Ole Saint Andrews Inn

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A frisky spectral owner tries to help while continuing to enjoy his pleasures!

 

DESCRIPTION

Today, as of 2021, the first floor of the building of the former Ole St Andrew’s Inn is for lease, as the building has been renovated and transformed.

Ole Saint Andrew’s Inn is no longer there on the first floor. A new owner bought the drab building and renovated it beautifully, including the apartments on the second and third floors, as the properties in this zone are listed for stores and residential use.

The  attractive apartments that exist there now are on the small side, but have the necessary basic amenities and space for city apartment dwellers who work downtown. They still have the original hardwood floors and restored decor, making them pretty classy.

The first floor (a 3,400 sq ft retail space) has new windows and has been renovated as well, ready for the next restaurant, shop, or tavern, probably after the COVID crisis of 2021.

Though renovated, this retail space probably still everything needed for a bar or restaurant (kitchen space, bathrooms, storage areas etc.). The location is perfect for a restaurant and pub, or some other eatery.

When the Ole Saint Andrews Inn was still here, the original building had a cheerful green awning, which ran above the colorful yellow-trimmed windows and over the sidewalk to the street, in a half circle shape, offering shade from the hot sun. It had a serious set of thick wooden doors, with frosted windows, leading inside.

Today, there is a black awning, with a new look, built to encourage someone to open up shop here. However, with all the COVID restrictions for restaurants and bars, it may be awhile until a new establishment sets up shop here.

Unfortunately, it was closed the day Tom and I came by for a visit in the summer of 2007, so I relied on other sources to describe the inside of this friendly, popular neighborhood watering hole and eatery.

Inside the Ole St. Andrew’s Inn, one would see  that the restaurant area surrounded a horseshoe-shaped bar. The spacious interior was trimmed with “dark oak and hunter-green accents”. The “low-slung” tables have high-backed, British-style chairs. There were also “six crescent, black-leather booths”, that were removed in 2004, and replaced with wooden chairs and tables.

The walls were decorated with scenic pictures of Ireland and Scotland, and pictures of the 1754 Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews. Golf clubs and related items also adorn the walls.

On the north wall was an Anglican coat of arms painted on paned glass. There was also a juke box on the wall, and the customary pool table and dart board to provide entertainment while enjoying your Scottish brew!

The rear of the pub featured a small pool table and big screen TV that is pulled down for football games and karaoke, or even a band for live music.

Ole St. Andrew’s Inn had a comfortable home-like, warm and welcoming atmosphere, where people could come to enjoy conversations with friends and strangers, and often the cordial staff. Food on the menu included delicious shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, pork chops, lamb stew, various cuts of steak, sandwiches and bar food, which goes along nicely with beer or other alcoholic drinks on offer.

 

HISTORY

The building which housed The Ole St. Andrews Inn was built sometime in the early part of the 20th century (I’m guessing the 1920s?) and has housed some sort of bar/restaurant for many years. It at one time was probably a place to spend the night as well, or live long-term because it has second and third floors.

In the 1950s-1960s, a lively Scottish tavern known as Edinburgh Castle Pub, offered food and alcoholic beverages. It was owned by a colorful character, Frank Giff, who was a very friendly, outgoing sort, who always made his customers feel welcome.

Frank had a weakness for alcohol, his favorite being Vodka. He was a ferocious drinker and would often drink himself into a state of oblivion in one of the booths in his pub. One morning his wife Edna found him dead, probably from alcohol poisoning. Some say that he fell in his drunken stupor off the bar stool and hit his head, which is what some claim killed him.

Edinburgh Castle Pub was purchased by Jane McDougal and son Blair, who kept the charming Scottish theme and atmosphere, offering (among other things) dark Scottish beer. Edinburgh Castle Pub earned an evaluation from the Chicago Bar Guide as being “an overlooked gem. In the middle of Broadway, the genial staff chats you up and makes you happy.”

ole-saint-andrews-paranormalIn 1994, David Jenkins and Kay Whipple bought the pub, and renamed it Ole Saint Andrews Inn, after David’s favorite Scottish golf course, which he tried to play once a year. Ole Saint Andrews Inn became an English Pub, with Irish and Scottish influences.

Live Irish and jazz musicians performers came and played for appreciative audiences on the weekends. Wednesday night was Karaoke Night. The pub was rented out to groups as well.

While some in Chicago complained about the pub’s change from being a strictly Scottish establishment to a broader British one, The Ole St. Andrew’s Inn was again immensely popular with the local neighborhood, retaining its friendly, easy-going atmosphere, and great selection of Scottish Brews!

In 2004, the pub changed hands again. The pictures shown here are from that era. The new owners changed the color of the awning to red, but kept the classic wooden front doors.

They modernized the inside a bit to please new patrons coming into the neighborhood, losing some of the old booths for something more up-to-date. They may have been the owners who started the outside eating area.

Because the building had such good structural bones, the new owners weren’t afraid to change and renovate to suit their business needs. The current owners have done this as well. I hope the COVID pandemic ends this year so another pub can move in and provide food and entertainment once again.

