar of this hotel was so popular during Prohibition Days, it actually remained open. Sean gives me a history lesson about a small town up the road called ‘Rough N’ Ready’, named after Teddy Roosevelt. Rough N’ Ready had some political problems during Prohibition and established itself as it’s own country for a period of one month.

While my investigators were wandering all over the hotel trying to pick up EVPs and get some photographic evidence, they came to the pantry and a cord hanging from the wall started moving back and forth on it’s own. The back part of the hotel is called the Purcell House and you must walk through the garden to reach this section of the hotel. The Purcell House has rooms that are named after famous mines, like Sixteen to One, Dutch Flat, Pennsylvania, El Dorado and Del Oro. As I wander around to various rooms, I started thinking how it would be like to stay overnight on a weekend and listen to the live bands that appear in their bar area. I can just imagine the fun evening festivities!

As we closed up this investigation, I had some hungry investigators, so we dined at the Holbrooke Hotel Restaurant. A restaurant that will tease and tantalize your taste buds with delicacies such as: Prawn Cocktail, Grilled Filet Mignon, Porter Braised Pot Roast, Rigatoni, Seafood Cioppino, Pan Seared Salmon, Pan Seared Halibut, Grilled Swordfish, Steamed Clams, Fried Calamari, Seared Ahi, Roasted Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, Seafood Cioppino, New York Steak and a whole lot more!!! Okay, looking at the menu, I was starving. Then I saw the waiter Joshua Michael Turzak bring out a homemade BLT sandwich with French fries. The crispy bacon smelled great, this is what I wanted to be chased down with some coffee and a Coke. My investigators all ordered tantalizing meals and we ate vigorously, but yet savoring every scrumptious morsel of our lunch. We were already to pay the bill only to learn from our courteous waiter Joshua that it was on the house. Sean took care of our lunch! Wow! What a guy! I would say that Sean is one of the greatest hotel managers West of the Mississippi! Thank you Sean! Joshua was so helpful and polite, I made sure he received a nice tip from all of us! Before we left the restaurant, Sean explains that he has never witnessed anything, but that the children who visit this hotel have seen a little girl phantom and will run to their parents exclaiming they have just seen a ghost!

As we were leaving this historical hotel, I can understand why patrons keep coming back, because of the Old West ambiance, the great hospitality, the friendliness of the hotel staff, the great social atmosphere and the feeling of being home, but yet away from home. What a wonderful place! Yes! I will be back!

As we were walking down the street, it was now time to visit The Owl Tavern, another old west establishment and I met the colorful assistant manager Gary L. McDonough aka Grey Dog! His laughter was contagious and he was delighted to show me around his haunted bar. He has been working here for 6 and 1/2 years. He tells me about George the Ghost. How funny, there is Edgar the Ghost at the Holbrooke Hotel and at The Owl Tavern there is George the Ghost. I only wonder if Edgar and George knew each other when they were both living? In 1847 this bar opened for the goldminers. It was open 24/7. In the back area is where the goldminers played poker. George one day was caught cheating at poker and somebody shot poor ol’ George down. George never left this bar and still haunts this bar. Booth #7 is George’s booth. I met with two employees Trevor Nuttall – Shus Chef and he tells me how he has heard the bar doors swing back and forth in a constant pattern, or how one day a bowl flew off the shelf and jetted into the next room. When the bowl flew off, he said to himself…”I’m out of here!” and left for the night. Bobby McKnight, Chef/Owner has seen with his peripheral vision shadows moving about. His uncle co-owner Michael McKnight has also heard the bar doors swing back and forth on their own accord. One night Mike was tapping his fingers on each table and behind him, he heard the finger tapping of an unseen entity which gave him the willies.

The bar is very elegant. The bar was built from Austrian cherry wood from the 1800s. This cherry wood traveled around Cape Horn to get here. There are pressed decorated tin walls around the bar area. The old time menu shows lobster tails for 99 cents, minced ham/Spanish omelet for 50 cents, pie ala mode 15 cents, tenderloin steak for a whopping $1.75. He also showed me the notorious ladies’ entrance, where ladies would sneak in to visit the gentlemen of the bar. This bar is located at 134 Mill Street, just a block and a half away from the Holbrooke Hotel!

