
The Ghosts of San Antonio's Menger Hotel
12/02/20 • 33 min
Everyone always says “Remember the Alamo” and the ghosts of San Antonino are keen on making it difficult to forget. Particularly, the spectral denizens of the Menger hotel, once known as the “finest hotel the west of the Mississippi” now holds the moniker of “the most haunted hotel in Texas” The battle of the Alamo, a deadly fire, a murdered maid, and more are the causes of its infamous reputation, allegedly being home to over 32 spirits...including that of Teddy Roosevelt. Now...let’s hear the so-called history of the hotel before we dig deep in the archive to separate fact from folklore...
Submit your feedback or personal stories to [email protected]
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors
Podcast artwork by GiAnna Ligammari: https://gialigammari.wixsite.com/portfolio
Episode Transcript:
https://crimesandwitchdemeanors.com/2020/12/11/episode-004-the-ghosts-of-the-menger-hotel/
Sources:
Another Outrage: Malicious and Probably Fatal Shooting of a Negro Woman by her Crazed Husband. (1876, March 29). San Antonio Daily Express, 1.
Captain Richard King. (1885, April 15). The Galveston Daily News, 1.
Haunted Menger Hotel | San Antonio’s haunted Hotel. (n.d.). Ghost City Tours. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://ghostcitytours.com/san-antonio/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/menger-hotel/
Haunted Menger Hotel in San Antonio – Legends of America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-mengerhotel/
Historic Hotels San Antonio | Our Story | The Menger Hotel. (n.d.). Menger Hotel. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.mengerhotel.com/about-us
Professor’s Wife Dies in Hotel Fall. (1952, June 21). Lubbock Morning Avalanche, 9.
R/Paranormal—[Experience] The Menger Hotel—I saw *something* in the ladies’ restroom. (n.d.). Reddit. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1mgq3z/experience_the_menger_hotel_i_saw_something_in/
r/Paranormal—Menger Hotel, San Antonio. (n.d.). Reddit. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/9qlr00/menger_hotel_san_antonio/
State News. (1876, April 2). The Dallas Daily Herald, 1.
The 140th Anniversary of Sallie White’s Murder. (n.d.). The Sisters Grimm Blog. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from http://sistersgrimmghosttourblog.weebly.com/1/post/2016/03/the-140th-anniversary-of-sallie-whites-murder.html
Total Destruction Menger Hotel by Fire is Now Feared. (1924, October 15). The Eagle.
William A Menger (1827-1871)—Find A Grave... (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47178741/william-a-menger
TRANSCRIPT:
Hello, and welcome to Crimes and Witch-Demeanors -- I am your host, Joshua Spellman. Thank you so much for tuning in and sticking with me. For everyone who enjoyed the first batch of episodes, thank you so much! I didn't think anyone was going to like them...but that's just my self-hatred. But I'm not going to talk to you about that -- that's what therapists are for. What we're here for is ghosts! I know last episode on Murder Creek was a little light on the ghosts and the spookiness...but this week we have plenty of ghosts to talk about. There is no shortage of ghosts.
I feel like we're slowly making our way from coast to coast. So we've done New York and we've done Ohio and now we're making our way to the Southwest. We're in Texas this week!
Everyone always says “Remember the Alamo” and the ghosts of San Antonino are keen on making it difficult to forget. Particularly, the spectral denizens of the Menger hotel, once known as the “finest hotel the west of the Mississippi” now holds the moniker of “the most haunted hotel in Texas”. The battle of the Alamo, a deadly fire, a murdered maid, and more are the caus...
Everyone always says “Remember the Alamo” and the ghosts of San Antonino are keen on making it difficult to forget. Particularly, the spectral denizens of the Menger hotel, once known as the “finest hotel the west of the Mississippi” now holds the moniker of “the most haunted hotel in Texas” The battle of the Alamo, a deadly fire, a murdered maid, and more are the causes of its infamous reputation, allegedly being home to over 32 spirits...including that of Teddy Roosevelt. Now...let’s hear the so-called history of the hotel before we dig deep in the archive to separate fact from folklore...
