"The only time they bother me is when they set off all the alarm clocks," Pat Inmon said much as if she were talking about mischievous children. But then she added, "Oh, and I can't keep batteries. They suck all the energy out of them." Definitely not children we're talking about here.
Instead, she's talking about her ghosts. And she has a lot to talk about. Inmon lives and operates a bed and breakfast in the 1872 John Denham House in Monticello, Fla.
"My house is considered one of the most haunted in town. In fact, in 2003, USA Today said it was the No. 2 Best Place to Sleep With A Ghost."
Surprisingly, that's something many people want to do. Inmon said that prospective guests call and ask for the "most haunted room." That, she said, probably is Aunt Sarah's Room.
The 13-room house, now more than 130 years old, was built by Scottish immigrant John Denham, who dealt in cotton trading and shipping. At some point in the home's history, a woman named Sarah lived in the house with her brother. Sarah never married, though she did have an elaborate bed made for her room.
Perhaps, Inmon speculated, Sarah planned to marry, but for some reason the union never took place. And that could be why some people say they have captured a photograph of a ghostly bride outside the home.
"People are always sending me pictures they have made at my house," Inmon said. "I don't have to make photographs myself. They do it for me."
Most of the pictures, she said, show orbs, with a particularly large ball of light seen around the rocking chair in Aunt Sarah's room.
"I think it must be because she never married, but whenever there's a new mother and her baby in the house, Aunt Sarah turns on the lights in their room."
She has called in professional ghost seekers, members of Big Bend Ghost Trackers, to get their opinions on the house's other-worldly residents. The investigators say they found and communicated with quite a few.
The Ghost Trackers invite B&B guests to join them in a ghostly tour of the city of Monticello several weekends during the year and especially during October.
"My guests come and have the ghost-tracking experience while they are staying here," the innkeeper said. "And when they come in from their ghost tour, I have a hot drink or some wine waiting for them."
Even though she talks freely about the ghosts who share her house, Inmon doesn't bring up the subject unless her guests do. And, she pointed out, the B&B isn't all about the ghosts.
It has many romantic touches - fireplaces in several of the bedrooms, hand-pressed designer sheets, robes, slippers and down comforters for the guests' comfort. In fact, Florida magazine voted it one of the "25 Best Places In Florida To Spend Your Honeymoon."
In addition, Ms. Inmon said, her bed and breakfast is family oriented. There is a special kids' breakfast menu, baby furniture, toys, books and an old fashioned playground and playroom. Even the family pet is welcome to stay at the B&B. Rates for a stay at the 1872 John Denham House range from $90 to $125 per room per night.
HOW TO GET THERE
To get to Monticello and the 1872 John Denham House, take I-65 South to Montgomery. From Montgomery, take U.S. 231 South through Dothan to I-10. Take I-10 East to U.S. 90. Take U.S. 90 East to Monticello. Before you get into downtown Monticello, you will turn right onto Hickory Street. Go one block, around a curve and the road becomes Palmer Mill Road. The house on the right across the street from Jefferson High School is the 1872 John Denham House. It is about 345 miles from Birmingham.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
About the 1872 John Denham House, call 850-997-4568. About Monticello, call 850-997-5552.
Lynn Edge is author of three books on travel in Alabama as well as other books. E-mail her at newsqt@yahoo.com.
http://www.al.com/entertainment/birming ... thispage=2
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
