1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Haunted Road, a production of I Heart Radio 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: and Grim and Mild from Aaron Minky listener. Discretion is advised. 3 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: The fire had burned low, a sense of loneliness crept 4 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: over me. I arose and undressed, moving on tiptoe about 5 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: the room, doing stealthily what I had to do, as 6 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: if I were environed by sleeping enemies, whose slumbers it 7 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: would be fatal to break. I covered up in bed 8 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: and lay listening to the rain and wind in the 9 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: faint breaking of distance shutters, till they lulled me to sleep. 10 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: I slept profoundly, but how long I do not know. 11 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: All at once I found myself awake and filled with 12 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: a shuddering expectancy. All was still all but my own heart. 13 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: I could hear it beat Presently. The bedclothes began to 14 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: slip away, slowly toward the foot of the bed, as 15 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: if someone were pulling them. I could not stir, I 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: could not speak. Still, the blanket slipped deliberately away till 17 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: my breast was uncovered. Then with a great effort I 18 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: seized them and drew them over my head. I waited, listened, 19 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: waited once more, that steady poll began, and once more 20 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: I lay torpid a century of dragging seconds till my 21 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: breast was naked again. At last, I roused my energies 22 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: and snatched the covers back to their place, and held 23 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: them with a strong grip. I waited by and by, 24 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: I felt a faint tug, and took a fresh grip. 25 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: The tug strengthened to a steady strain. It grew stronger 26 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: and stronger. My hold parted, and for the third time, 27 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: the blanket slid away. I groaned. An answering groan came 28 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: from the foot of the bed. Beaded drops of sweat 29 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: stood upon my forehead. I was more dead than alive. 30 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: Presently I heard a heavy footstep in my room, the 31 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: step of an elephant. It seemed to me it was 32 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: not like anything human, but it was moving from me. 33 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: There was relief in that I heard. It approached the door, 34 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: pass out without moving bolt or lock, and wander away 35 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: among the dismal corridors, straining the floors and joyce till 36 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: they creaked again as it passed, and then silence reigned 37 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: once more. This is an excerpt from a short story 38 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: written by one Mark Twain or Samuel Clemens. The story 39 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: is aptly named a ghost story, and I won't spoil 40 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: it for you, but as many Mark Twain stories go, 41 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: there is a very humorous whist to this one in 42 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: the end. Yet, while Mark Twain treated spiritualism with his 43 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: usual cynicism and wit, when his own personal losses became unbearable, 44 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,399 Speaker 1: he like many others of the time, dabbled and spiritualism 45 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: out of grief and desperation. That grief and desperation is 46 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: said to still hang over a home he considered to 47 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: be the happiest of any he had, until tragedy prevented 48 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: him from ever returning in life anyway. I'm Amy Brunei, 49 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: and this is haunted road of all the beautiful towns. 50 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 1: It has been my fortune to see. This is the chief. 51 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: You do not know what beauty is if you have 52 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: not been here. This was a quote by Mark Twain 53 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: after he was introduced to Hartford, Connecticut by his publisher 54 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: in the eighteen sixties. Samuel and Olivia Clemens worked with 55 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: architect Edward Tuckerman Potter to design their dream home there, 56 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: with construction beginning in eighteen seventy three. The family moved 57 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: in on September nineteen seventy four, while much work still remained, 58 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: construction delays and the ever increasing costs of building their 59 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: dream home frustrated Sam. The house is eleven thousand, five 60 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: hundred square feet and boasts twenty five rooms over three floors. 61 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: It cost forty to forty five thousand dollars to build, 62 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: but after renovations in eighteen eighty one, the homes total 63 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: cost was seventy thousand dollars, almost one point nine million 64 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: dollars in today's market. The art of this home is incredible. 65 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: In addition to the team of artists Clemens brought into 66 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: the home, the Tiffany and Company interior design firm was 67 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: brought in. The styles reflect cultures from around the world. 68 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: Clemens biographer Justin Kaplan has called it part steamboat, part 69 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: medieval fortress, and part cuckoo clock. The focal point of 70 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: the master bedroom is the couple's elaborately carved bed, which 71 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: they purchased in eighteen seventy eight in Venice, which Sam 72 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: brought with him wherever he went. It's even rumored he 73 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: died in that bed in nineteen They had some very 74 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: notable neighbors like Harriet Beecher Stowe Hartford had become a 75 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: destination for successful figures of this ilk. Sam was known 76 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: for his hosting and some of his guests included George Washington, 77 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,799 Speaker 1: Cable and Edwin Booth, the older brother of John Wilkes. 