Bethlehem Pennsylvania
Bethlehem Hotel
This place is one of the most active spectral hot spots in Pennsylvania!
Yes indeed! Hotel Bethlehem offers the full
paranormal sport package, featuring past residents and workers.
DESCRIPTION
The Hotel Bethlehem is a fully restored, seven story establishment. While it is a credit to its original 1920’s style, the building has also been renovated with modern amenities to please its upscale clientele and business travelers, offering “state-of-the art hotel meeting facilities, elegant well-appointed accommodations, AND award winning dining.” (Hotel website).
Hotel Bethlehem offers “128 elegantly restored guest rooms and suites in rich hues of navy and gold.” A variety of guest rooms with King, Queen or Double Beds all have the “traditional colonial décor.” The views from the windows often include a “spectacular mountain-side or street-side view.”
For those guests who want something special, Hotel Bethlehem offers a choice of suites, starting with the King Suite and its over-sized bedroom with sitting area. The One Bedroom Suite has its sitting room and separate bedroom, the Governor’s Suite, with its living room, dining room and separate bedroom, and the Presidential Suite, with its large living room with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
On the first floor, in the lobby, and other areas, beautiful tapestries can be found on the walls, depicting important moments in Bethlehem’s history. windows on the first floor are nearly floor to ceiling, letting in lots of light, and providing a great view of the city.
HISTORY
The plot of land upon which this upscale hotel sits has had two other buildings that were originally built there. In 1741, a simple, rustic cabin was built by the founders of Bethlehem, a people known as Moravians, who founded the town.
It was in this cabin that this city, Bethlehem, was given its name on Christmas Eve in 1741. After commerce in Bethlehem began to boom, the need for a hotel was evident. The cabin was torn down in 1821, and a hotel, called The Eagle was built in its place.
Probably the same owners, The Moravian Church, also owned The Sun Inn, a combination tavern/with second floor accommodations for visitors. The Eagle Hotel handled the overflow of guests from The Sun Inn.
Sometime in the early 1900s, the Eagle Hotel was torn down. In 1920, a financial entrepreneur, Charles Swab, bought the property, and built a grand, upscale, seven floored hotel; a place for his wealthy business associates and clients to spend the night while visiting him.
The Hotel Bethlehem, through the following years, has had three other owners. The current owners have been doing many restoration/renovation projects throughout the building, moving closer to fully restoring Hotel Bethlehem to its former glory.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS
Guests, employees and owners of places of business, such as hotels have often loved their time there so much that after passing from their life in this world, they visit, supervise or decide to stay earth-bound to continue doing what they so enjoyed.
The Olde Pink House, GA (Businessman James Habersham Jr. died in 1799, just ten years after he finished his home. He has chosen to spend his afterlife here and tries to be a helpful, gracious host once more, thrilled that his house is being used as a restaurant).
The Eagle Hotel, PA (This is a restaurant where the spectral supervisor can learn your name, especially if you work here! This past owner in spirit form has the same high standards for employees).
The Lake Yellowstone Hotel, WY (Though no longer on the payroll, a spectral past head porter apparently is still working in the profession he loved).
Hotel Bethlehem, PA (Francis “Daddy” Thomas, a kind man with a sense of fun, was a cabinet maker by trade, who found great satisfaction later in life, welcoming and attending to visitors to Bethlehem, and helping people settle into the Eagle Hotel when it first opened. He died in 1822, just when he found a very fulfilling activity, at the age of 90! His spirit is still doing what he loved to do).
When the living have to pass on, due to unexpected circumstances, their spirits often choose to stay in the place they loved.
Berkeley Plantation, VA (During a stormy evening in 1744, William Harrison IV and two of his daughters were killed by a fluke bolt of lightening came through the window. The spirit of William is the fun-loving host with tour groups and docents, and his daughters keep him company).
Frick House, PA (Having to leave their beloved home while alive, a spirit or two have moved back, keeping an eye on the living).
Inn At Herr Ridge, PA (The spirits of two of the early owners, Thomas Sweeny who had to sell, and Frederick Herr, who died before he was ready, may be residing here to offer a positive aura, an encouraging atmosphere, and to supervise in subtle ways).
Hotel Bethlehem, PA (Unfortunately, the Moravian Church didn’t do their due diligence in finding out about Mr. and Mrs. Brong, before hiring the couple in 1833. Imagine their horror, when Mr. Brong was shown to be a roaring drunk, and innkeeper Mrs. Brong would go without shoes and stockings while serving the guests. Mrs. Brong was fired from a position she loved, and forced to leave, because of her rebellious nature and her husband’s weakness for drink).
Sometimes spirits want to spend their afterlives in places where they had lots of good memories and times to remember.
Waverley Plantation House, MS (The spirits of George Young and some of his family members still reside, very thankful that the living have restored their home).
Hemingway House, FL (The spirits of Ernest Hemingway and his ex wife who lived with him here and still loves him, continue to exist in the house where they both had the best memories).
Sheeley House Saloon, WI (At least seven known spirits, as well as a possible spectral visitor who hangs out, call this historic building their favorite afterlife home).
Hotel Bethlehem, PA (May Yohe, a well-known Victorian singer and actress, was the granddaughter of innkeeper Caleb Yohe and was born there. Appearing as a spirit child, she relives her happy childhood spent in the hotel, to soothe her restlessness from her unhappy adult personal life, when she had trouble with commitment to the opposite sex).
