HAUNTED U.S.A: San Diego, California (Part 2)

Welcome back to Haunted U.S.A. for our second installment covering the city of San Diego. This installment will focus a bit more on the histories related to paranormal events in and around San Diego. Since San Diego is one of the first cities to be founded in California by Spain in 1542. If you did the math real quick, that makes San Diego about 480 years old(we know the land itself is far older but for this article, we’re sticking with these numbers). That’s a lot of history…and death!

Our focus will be with what occurred during the 1800s or Wild West period of San Diego.

THE WHALEY HOUSE

Quick Facts:

• The Whaley family left the house in 1858. It would be ten years until they would live in it again.

• The Whaley house was home to a theatre troupe, a courthouse, and a general store.

• It is believed that boat thief Yankee Jim Robinson was hanged right on the grounds where the Whaley House now stands

Impassioned by the boom of the California Gold Rush, Thomas Whaley left his home in New York City in 1849 and set off for San Francisco. He promptly set up a store and returned to New York to marry Anna Eloise DeLaunay. In 1853, the couple relocated to San Diego.

Their son Francis was born in 1854, and in 1856, Thomas had a house built for his family as well as commissioning the construction of his general store.

It is believed that the family members who have died in the Whaley House still roam its halls to this day. There have also been stories of other spectral tenants that have moved in with the Whaley’s. But are these stories rooted in history or rooted in fiction?

The Ballad of Yankee Jim

”Yankee” Jim Robison had a reputation of being a troublemaker in San Diego. He was a drunk and a horse thief and was just about despised by everyone in town. Everyone was itching to get rid of him once and for all. And it seems their chance had finally arrived.

In 1852, Jim and two accomplices attempted to steal the Plutus, a schooner ship. Although, Jim stated later on that he merely wanted to borrow it. The three men were subsequently captured, and Jim suffered a head injury from a rusty sword.

The men awaited trial. Jim was given no representation and was suffering from a debilitating fever from his head injury. His two accomplices were each sentenced to one year in prison. Troublemaker, drunk, and thief Yankee Jim was sentenced to the gallows.

It is rumored that the tree where Jim was hanged was the same plot of land where the Whaley House would end up being built on. And it is rumored that Thomas Whaley witnessed the execution.

Nevertheless, reports have claimed a presence in the house where Jim was supposedly hanged. Even the Whaley family themselves have made similar claims.

Could it be that even in death, Yankee Jim still stirred up trouble? Could Jim have cursed the family for treading on the grounds where he died by unjust means?

The Legend of Anna Belle Wasburn

Another story comes from the mouth of a former Whaley House employee. People have reported seeing the apparition of a little girl in the dining room. The employee claims it is the spirit of Anna Belle Washburn, a playmate of the Whaley children.

The story goes that while she was outside playing, Anna ran into a low-hanging clothes line, breaking her neck. Thomas then found her and placed her in the dining room table where she died.

Yet, no record of the incident or the child is known to exist. So, if Anna Belle Wasburn never existed, who’s haunting the dining room?

Tenants and Tragedy

After a massive earthquake struck San Francisco, Thomas and the family returned to a disheveled and empty Whaley House in 1868.

He proceeded to set up another store on the first floor, while renting out rooms on the second floor to a theatre troupe and what would become the San Diego Courthouse.

The Whaley House hosted a double wedding for both Anna and Violet in 1882. However, Violet’s husband abandoned her two weeks later. Stricken with heartbreak and humiliation, Violet shot herself in the heart with Thomas’ pistol.

Thomas promptly moved the family to another house where he would die in 1890. The remaining family moved back to the Whaley House in 1912. Thomas’ wife Anna and their son Francis would die in the old family home in 1913 and 1914 respectively.

Corinne continued to live in the house until her death in 1953.

The city of San Diego turned the site into a historical landmark in 1960 and tours of the house have been going on since then.

VILLA MONTEZUMA

Quick Facts:

• The stained glass windows portray many of Benjamin Shepard’s favorite authors and artists.

• Benjamin Shepard died on the piano.

• One of the Villa Montezuma’s owners was a con artist.

Benjamin Henry Jesse Francis Sherpard was born in England in 1848. A year later, his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. During his childhood, Shepard became quite skilled at playing piano. As a young man, he traveled across Europe to play, during which he became involved in séances and spiritualism.

Benjamin Henry Jesse Francis Shepard traveled the world composing music. For one year, he lived in a grandiose mansion in San Diego, performing concerts and séances. Ever since, those who have owned the house have been met with grave misfortunes.

Hauntings at Villa Montezuma

Many urban legends have been told through the years about the spirits that may reside within the halls of the villa.

One tells of a butler who hanged himself in the villa’s tower. Some say that you can see his anguished face reflected in the tower windows.

Other stories mention the appearance of a tall man in a grey suit. Could this be the spirit of Benjamin Shepard, finally returning to his old home after such a long time away?

Or could it possibly be one of the many owners that the Villa Montezuma has had over the decades?

Although, it has been said that visitors can sometimes hear the sound of a piano being played faintly through the home.

The Man With Two Names

Benjamin Henry Jesse Francis Sherpard lived a life many would have dreamt of having. He traveled the world. He built a palace for himself. He spent his entire life playing music. He was like a modern-day Mozart. And he died in the same extraordinary way.

In 1885, Shepard met his life-long friend and secretary, Lauritz Tonner. They would spend the next 40 years traveling together. There has been speculation that they were lovers, yet there has been no evidence to prove it.

In 1887, two wealthy ranchers in San Diego decided to coax Shepherd to America’s Finest City in order to have him play for the elites of the West Coast. And they convinced him by building him a house.

His Last Bow

Shepard’s later years were not kind to him. His popularity had dwindled, and he was financially impoverished. He had pawned off all of his possessions and treasures. Tonner, had been graciously supporting him financially.

By 1919, he and Tonner were living in Los Angeles. During this time, Shepard had met writer Zona Gale, who had also graciously supported him.

In May of 1927, she had put together a benefit concert for Shepard. Unbeknownst to everyone, it would be his last.

At 79 years old, Shepard played like a young, vibrant man. As the night was ending, he played his most famous piece, “The Egyptian March.” As his finger hit the final note of the song, he bowed his head.

He had died right there on the piano, finger still on the note. He had suffered a heart attack from malnutrition.

He was buried in Los Angeles as Francis Grierson. He died as he lived, playing music. Tonner would follow suit 20 years later in 1947.

The Misfortunes at the Villa Montezuma

Shepard sold the Villa Montezuma to one D.D. Dare, who was vice president of the new California National Bank. Like Shepard, he hosted parties at the villa and invested in several companies.

After completion of his own house, Dare sold the villa to H.P. Palmerston, who had invested in Dare’s bank as well.

Unbeknownst to Palmerston, Dare was a professional con man and one day fled California with a case full of money and a closed bank.

Palmerson was financially ruined and was forced to foreclose the villa.

The house was sold to Dr. George Calmus, who lived there for six years. But one day, he ditched his wife and headed to Northern California.

The villa went through several other hands throughout the years, each resident never staying for too long due to financial reasons. Stories started to circulate that the home was cursed and that each owner was doomed to end up like Shepard, poor and dejected.

The Villa Montezuma Today

In the 70s, the villa was restored to its original state and opened up as a museum for visitors to explore its decadent halls. Since then, many repairs have been made to the villa to keep it in pristine condition.

Now, the villa is only open four times a year, a very rare treat amongst the other historic tours in San Diego.

That will do it for this weeks Haunted U.S.A. See ya next week and remember, stay spooky and check out San Diego…if you dare!