78 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: The billiard room was Sam's office and favorite space, and 79 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: it was reserved for men's cigars, alcohol, cursing, and the housekeepers. 80 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: The pool table that is currently in the room was 81 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 1: a gift from a friend in nineteen o four. In 82 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 1: that room, he also worked on many of his most 83 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,119 Speaker 1: notable books, including the Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Life 84 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: on the Mississippi. In the Clemens family moved to Europe 85 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: due to financial issues. They would never live in the 86 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: Hartford home again, where the family enjoyed what was described 87 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: as the happiest and most productive years. They moved to Europe, 88 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: where the cost of living was more accessible. Meanwhile, Clemens 89 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 1: tried to make up these losses by embarking on a 90 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: lecture tour through the continent, but it wasn't enough to 91 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: get them back home. The Hartford house was rented out. 92 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: He returned to the much loved family home once in 93 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: As soon as I entered the door, I was seized 94 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,359 Speaker 1: with a furious desire to have us all in this 95 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: house again and right away. In the midst of the 96 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: family's financial struggles and the lecture tour in Europe, Sam 97 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: held out hope that the family would soon reunite in England. 98 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: Daughters Jean and Susie were staying with friends in Hartford 99 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: and sent a message across the pond to their parents 100 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: and sister Clara. Susie had fallen ill with a fever. 101 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: The trip was postponed, but there was much hope that 102 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: Susie would recover, albeit after a lengthy period. With this news, 103 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: Olivia and Clara returned to the US, while Sam stayed 104 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: to work on a book and find better housing for 105 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: the family's return to England. Three days later, on August eighteen, 106 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: alone in their rented house in Guildford, Sam received another 107 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: telegram from the States. Susie was dead. Susie had been 108 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: staying with friends in Hartford, but spent time in the 109 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: family home where she could sing and play piano. A 110 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: fever came on, but Susie held out hope that a 111 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: spiritual healer, not a doctor, which your her ailment. She 112 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: was eventually overruled and a doctor was called in She 113 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: was suffering from spinal meningitis, and the next two weeks 114 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: were full of escalating delirium. Like a ghost, she wandered 115 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: through the house of her childhood. She found a gown 116 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: of livies hanging in a closet, and, believing it was 117 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: her mother and that she had died, kissed it and cried. 118 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: As the infection made its way through her body, it 119 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: took her sight and then her wakefulness. Susie was in 120 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,119 Speaker 1: a coma before she died at twenty four years old. 121 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: Sam was across the ocean and devastated. Her mother and 122 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: sister Clara were on a boat making the crossing, and 123 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: they didn't know that Susie had passed when they landed. 124 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: Letters from Sam awaited. He bore much guilt for her death. 125 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,119 Speaker 1: He wrote to his wife the day after Susie's death 126 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: August nineteen eight. She died in our own house, not 127 00:07:55,560 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: in another's. Died where every little thing was familiar and beloved. 128 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: Died where she had spent all her life until Mike 129 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: Primes made her a popper and an exile. How good 130 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:10,119 Speaker 1: it is that she got home again. After her death, 131 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: the Clemons family was too heartbroken to continue living in 132 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: the home, it marked the end of an era. In 133 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: nineteen o three, the Clemons sold the home to Richard 134 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: Bissell and his family, who occupied the home until nineteen seventeen. 135 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,239 Speaker 1: Between nineteen seventeen and nineteen twenty two, the Kingswood School 136 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: for Boys rented the home. After the school was done, 137 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: the home was purchased by a developer with an apartment 138 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: complex in mind. Originally, they wanted to tear down the 139 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: home and replace it with set apartment complex, but thanks 140 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: to significant public outcry, they kept the structure and refitted 141 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: the inside for their purposes. There were eleven apartments, and 142 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: all with the basement serving as a large dining hall. 143 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: Each apartment had a fireplace and kitchenett. In nineteen twenty nine, 144 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: the home was threatened with demolition, but was saved by 145 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: Arriet Beecher Stowe's grand niece, Katherine Seymour Day. That year, 146 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: the Friends of Hartford, with Katherine Seymour Day at the Helm, 147 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: purchased the Clemens home with the purpose of saving and 148 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: restoring Mark Quayne's house. From nineteen thirty until nineteen fifty six, 149 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: the