Submit your feedback or personal stories to [email protected]
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors
Podcast artwork by GiAnna Ligammari: https://gialigammari.wixsite.com/portfolio
Episode Transcript:
https://crimesandwitchdemeanors.com/2020/12/11/episode-004-the-ghosts-of-the-menger-hotel/
Sources:
Another Outrage: Malicious and Probably Fatal Shooting of a Negro Woman by her Crazed Husband. (1876, March 29). San Antonio Daily Express, 1.
Captain Richard King. (1885, April 15). The Galveston Daily News, 1.
Haunted Menger Hotel | San Antonio’s haunted Hotel. (n.d.). Ghost City Tours. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://ghostcitytours.com/san-antonio/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/menger-hotel/
Haunted Menger Hotel in San Antonio – Legends of America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-mengerhotel/
Historic Hotels San Antonio | Our Story | The Menger Hotel. (n.d.). Menger Hotel. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.mengerhotel.com/about-us
Professor’s Wife Dies in Hotel Fall. (1952, June 21). Lubbock Morning Avalanche, 9.
R/Paranormal—[Experience] The Menger Hotel—I saw *something* in the ladies’ restroom. (n.d.). Reddit. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1mgq3z/experience_the_menger_hotel_i_saw_something_in/
r/Paranormal—Menger Hotel, San Antonio. (n.d.). Reddit. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/9qlr00/menger_hotel_san_antonio/
State News. (1876, April 2). The Dallas Daily Herald, 1.
The 140th Anniversary of Sallie White’s Murder. (n.d.). The Sisters Grimm Blog. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from http://sistersgrimmghosttourblog.weebly.com/1/post/2016/03/the-140th-anniversary-of-sallie-whites-murder.html
Total Destruction Menger Hotel by Fire is Now Feared. (1924, October 15). The Eagle.
William A Menger (1827-1871)—Find A Grave... (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47178741/william-a-menger
TRANSCRIPT:
Hello, and welcome to Crimes and Witch-Demeanors -- I am your host, Joshua Spellman. Thank you so much for tuning in and sticking with me. For everyone who enjoyed the first batch of episodes, thank you so much! I didn't think anyone was going to like them...but that's just my self-hatred. But I'm not going to talk to you about that -- that's what therapists are for. What we're here for is ghosts! I know last episode on Murder Creek was a little light on the ghosts and the spookiness...but this week we have plenty of ghosts to talk about. There is no shortage of ghosts.
I feel like we're slowly making our way from coast to coast. So we've done New York and we've done Ohio and now we're making our way to the Southwest. We're in Texas this week!
Everyone always says “Remember the Alamo” and the ghosts of San Antonino are keen on making it difficult to forget. Particularly, the spectral denizens of the Menger hotel, once known as the “finest hotel the west of the Mississippi” now holds the moniker of “the most haunted hotel in Texas”. The battle of the Alamo, a deadly fire, a murdered maid, and more are the caus...
Previous Episode

The Legend of Murder Creek & The Curious Case of Sadie McMullen
Today’s episode we’ll be talking about...murder creek. Yes, you heard that correctly. That is the official name of this place and it got its name from...you guessed it...murder. There are two stories that surround this creek: The Legend of Murder Creek which gave it its name, and the curious case of child murderess Sadie McMullen.
