Hay-Adams Hotel Draws Ghosts and President-Elect
Ghost of Clover Adams Haunts Luxurious D.C. Hotel
Jan 6, 2009
As the presidential inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama draws near, the Obama family temporarily resides in the luxurious Hay-Adams Hotel. Called one of the world’s greatest hotels by countless travel writers, this prestigious hotel has a view of the White House and has been the buzz of Washington D.C. and beyond since the Obama family checked in on Sunday, January 4th 2008.
The Hay-Adams Hotel was designed and built in the 1920s with one 145 rooms and 20 suites. The hotel, named after John Hay, private assistant to President Abraham Lincoln and subsequent Secretary of State, and Henry Adams, writer and descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, stands in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C.
The Death of Marian Hooper Adams, AKA Clover Adams
While President-Elect Obama waits to contend with the huge issues facing the United States and the world, he may first have to deal with the ghost of Clover Adams, nickname for Marian Adams, wife of Henry Adams, who allegedly haunts the fourth floor of the Hay-Adams Hotel. Mrs. Adams suffered from severe depression and killed herself in early December in the original mansion that used to stand on the same property.
Clover Adams, an avid photographer, apparently took her own life by ingesting a chemical used for developing photographs. There were rumors, however, that her death was not self-inflicted and that her husband, who may have had a longtime mistress, was somehow responsible. This theory has never been proven and many facts about Mrs. Adams’ death are still unknown.
Ghost of the Hay-Adams Hotel
Guests and staff that have experienced the paranormal activity of the Hay-Adams Hotel tend to report that the first two weeks of December are the most active. Strange occurrences reported by guests and staff includes locked doors opening and closing by themselves, radios turning on and off, disembodied whimpering and moaning and reports of being touched. Housekeepers claim to have heard an unknown female voice call out, “What do you want?” on more than one occasion.
On other floors, guests and staff have recognized phantom scents. For instance, the scent of Mimosa has been reported at night.
Memorial Statue for Marian Hooper Adams Brings Tears to Cemetery VisitorsTo memorialize his wife, Henry Adams erected a statue depicting a hooded female figure. The statue, designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, stands in Rock Creek Church Cemetery. The memorial statue, which was originally named "The Mystery of the Hereafter and The Peace of God that Passeth Understanding" is commonly called "Grief". Many people that view the statue report feeling an overwhelming sadness. Some people have even reported feeling so sad that they were brought to tears at the sight of the statue.
Sources:
The Hay-Adams Hotel. www.hayadams.com
Kornblut, Anne. Obamas to Stay at the Hay-Adams Hotel. Washington Post. 31 December 2008.
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