organization rented out the first floor to the Mark 150 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: Twayne Branch of the Hartford Public Library. The residential spaces 151 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: of the home are rented out as apartments throughout the 152 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: nineteen sixties. Finally, formal restoration of the house began in 153 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty three, the same year the Mark Twain House 154 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: was designated a National Historic Landmark. Everything was completed in 155 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: time for the one hundred year anniversary of the home's 156 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: construction in nineteen seventy four. The museum opened in two 157 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: thousand three, and big renovations took place in the following year. 158 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 1: Now as far back as the nineteen sixties. In nineteen seventies, 159 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: there have been reports of ghostly happenings at the Mark 160 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: Quayin House. But who could possibly still be roaming those 161 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: old halls and why? There is rumor of at least 162 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: one death in the home when it was divided into apartments. 163 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: Supposedly someone died in a bathtub in one of the units, 164 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: but we were unable to verify this. Also, Mark Twain's 165 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: bed that he supposedly died in is very much in 166 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: the home and on display. In my experience, there are 167 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: certain claims of apparitions that seem to happen over and 168 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 1: over again. Probably one of the most commonly reported specters 169 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: is a woman in white. However, this could actually be 170 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: a location for the spirit of a woman in white 171 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: is actually justified. Over the years, there have been reports 172 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: of employees and visitors seeing the apparition of a young 173 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: woman in a long white dress roaming the halls, much 174 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: like Susie actually did in her final days. Of course, 175 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: Mark Twain himself is believed to linger in spirit form 176 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: in the much beloved office from where he worked and played. 177 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: The billiard room on the top floor is considered one 178 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: of the most haunted where Twain smoked cigars, and to 179 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: this day some aim they can smell the smoke and 180 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: the fire alarm will randomly go off. Apparently, Clemmons had 181 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: a twenty to forty cigar a day habit. The third 182 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: spirit is attributed to the family's long term butler, George Griffin. 183 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: Griffin was born into slavery in Maryland, probably around the 184 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: middle of the nineteenth century. After the Emancipation Proclamation, he 185 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: acted as a body servant for a Union general during 186 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: the Civil War. According to an unpublished manuscript of Clemens, 187 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 1: his wife, Mary, was a dressmaker. They had one daughter together. 188 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 1: According to sources, Griffin was a deacon in the Methodist 189 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: Episcopal Church, active political leader and family man. Clemens wrote 190 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: quite highly of his butler of seventeen years, and it 191 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: seems like he was more family than employee. George was 192 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: an accident, he said, he came to wash some windows 193 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: and remained for half a generation. He was a Maryland 194 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,839 Speaker 1: slave by birth. The proclamation set him free, and as 195 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: a young fellow he saw his fair share of the 196 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: Civil War as body servant to General Devon's. He was handsome, 197 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:09,839 Speaker 1: well built, shrewd, wise, polite, always good natured, cheerful to gaiety, honest, religious, 198 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: a cautious truth speaker, devoted friend to the family, champion 199 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: of its interests, a sort of idol to the children, 200 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: and a trial to Mrs Clements. Not in always button several. 201 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,359 Speaker 1: There was nothing commonplace about George. He had a remarkable 202 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: good head. His promise was good, his note was good. 203 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: He could be trusted to any extent with money or 204 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: other valuables. He had the respect and I may say 205 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: the warm, friendly regard of every visiting intimate of our house. 206 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: To me, that sounds like someone anyone would be lucky 207 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: to have around. Although George died elsewhere he was closely 208 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: linked to the family. Even after buying a home in 209 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: the city, he maintained a room in the family home. 210 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: So obviously, so much emotion in history tied in the 211 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: Market Queen House in Hartford, Connecticut. I have investigated and 212 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: visited a few times and had some pretty crazy experiences 213 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: in the process. Up next, we'll talk to Mallory Howard, 214 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: one of the curators of the museum. She's got some 215 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: amazing history to fill us in on and some pretty 216 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: great ghost stories as well. So right now I am 217 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,679 Speaker 1: joined by Mallory Howard, who is the assistant curator at 218 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: the Mark Twain House and Museum. I appreciate you taking 219 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: a time to chat with me today, Mallory, Oh, no problem, 220 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: I'm excited to be here. One thing that has always 221 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: stood out to me about the Mark Twain House, having 222 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: been there quite a few times, is just how much 223 