Donna Pepper-Falero & Family at Ashley Webb Wedding 5/18/2013

While in Grass Valley, my ghosthunting never ends, I received a call from New York from Alexis Farmer aka Allie in New York. She lives in an apartment that is 107 years old. She believes while visiting her mother that owns a home on sacred burial ground, that an entity has followed her to her apartment. She has seen red eyes in the dark. She has scratches on her chest when she awakens in the morning. People that visit her apartment, feel angry when they enter one of the rooms of her apartment. She feels that the entity that is inhabiting her apartment targets only women. She has placed holy water in each room, she has personally blessed this home, she has said prayers and nothing is working. She has placed crosses strategically around the house and later has found the crosses turned upside down. She tells me that she believes in God, but she is a Wiccan. She has witnessed an apparition of an old man in old fashioned clothes and when he appeared, she felt negative energy. One night, she heard a loud boom and something was thrown at her. Then later she heard a strange growling. She admits to once conducting a séance with friends and that all the candles went out on their own. Shannon and I, will be working on this case together to assist Alexis on this haunting activity in some apartment located in New York. It is time to put our Demonologist skills to some good use! Stay tuned.

Rubsams Maypole Party 5/18/2013

Oh, one more thing, before I let you go. Shannon McCabe and I, went to Napa to listen to a boring 90 minute time share seminar, only to receive later after saying…no – 100 times over…ahh..what part of ‘no’ don’t you understand? Well, you get the picture…we finally got our gift, 2 airlines tickets to New Orleans for October and 2 nights at a 5 star hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, again for October. Yep! Shan and I will be ghosthunting in New Orleans and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! Rock & Roll!
To learn more about the Holbrooke Hotel, please visit their website at:
http://www.holbrooke.com/

FINDINGS OF THE HOLBROOKE HOTEL AND THE OWL SALOON:
Some photographs taken of various areas of the hotel and the saloon show orb activity.
Nancy has an unusual photograph taken at the hotel, that shows a strange figure in the reflection of the mirror. This photograph needs to be analyzed further to determine, to see if it is substantial.
EVP evidence is pending.

The Little People of Iceland

I have never been to Iceland, but I have flown over this beautiful country on my way to England. I have always wondered why so many people of this country believe that there are little people living on their island.

In Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, road workers are weary of blasting out any kind of foundation for a roadbed. They are honestly scared they may disturb the little folks.

With boiling geysers, wind-blasted precipices, frozen barrens and razor-sharp lava rock, this is not what hinders construction workers. They are actually more concerned about the dwelling places of the little people.

Why are Icelanders so adamant that their land is inhabited by Iceland elves? Why would they go through the process of re-routing roads to avoid the lairs of these little creatures?

There was one time that they were laying down the foundation for their first shopping mall and the people were very concerned that the electrical cables and underground installations may disrupt the abodes of gnomes and fairies.

Icelanders believe that the land is populated with elves, gnomes, trolls, light-fairies, love lings and a unique species called “huldufolk,” or hidden people. It is rumored that at one time, some of the little people were known to steal children.
The tales of little people go back to the late ninth century AD when the Vikings of Norway and some Gaels from the British islands came to settle this land.

Some Icelanders theorize that these elementals may be inhabiting the same space of Iceland, but on a parallel dimension. They are able to step from their world into our world via a gateway between dimensions. It appears that the little people do not seek out any harm with humans and have been known to invite humans to their cliff dwellings for pancakes.

We can look at this as people with over active imaginations, but I find it odd that the little people of Iceland were once known to steal children. How similar those stories are to stories told by alien abductees who claim that they were impregnated on a UFO vessel and later the fetus is removed. The alien abductees’ doctors are baffled and claim the phenomenon as a false pregnancy.

So are UFOs seen in Iceland? The answer is yes. UFOs are seen all over Iceland and around the Arctic. On March 29, 2003 in Lyngdalsheidi, a man takes a picture of 2 snow mobiles moving away from him. When the photo is developed there is a clear picture of a UFO in the sky near the snow mobiles. There are stories that Icelanders will place food out for the small creatures of the glaciers, especially the Snaefellsjokull glacier. They describe the little people as having gray skin. Here is a direct connection for little people and the infamous ‘grays’.

