Greetings!
Owning and renting property in San Francisco can be a scary experience, but not as frightening as these foreboding Fog City abodes. Enjoy these chilling tales in honor of Halloween!
Best,
Natalie
Atherton Mansion, 1990 California Street
Believed to be haunted by George Atherton, the feeble son of Faxon D. Atherton and Dominga de Goñi, who died on a trip to Chile. The ship’s captain stowed George’s remains in a barrel of rum, which was shipped back to the Atherton household. There was no indication the cask contained anything more than rum and caused quite a stir when opened by Atherton’s butler. George’s body was buried, but shortly thereafter, Dominga de Goñi and George’s wife, Gertrude, reported being awakened at night by knocks at their bedroom doors and a cold, disturbing presence.
The Montandon House, 1000 Lombard Street
Owner, Pat Montandon, the queen of the SF jet-set, hosted a zodiac theme party and purportedly forgot to bring a drink to a tarot card reader as promised. The tarot card reader placed a curse on the house. Subsequently, an unnatural chill pervaded the house along with spots of deathly cold, mysteriously locking doors, blood curdling screams, and the appearance of mysterious blood stains. The curse turned deadly on June 20th, 1969 when a mysterious fire broke out. Montandon’s close friend, Mary Louise Ward, was killed. Mary Louise was not burned, nor had she succumb to smoke inhalation. There were no signs of injury, and most suspicious of all it was determined that she had actually died before the fire.
Mansions Hotel, 2220 Sacramento Street
Built in 1887 by high-flying socialite, Richard Chambers, two nieces, who did not get along, inherited the house upon his death at the turn of the century. One night, Claudia Chambers, one of the two nieces, was killed in a bizarre and terrible accident. Noone really knows what happened, but legend has it that she was sawn in half. Along with Claudia, it is said that the hotel haunted by a number of other spirits, including a 19 year old girl who died of tuberculosis. Guests have reported seeing and hearing the ghosts. In one instance a crystal wine glass exploded in front of a number of people. In another, a seat ripped itself off its hinges and flew into a wall.
Best,
Natalie M. Drees
Broker