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: you all seem to kind of embrace it's haunted history 224 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: or its potential ghosts. How do you feel about that? 225 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: Were you ready for that when you joined the team. 226 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: I actually joined at a really pivotal time, I think 227 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: for embracing that aspect of our history. Prior to that, 228 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 1: I think over the years, it was kind of kept quiet, 229 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: and you know, people would have experiences and they would 230 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: maybe talk to each other a little bit about it, 231 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: but other than that, they really weren't supposed to chat 232 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: with visitors or make it known. But when I came 233 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: on board, that started to change where we really wanted 234 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: to be more vocal about what people are experiencing and 235 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: the history of the house and the history of Twain. 236 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: And I think it really evolved at the perfect time. 237 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: You know, it's funny years ago. Actually, I think Adam 238 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: and I did. I think it was either a conference 239 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: call or a video call before COVID even it was 240 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: with the Mark Twain House, and you all had kind 241 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: of assembled a few other historic locations, and I feel 242 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: like you all were just kind of trying to share 243 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: the wealth and kind of say, you know, hey, this 244 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: has been really good for us. Obviously not exploiting or 245 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: making up ghosts, but if you happen to be a 246 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: historic location that is haunted, kind of being able to 247 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: respectfully use that to your advantage. And I know that 248 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: at the time you were kind of relaying that you 249 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: had a really successful I think it's either like a 250 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: ghost tour, ghost walk at night. That brought in a 251 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: lot of extra revenue, which I think is huge for 252 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: these historic spots, especially right now. Oh yes, absolutely. You know, 253 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: we weren't the first. Other places had done it before, 254 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: and we started to look at them to get an 255 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: idea of how we wanted to go about it, and 256 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: then our ghost cours really took off. And even at 257 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: a lot of museum conferences there are a lot of 258 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: panels discussing whether ghost tours are a good idea, should 259 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: you be doing it, what benefit do you have from 260 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: doing it? And there's still mixed opinions. Some places really 261 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: don't believe that they should be doing that sort of thing. 262 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: In other places that like us, have embraced it, and 263 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: I for one especially, I'm so glad we're doing that 264 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: because it brings us an entirely new audience. You know, 265 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: people come to the Mark Twain how for our ghost 266 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: stories that have never visited before and had no interest 267 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: in visiting, and so when they come and take a 268 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: tour with us, you know, not only are we talking 269 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: about the experiences that staff and visitors have had over 270 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: the years, we're talking about, you know, the episodes of 271 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: ghost hunters and what evidence was captured, but also the 272 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: history of Mark Twain and the house and how he 273 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: felt about spiritualism and how he used ghost stories in 274 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: his literature. So it's more than just oh, come and 275 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: learn about hauntings. We've really connected it to being historical 276 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: as well. I think that's huge, and I think it's 277 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: really a big deal too for like a lot of 278 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: young people. You know. I know that my father when 279 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: I was a child definitely used my interest in the 280 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: supernatural to take me to historic places under the guise 281 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: of them being haunted. But then at the same time 282 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: I was learning so much about history, and so I 283 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: could definitely see teenagers not maybe being as interested in 284 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: casual daytime tour as you know, turning out the lights 285 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: at night and walking around the Mark Twain House and 286 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: learning about everything you just said, which I think that's 287 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: really cool. I think it's a great opportunity. Yes, we've 288 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 1: had people before that their first visit has been on 289 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: a ghost tour and they're coming just to hear spooky 290 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: stories and see if they can experience anything. And we've 291 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: had many people over the years come up to us 292 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: after those tours and say that was fascinating. I'm definitely 293 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: coming back for a daytime tour. I want to learn 294 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: more about Mark Twain and his family and the house, 295 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: and so ghost tours has been a way to get 296 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: people hooked and then they become, you know, lifelong contributors 297 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: or members or fans of the house. And so we've 298 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: really expanded our base that way. I love that, and 299 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,919 Speaker 1: that's really the premise for this podcast. You know, we 300 