 

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

People who die unexpectedly or prematurely are often not ready to go to the other side. They stay in the same place to do what they loved to do while alive.

Bair Bistro, WA (The spirit of a former owner, who ran a hardware store here, still sticks around to try to help the staff who work here).

Eldridge Hotel, KS ( The spirit of Col. Shalor Eldridge who courageously rebuilt this hotel as a symbol of resistance to pro-slavery bullies, still resides in his forever home and hotel, along with members of his family who visit him. He enjoys being an encouraging presence).

Brumder Mansion, WI (Spirits who worked In the 1920s speakeasy in the basement were shot unexpectedly when the mob from Chicago closed up shop, because they knew too much. They still work here, helping the current owners for free).

The Ole Saint Andrews Inn, IL (Frank Giff really loved his tavern and wasn’t ready to quit just yet).

 

Spirits still have their earthly personalities in the afterlife and like carry on doing their favorite things.

Hearthstone House Museum, WI (Mr. Pride ran a tight ship with his businesses while alive, and as a spirit he keeps a careful eye on the people who lead tours and their visitors).

Bullock Hotel, SD (Seth Bullock was a brave lawman and entrepreneur who knew what he wanted in his hotel while alive.  His spirit became really active after gaming was introduced. He became a spectral host, kept an eye on guests, and kept employees on their toes).

Stanley Hotel, CO (Mr. Stanley wore many hats while running his hotel, and still does as a spirit).

The Ole Saint Andrews Inn, IL (While alive, Frank loved his business, his Vodka, flirting with women, and showing hospitality to guests).

 

When people die because of something they did or didn’t do, it is sometimes hard for them to admit their error and continue on as best they can as spirits.

Fort Worden, WA (A guard at the old jail building accidentally shot himself while cleaning his rifle).

Palace Theatre, NYC (A high wire performer who fell to his death still tries to get across the wire today without falling).

Stranahan House Museum, FL (A young man who loved sex with prostitutes died from TB that he caught from one of the lovely ladies he met in a brothel).

The Ole Saint Andrews Inn, IL (Frank, who was pretty drunk from all the Vodka he constantly drank, died unexpectedly.  He didn’t want to admit that it was his drinking that caused his premature death. So he continued on, as the spectral owner).

 

MANIFESTATIONS

When Frank Giff suddenly died in one of his pub booths, or fell off the bar stool, it seems that he wasn’t quite ready to go to the other side. His spirit decided to stay and “help” the living in running his establishment, and do what he loved to do!

Jane and Blair McDougal, the staff, and customers, were the first ones to be made aware of this entity’s presence.

The Usual Mischief

Glasses would fly around and break by themselves.

Vodka and other alcohol goes missing, disappearing when no one else is around.

Still At Work

Cases of beer, glasses, ashtrays and other items move around by themselves.

The cash register, which is on a lazy Susan, moves by itself.

Lights go on and off without the living’s help.

Frank still Flirts in Frisky Ways

Younger women sometimes feel a cool and caressing unseen hand on their knees.

Hospitable Host

Other people are still being touched by a friendly unseen hand, as if to welcome them.

Sensitive people can feel “eerie” cold spots in The Ole St. Andrew’s Inn.

This hospitable entity’s sometimes present when people from the Ghost tours come in and visit.

PARANORMAL FINDINGS

Former owners of previous pubs here after Frank died had many experiences with this spirit, as did their patrons. Staff could also tell about Frank’s activity after having contact with him.

I couldn’t find any hard evidence online of paranormal investigations conducted here that were made public. Author and investigator Ursula Bielski probably did research here before she put this story in her book on haunted Chicago, which is listed below under the Sources Include section.

 

STILL HAUNTED?

Perhaps, but not known for sure until another establishment finally moves into the commercial space on the first floor.

It was definitely haunted by the spirit of Frank when an active pub existed here, if one believes the eyewitness accounts.

Perhaps the place gave off such a friendly, welcoming aura because of the spirit of Frank, who was still a welcoming unseen presence.

This friendly spirit remained active when new pub owners Jane McDougal and her son, Blair, took the helm of The Edinburgh Castle Pub. His antics soon gave the pub a reputation for being haunted, earning them attention from Chicago ghost tour groups, which was great for business.

Other people in the following years have also experienced similar manifestations. If a pub and restaurant finally do move in and establish their business here, the spirit of Frank may just reactivate and resume his activities.

 

LOCATION

5938 North Broadway
Chicago, Illinois
(773) 784-5540

Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr

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SOURCES INCLUDE

  • HAUNTED PLACES; The National Directory
    by William Dennis Hauk
    Penguin Books – 2002
  • MORE CHICAGO HAUNTS:
    SCENES FROM MYTH AND MEMORY
    by Ursula Bielski
    Lake Claremont Press
    2000
  • chicagotribune.com
  • chicagobarproject.com
  • prairieghosts.com
  • loopnet.com

Some photos via yelp.com
CHICAGO BAR PROJECT, BY SEAN PARNELL (chibarproject.com)

Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr

Visit the memorable… Milwaukee Haunted Hotel

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