People who commit suicide because they can’t face their reality in this world, often don’t find the peace they yearned for on the other side either.
The Scott Theatre, TX (Kenneth Walker Yandle worked for the Fort Worth Community Theatre, as a stage hand. He suffered an emotional depression when his girlfriend broke up with him, probably around Christmas/New Years. He committed suicide by hanging himself there. His spirit haunts the basement where he died).
Hotel Adolphus, TX (A bride, who was to be married was stood up at the altar, in front of family and friends, abandoned by her beloved. Emotionally crushed and distraught, she hung herself not far from the ballroom. Her spirit has found no peace).
Bowers Harbor Inn, MI (Genevieve, who had become jealous and possessive of her husband J. W., needed a nurse because of her physical disabilities caused by her weight. J. W. hired a nurse whom he eventually became romantically involved with. After J.W. died, his will left his fortune to this nurse. Genevieve took her own life by hanging herself in the mansion’s rafters).
Hotel Bethlehem, PA (Frank Smith was an employee of The Eagle Hotel, and held an important job, as he had an office and secretary in the hotel itself, up on the third floor. After a business deal went sour, he couldn’t live with the consequences of failure and shot himself in the bathroom off his office).
Sometimes when a person’s house or building is knocked down, they choose to stay in the new building, attaching themselves to the land itself.
Rivoli Theatre, IN (The spirits from graves located in the graveyard now under the theatre have moved inside and now reside in the building. They are enthusiastic theatre groupies).
Pittsburgh Theatre, PA (The theatre was built on the property where tenement housing once stood but burned down. The spirit of a woman who died in the fire haunted the theatre, full of grief).
Capitol Records Building, TN (The building was built on land where a mansion once stood but was torn down. The spirits of the two sisters who lived in the mansion simply moved into the new building).
Hotel Bethlehem, PA (A male spirit who had lived in the 1700s’ cabin still seems to dwell in the hotel).
MANIFESTATIONS
Hotel Bethlehem is rated by many to be one of the most active paranormal hot spots in Pennsylvania, making it a popular place for paranormal investigators. The spirits are not shy about personal appearances or making themselves known in unseen ways.
Room 932: “Room with a Boo.”
A male spirit is a bit possessive of this room which he has claimed as his space.
Wearing an undershirt and boxer shorts, he likes to appear at the bedside of guests in the wee hours of the morning who stay here.
He asked one couple,”Why are you in my room?”
He disappears in front of startled guests when they hastily turn on the light.
Other Room 932 Activity
One woman guest went into the bathroom, and saw a completely different room for a moment, one with pink wallpaper.
Lights blink on and off by themselves.
Papers fly off the room’s desk, pushed by an unseen force.
Other Personal Appearances
Images are seen in the mirrors.
Other male and female apparitions and/or shadows make appearances or make their presences known to guests and staff.
Signs of Unseen Presences
Cold spots are felt throughout the hotel.
Disembodied voices are heard all over the hotel.
Items and objects are moved around the various rooms.
Sounds of a child has been heard, playing in the halls.
The Spirit of Francis “Daddy” Thomas
Francis still likes to take care of guests in a playful, fun way. While alive, he was known for his kindness and sense of fun. His spirit continues in this way.
He has been seen down in the boiler room.
The Spirit of Frank Smith
On the third floor, he appears in solid form in front of staff, wearing a suit.
Makes his unseen presence known by cold spots, cool breezes, and drops the weights in the exercise room.
The Spirit of Mrs. Brong
As a spirit, she continues in her job, which makes her feel better about being fired.
Her see-through apparition has been seen by guests and staff in the dining room and kitchen walking around in bare feet.
A cook once felt a kick by a spectral foot – Perhaps it was Mrs. Brong, not happy about something he was preparing.
The Spirit of May Yohe
The spirit of May Yohe seems to be reliving a time in her life when she was the happiest.
She has made herself visible in the third floor exercise room, climbing on the equipment.
Little May also likes to play in the lobby. She is thought to be the one to turn on the player-piano, and sing along to the music.
The Spirit of the Moravian Settler
He is described as being a quick little man wearing 1700s attire.
He was the owner of the log cabin built here, and has moved into the basement.
Staff members have reported that he moves quickly around the basement, sometimes startling the staff by tapping on their shoulders.
PARANORMAL FINDINGS
Many paranormal groups and individuals have captured hard evidence, which back up the many personal experiences reported by guests and staff.
For instance, in April of 2007, a paranormal investigator camped in room 932, recorded the following EVP’s: “It’s Mary,” “What a beautiful bathroom,” “I’ve locked myself in the closet,” “look out the window.”
STILL HAUNTED?
A big YES INDEED is in order. The friendly, benign presences truly still enjoy the building, remembering what they experienced here, whether a simple cabin, or either one of the hotels, The Eagle Hotel, or Hotel Bethlehem.
LOCATION
437 Main Street
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
(800) 607-2384
Hotel Bethlehem can be found in the heart of Bethlehem’s historic district, on Main Street.
Take Southern Spur Route 378, getting off at the Main Street exit. Go North on Main Street. The Hotel is near the corner of W. Market Street and Main Street.
Or, go on West Broad Street to Market Street and turn right.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- ghostbreakers.com
- hotelbethlehem.com
- GHOST HUNTING PENNSYLVANIA
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley
Clerisy Press – 2009
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
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