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: always start the first half taking a really deep dive 301 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 1: into the history of a place, and then we talk 302 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 1: about the ghosts. So who do you think is haunting 303 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: the Mark Twain House. I'm sure there's probably a few prospects. Yes. 304 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: So the to that I think are doing the majority 305 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: of it would be Susie Clemmens, who is Twain's oldest 306 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: daughter who died at twenty four of spinal meningitis in 307 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: the house, as well as George Griffin, who was their 308 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: African American butler. He was a former enslaved person that 309 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: made his way up north after the Civil War. He 310 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: was eventually hired as the family's butler and he worked 311 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: here all the years the family lived in the house. 312 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: I would say those two are probably the biggest people 313 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 1: that we think are still around but there are also 314 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: some things that could be attributed to Sam Clemens or 315 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: Mark Twain himself. Right, And I mean, obviously he didn't 316 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: die in the home, but the house seemed like it 317 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: was incredibly special to him and the family. Yes, the 318 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: house in Hartford was the longest he lived anywhere. It 319 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 1: was definitely the happiest and most productive years of his life. 320 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: And he even went on to say he could never 321 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,719 Speaker 1: enter the house unmoved, that's how much it meant him. 322 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: So I think truly if he was going to come 323 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: back and have the ability to the Hartford houses where 324 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: he would go. Right, that makes sense. No, what kind 325 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: of activity are people experiencing in the home? What would 326 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: you say is the most common paranormal activity reported? I 327 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,959 Speaker 1: would say probably the most common activity would be cigar 328 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: smoke is one of them, for sure. Um. I actually 329 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: don't get in the house as much as I used to, 330 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: but I had to take a few tours recently and unprompted, 331 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,959 Speaker 1: a woman said to me, did anyone else smells cigar 332 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: smoke in the billiard room? And I said that you've 333 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: hit the nail on the head. I was like, we 334 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 1: get that all the time, that people will smell this 335 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: phantom cigar smoke only in the billiard room, and not 336 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 1: everyone smells it. And we've even had the fire alarm 337 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: go off in there and the fire department show up 338 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: and run upstairs and nothing's going on. But we've had 339 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: firefighter smelling cigar smoke and room in the middle of 340 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,959 Speaker 1: the night. So that is definitely one of the biggest claim. 341 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,400 Speaker 1: The other I would say it's kind of funny because 342 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: it seems like they're almost pranks. It's a lot of 343 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: people saying that they feel like a child is tugging 344 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: on their shirt or their jacket, their clothing. We've had 345 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: jewelry fall off on their own only in the library specifically, 346 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,400 Speaker 1: you know, watches, bracelets that just come off and fall 347 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:30,439 Speaker 1: to the floor. And we've also had a sighting of 348 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: what we call the woman in White several times throughout 349 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: the house, which we believe to be Susie. So there's 350 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: a lot of different things. Footsteps, muttering or murmuring when 351 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: no one else is in the house, So a very 352 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: wide variety of things happening. Have you ever had any 353 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: guests become so frightened that they've left, Yes, we've had 354 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 1: that happen a few times, one of which was a 355 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: woman who actually was heading up to the third floor 356 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 1: landing of the house and felt a presence push her 357 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: up against the wall, and she even started speaking differently, 358 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 1: her voice tone changed. Her daughter was so freaked out 359 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: by it they ended up leaving the tour. We've also 360 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: had several people who have said that they get extreme 361 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: neck pain or stiffness and that they've had to leave 362 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 1: the house during tours because of that, and as soon 363 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: as they walk out the door, the pain dissipates. Would 364 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 1: that have been like a symptom that his daughter would 365 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: have experienced maybe yes, because of her spinal meningitis, that stiffness, 366 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: that neck pain would have been a symptom. Okay, that 367 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 1: experience he's saying with like the pushing, that seems really 368 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 1: kind of out of character. I'm assuming things like that 369 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: don't happen very often. Yeah, that's one of the more 370 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: unusual ones. There was also an incident where a security 371 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: guard was closing up for the night and had a tray, 372 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: a metal tray thrown at him and it hit a 373 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: pipe over his head. So those three things things, you know, 374 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: the woman being pushed against the wall, the neck pain, 375 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: and the trade being thrown are unusual for us. Most 376 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: of the things that happen are sort of playful, like 377 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: I said, pranks things like that, but very rarely are 378 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 1: they dangerous or mean or anything like that. Yeah, so 379 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 1: what would you say, are things that you do around 380 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: the house that might make activity kind of spike? LETNA say, 381 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 1: there hasn't seemed to be too much of a pattern 382 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: for that. It's really seemed sporadic and random as far 383 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: as when things happen. They'll be periods where there'll be 384 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: several tours in one week where people have experiences with 385 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: cigar smoke or jewelry falling off or tugging, and then 386 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: we'll go sometimes weeks months at a time with nothing, 387 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 1: no reports. So there doesn't seem to be a real 388 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: pattern of when the activity happens to spike and when 389 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: it doesn't. How have things been during like the shutdowns 390 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: and everything? I am assuming that you are posed for 391 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: a period of time. Did anything seem to respond to that, 392 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: Not that I know of, especially because there weren't people 393 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,360 Speaker 1: going through the house. I don't know if that makes 394 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:13,199 Speaker 1: a difference or not. But there's been a couple of 395 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: my colleagues who have gone through the house who have 396 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: had a couple of things happened to them, you know, noises, muttering, 397 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: known for lights to go on and off. Not sure 398 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: exactly what causes that. We had one security guard who 399 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: went into vacuum and he turned for a second to 400 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: turn the light off, and when he turned back, the 401 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: vacuum cord was completely tangled and crazy not and he's like, 402 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 1: there's no way that could have happened with my back 403 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: turned for a second. So things still happened, but it 404 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: seems that it slowed down once the house is really 405 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: shut down and no one was in there. Right. It's 406 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,199 Speaker 1: funny because some of the places that you know, we've investigated, 407 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: when people came back, the activity almost started ramping up, 408 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: almost like these spirits were lonely or they weren't confused. Yes, 409 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: that's what's so weird, is you know, like I said, 410 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 1: just a couple of weeks ago, I had to pitch 411 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:10,439 Speaker 1: in with tours and that woman, unprompted, said, oh, I 412 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: did anyone else smell that. I smelled cigar smoke in 413 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: the billiard room, and I thought, wow, I haven't been 414 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: in the house in a while. But it's just all 415 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: of a sudden, it's the claim started coming back again. 416 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 1: That's a really common report, the cigar smoke thing, and 417 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:29,920 Speaker 1: I've tried to debunk it so many times in other locations, 418 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: and like sometimes people speculated it's like completely just seeped 419 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: into the wood over so many years of smoking in there. 420 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: But like at some point it's so overwhelming it can't 421 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 1: just be coming from the wood, because I have smelled 422 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: it a few times in locations and I'm like, there's 423 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: no way this is just coming from old wood, right, 424 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: And especially the time we had the smoke alarm go 425 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: off in the middle of the night enough to trigger 426 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: it where the fire department had to come and respond 427 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,239 Speaker 1: to it, and then they all smelled that snat, So 428 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 1: it just seems like it couldn't have just been from 429 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:07,719 Speaker 1: sitting around. Yeah, exactly. Are all the artifacts in the 430 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,920 Speaker 1: building Are those original to the family or those things 431 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: brought in from elsewhere? So it's a mixture. We have 432 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 1: some objects and artifacts in the house that are original 433 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,959 Speaker 1: to the Clemens and the Langdon family, which is Olivia's family, 434 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: and then the rest would be pieces from the Victorian 435 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 1: period that they didn't necessarily own. What type of things 436 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: that they would have purchased to decorate the house with. 437 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: And then do you think that any of those pieces 438 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 1: might have something to do with activity happening in the house. Well, 439 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 1: I think two of the pieces we're really important to him, 440 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: one of which was the billiard table. It's the last 441 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: one he owned before he died, so it wasn't the 442 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: one originally that was in the Hartford house when he 443 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 1: was living here, but is one that he owned. He 444 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 1: loved to play billiards. We have photographs of him sticking 445 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 1: kittens into the pockets of the billiard table when he's older, uh, 446 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:02,479 Speaker 1: and he it's just something he really enjoyed doing. And 447 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: the other piece would be the Angel bed. We call 448 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 1: it in the bedroom for Sam and Livy, and it's 449 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 1: the one they used when they were living at Hartford. 