A naval source recently in Iceland witnessed 3 large UFOs over Iceland, while Icelandic fisherman describe UFOs coming in and out of the surrounding waters.

Many UFO sightings are centered in the Langeness Fjord area of Iceland and of course there are many sightings by pilots of Icelandic Airlines.

Rubsams Maypole Party 5/18/2013

What I believe is that there is a UFO base near and around the landscape of Iceland and it probably has been there since the beginning of time. This is why there are so many stories about little people inhabiting this island. Iceland is a hotbed of UFO activity and little people are actually aliens that Icelanders are seeing.

When people see fairy circles, are they actually UFO landing spots? When people say that they encounter a fairy, sometimes the fairy will point a wand and they will be temporarily paralyzed. Would this actually be an immobilizing weapon used by the Grays? There are too many similarities between Grays and the little people of Iceland. I believe the Grays and the little people of Iceland are one and the same. But, that is my opinion.

The House on Poppy Ridge Road (STORY BY AKATI TAYLOR)

The house sat at the front end of 40 acres, walk was framed with two tall palm trees. The house had a large porch with 3 steps leading up to it, a big wooden door with a small glass window, to the left of the door was a picture window.

The picture window was like a magical place, the light coming in from the window would hit just right to display the front yard on the ceiling. My brothers and I would take turns going out onto the porch and play making movies on the ceiling for each other. This was on of the happiest spots in the house; sitting at the window, or playing near it. The weird thing was though that I remember times when the movie on the ceiling would be there with kids playing but no one was outside.

The house was two stories and the upstairs consisted of two bedrooms, one of which was mine, and a half bath. The half bath just plain felt creepy like something had died there and not left. I would run downstairs to use the bathroom whenever possible.

But this was just a bit of the feeling of the place. When we first moved into the house on Poppy Ridge Road the place was decorated in depression green and maroon. All the walls and woodwork was painted this kind of odd shade of spring green. The curtains were maroon and the wool carpets were green and maroon huge flower patterns.

The dining room had these built in cabinets, bookshelves, and desk. Over a period of time paint remover was employed stripping the green paint off of what turned out to be expensive mahogany and glass knobs. The walls were then painted nice warm beige. I remember the feel of the rooms changed to being much happier. It was a tangible feeling.

The kitchen sat to the rear of the house at the South East corner. It was a nice full sized walk in kitchen, it easily handled a working table in the center of the floor over by the cupboards between the stove and the sink; and a dining table off to the side by the windows. This kitchen was where most of the haunting activity occurred.

You see, this house was the dream house of the lady that it was built for. Her husband spent a lot of time, love, and money building her this house, and then two months before it was completed and they could move in she became ill and died. It was such a tragedy that he couldn’t bear to live in it himself and he sold the house.

Ashley Webb’s Wedding 5/18/2013

The activity in the kitchen was primarily centered on “modern equipment”. Perfectly good and new electric can openers would after a week or so fail to work, however once given away to friends started working again perfectly.

I remember my mother getting this new fangled luxury item, portable dishwasher. It was a metal box with a lid that latched down, you opened the top, pulled out the top wire rack, bent over to fill it with rinsed but still dirty dishes, place the top rack back in and fill it up, add the soap, close the lid, latch it. Then roll it over to the sink, take the hoses and hook them up to the faucet and get it going. Wha la!

You think that would be it, but oooo nooooo, the kitchen or the kitchen’s ghost didn’t like the dishwasher. It started acting up, periodically the latch would come loose and the top fly open water going everywhere. Mom getting frustrated one day decided to put all the pots and pans on top of if before starting it. This was a lot of weight, there is no way that even if the latch came loose that that top could fly open and mess up the kitchen. Well, that’s what she though; sure enough the dishwasher started the rinse cycle and there goes the top, pots and pans and all, up and open. There went the pots and pans all over the floor and water all over the kitchen.

Mom packed up the dishwasher, gave it to her friend in town. It worked perfectly ever since.

It was a very interesting 4 years spanning between the summer preceding 4th grade to the middle of 7th grade for me and gave me a definite and solid belief in the paranormal.

Paul Dale Roberts, HPI Esoteric Detective
aka The Demon Warrior
Hegelianism Paranormal Intelligence (International)
http://www.hpiparanormal.com/
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