450 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: He brought it with him when he moved to his 451 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,160 Speaker 1: last home and running Connecticut, and that piece is very 452 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: special to them. The girls, their daughters would sleep in 453 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: it when they weren't feeling well or they had bad dreams. 454 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: We have photographs of him in that bed, so I 455 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: think that's a really meaningful piece as well. Is that 456 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: the bed that they purchased in Venice, because I think 457 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: I've read that he may have even passed away in 458 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,920 Speaker 1: that bed. Yes, that is the bed that they purchased 459 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: in Venice. There's debate about whether that was the bed 460 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,159 Speaker 1: he slept in another one when he was in Running, Connecticut, 461 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: so we were never able to confirm which bed is 462 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 1: the one he died in. But it's definitely a possibility. Okay, 463 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 1: that's good to know now. It sounds like the death 464 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 1: of Susie seemed very impactful for them, like it seemed 465 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,439 Speaker 1: very traumatic. I know they couldn't be there, and I 466 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,679 Speaker 1: know you said that you see this woman in white 467 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: that people assume as Susie, and I feel like every 468 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 1: good haunted location needs a woman in white. Is there 469 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: any other activity that you've had surrounding her that's identifiable 470 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: or that you think is specifically being caused by her ghost. 471 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: I think it's hard to tell because of the sort 472 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: of childlike pranks I mentioned, with the tugging on the 473 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: outfits and the jewelry falling off. So I'm not sure 474 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: if Susie is a part of that, or maybe it's 475 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: just her sisters, but I think definitely the woman in 476 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: white is the one that is associated with her, especially 477 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: because when she had spinal meningitis, she was known to 478 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: wander around the house sort of deliriously. She would even 479 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: sing songs like the trolley Cars go up the Street 480 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: from Mark Twain's daughter, and it just seemed like it 481 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,879 Speaker 1: fits so well that she would be coming back and 482 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 1: sort of wandering around the house still espec actually, since 483 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 1: both her parents and one of her sisters were not 484 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 1: able to be with her during this illness and her death. Now, 485 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: how involved was the Clemens family was spiritualism? Is that 486 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,719 Speaker 1: a belief system that they subscribed to. It's interesting because 487 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: Mark Twain kind of went back and forth about that. 488 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 1: Earlier in his career. He actually worked for a newspaper 489 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: in San Francisco and his job was to attend seances 490 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: and try to debunk the spiritualists and prove that they 491 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: were frauds and showcase how they did it. And most 492 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 1: of them he was able to figure out. There are 493 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 1: a couple that he just couldn't seem to prove how 494 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: they did it. But for the most part during that 495 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: time period, he really was not a believer. But once 496 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: tragedy really started to hit close to home, his tunes 497 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: started to change a little bit. He had his youngest 498 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 1: brother died in a accident on the Mississippi River and 499 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:57,479 Speaker 1: that really started to haunt him in a way and 500 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,080 Speaker 1: change his thought on it. And then, of course, and 501 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 1: Susie died, Sam and his wife Olivia decided that they 502 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: wanted to try to reach out and contact her. So 503 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: when they were in London a few years after she died, 504 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: they actually went to a medium and hoped that the 505 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: medium could reach out to Susie. They brought one of 506 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: her brooches, hoping that that would help the connection, and 507 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: they sort of got a mixed bag. Sam wasn't really 508 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 1: happy with the results of it, but it just shows 509 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: that throughout his life he really went back and forth 510 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,959 Speaker 1: as to whether to believe or not, and I think 511 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: he really wanted to, especially when he faced tragedy in 512 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: his own life, right. I mean, I think that a 513 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 1: lot of people struggled with that during that time period 514 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: because it was so you know it spiritualism was completely 515 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: fraught with fraud. But then there were you know, some 516 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: people who kind of um still left people stumped. So 517 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: it's hard to tell, you know, who was legit and 518 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 1: who was just taking advantage. Well, That's interesting because it 519 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: makes me wonder. You know, when people go in and 520 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: they're investigating, then the spirits there could be very familiar 521 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: with what it is that they are trying to do. 522 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: Have you guys ever done any seances in the house. No, 523 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: not trying to reach out to anyone in the Clemens family. 524 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, We've had a one or two of private ones, 525 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: but nothing directly for the family. Although we did have 526 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: Lorraine Warren visit a couple of times, and she believed 527 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: that she was feeling sort of Susie spirit. She said 528 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: that she felt ill, felt that there was sadness, that 529 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: sort of thing, right, that would make sense Like I 530 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:43,120 Speaker 1: was saying before, that just sounded like it was just 531 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,959 Speaker 1: such a tragedy to the family and the fact that 532 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 1: she was you know, I think she was on her 533 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:50,959 Speaker 1: own right. They weren't even with her. Yeah, it was 534 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 1: very interesting how it went about her family. Twain and 535 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: his wife Livy, as well as their middle daughter Clara. 536 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: We're on a worldwide lecture tour for him to pay 537 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: off some of his debt that he incurred, and Susie 538 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 1: and the youngest daughter, Jean, were staying with family and 539 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: Elmira and we're getting ready to meet the rest of 540 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: the family in England, where they decided to stop in 541 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: Hartford to visit some old neighbors and friends, and that's 542 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 1: when Susie started to get sick and they decided to 543 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 1: bring her into the house, which was being rented at 544 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 1: the time, thinking the surroundings would comfort her. And the 545 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: family got the news in England that she was sick, 546 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: and Olivia and Clara immediately headed back here to meet 547 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: with her, and unfortunately they were about halfway across the 548 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: ocean when Sam got a telegram saying that Susie was 549 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 1: peacefully released today and his heart absolutely broke knowing that 550 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: his wife and daughter were going to be greeted with 551 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: the news, and he was never able to say goodbye. 552 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 1: He didn't attend her funeral, and this really was just 553 00:31:55,880 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 1: a huge blow to him. Yeah, yeah, it seems that way. Well, 554 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: the history of the home is fascinating and the ghosts 555 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 1: are as well. And how can people find out more? 556 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 1: What do you all have coming up, especially for fall? 557 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:13,880 Speaker 1: So if you are interested in any of our ghost tours, 558 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: the best way would be to go to our website 559 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: which is www dot Mark Twain House dot Org and 560 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 1: that would have all the information about when we're having 561 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 1: our ghost tours. They're called Braveyard Shift tours, and obviously 562 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: they ramp up a lot in September and October. Who 563 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,880 Speaker 1: knows what will happen with COVID unfortunately, but right now 564 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:37,720 Speaker 1: we're planning on moving forward with them. Okay, perfect, Well, 565 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure that people will be reaching out and I 566 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 1: really do appreciate you taking the time to chat with 567 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:46,040 Speaker 1: me today. I love hearing the ghost stories. I love 568 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: visiting the Mark Twain House. I can't wait to get back. 569 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: Last time I was there, I think I lived in California, 570 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 1: and now I'm a new Englander, so there's no reason 571 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:55,960 Speaker 1: why I can't just pop over. Yeah, you have to 572 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: come and see what's been happening since the last time 573 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 1: you were a year. Yeah for are well, Thank you 574 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: so much, Marie. I appreciate it. The Mark Twain House 575 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: isn't some terrifying dark place, but it stands as not 576 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: only an imperative piece of history, but also a perfect 577 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: example of how some haunts are born not by tragedy 578 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 1: and darkness, but by love, nostalgia, and grief. I believe 579 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 1: that the museum's work and bringing the home back to 580 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 1: its original glory and keeping it aligned with the vision 581 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 1: Clemens and his family had for it so long ago. 582 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 1: Has very much acted as a beacon for him and 583 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 1: anyone who was closely associated with the home. I also 584 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: think there are many years of history left to research, 585 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,959 Speaker 1: and that some of those ghosts may be more modern 586 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,640 Speaker 1: or left from some of the homes other incarnations. In 587 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 1: the meantime, please go visit and take a moment to 588 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: sit and softly ponder how dear the home was to 589 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: the Clemmons family, and take a deep breath. Maybe you'll 590 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: catch a hint of cigar smoke. I'm Amy Bruney, and 591 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 1: this was Haunted Road. M Haunted Road is a production 592 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 1: of I Heart Radio and Grimm and Mild from Aaron Mankey. 593 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:14,360 Speaker 1: The podcast is written and hosted by Amy Bruney. Executive 594 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:19,440 Speaker 1: producers include Aaron Mankey, Alex Williams, and Matt Frederick. The 595 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:22,560 Speaker 1: show is produced by rema Ill Kali and Trevor Young. 596 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:27,480 Speaker 1: Taylor Haggerdorn is the show's researcher. For more podcasts from 597 00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:31,279 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 598 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.