Episode Transcript: https://crimesandwitchdemeanors.com/2020/11/23/episode-003-murder-creek/
Submit your feedback or personal stories to [email protected]
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors
Podcast artwork by GiAnna Ligammari: https://gialigammari.wixsite.com/portfolio
Sources:
A Girl’s Trial for Murder: Seventeen-Year-Old Sadie McMullen Before a Jury in Buffalo. (1891, March 6). The Evening Star, 8. Akron Falls County Park. (n.d.). Upstate NY Photography, Waterfalls, Nature. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/akron-falls/ Ellen May “Nellie” Connor (1880-1890)—Find A... (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117793906/ellen-may-connor Estephe, S. (2015, November 15). Unknown Gender History: Sadie McMullen, 17-Year-Old Murderess – Akron, New York, 1890. Unknown Gender History. http://unknownmisandry.blogspot.com/2015/11/sadie-mcmullen-17-year-old-murderess.html Her Love: The Secret of Sadie McMullen’s Hideous Crime. (1890, November 4). The Buffalo Daily Times, 1. John Dolph (1781-1834)—Find A Grave Memorial. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179636329/john-dolph Legend of Murder Creek in Akron, New York—The Tragedy of Ah-weh-hah. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.zeph1.com/2016/09/legend-murder-creek-akron-ny.html Moses, J. (2016, October 27). Murder Creek: The Sorry Case of Sadie McMullen. Artvoice. https://artvoice.com/2016/10/27/murder-creek-sorry-case-sadie-mcmullen/ On Trial For Her Life. - Is Sadie M’Mullen Guilty Of Child Murder? - So Young and So Pretty—Could She Have Done Such a Deed? – What Promises to Be a Notable Case Now Before the Supreme Court at Buffalo – A Great Field Open to Insanity Experts – Meanwhile, Sadie’s Indifference is Hard to Understand. (1891, March 6). The World, 3. Parker, A. C. (1919). The life of General Ely S. Parker: Last grand sachem of the Iroquois and General Grant’s military secretary. Buffalo, N.Y. : Buffalo Historical Society. http://archive.org/details/lifeofgeneralely00parkrich Sarah Dilley Dolph (1783-1861)—Find A Grave... (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127942807/sarah-dolph Schrock, F. (2014, October 31). The Legend of Murder Creek. Low Bridges: Upstate History. https://fredschrock.com/2014/10/31/the-legend-of-murder-creek/ She Killed Two Children: Was Committed to a Hospital as Insane and is Now Liberated and Cured. (1893, August 22). Portland Daily Press, 1. The Legend Of Murder Creek | Erie County Parks, Recreation and Forestry. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www2.erie.gov/parks/index.php?q=legend-murder-creek TRANSCRIPT:Hello and welcome to Crimes and Witch Demeanors; I am your host Joshua Spellman. Join me today for a spooky tale of murder, mystery, and of course...ghosts.
Today’s location is Akron, New York. A small village outside of Buffalo, New York and specifically we’ll be talking about...murder creek. Yes, you heard that correctly. That is the official name of this place and it got its name from...you guessed it...murder. There are two stories that surround this creek: The Legend of Murder Creek which gave it its name, and the curious case of murderess Sadie McMullen. So without further ado let’s discuss the tragic history of Angola’s Murder Creek.
An old map of Akron (formerl...Next Episode

The Lady in the Attic (& Why Do Kids See Ghosts? The Spirit of Jane Woodman)
A young girl in Newton, Massachusetts is visited repeatedly by the spirit of an old woman in her attic. After many discussions its revealed that the ghost has a mission for her...but what is it? This week we investigate the spirit of Jane Woodman and look at scientific reasons children seem to see ghosts so often.
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Podcast illustration by GiAnna Ligammari: https://gialigammari.wixsite.com/portfolio
Sources:
A real-life New England ghost story for Hallowe’en. (2012, October 27). The Uncertaintist. https://uncertaintist.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/a-real-life-new-england-ghost-story-for-halloween/
Counter, R. (n.d.). Perspective | Why do so many kids ‘see ghosts’? We asked some psychologists. Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/10/28/why-do-so-many-kids-see-ghosts-we-asked-some-psychologists/
Dickinson, E. (n.d.). Emily Dickinson Collection [Text]. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/amherst/ma167.html
Dickinson/Abiah Root (Strong) Correspondence: 7 May 1845 (Letter 6). (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2020, from http://archive.emilydickinson.org/correspondence/aroot/l6.html
Ghosts, Spirits and Psychology, A Halloween Story: - Child Development and Parenting: Middle Childhood. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/ghosts-spirits-and-psychology-a-halloween-story/
Harris, P. L., Brown, E., Marriott, C., Whittall, S., & Harmer, S. (1991). Monsters, ghosts and witches: Testing the limits of the fantasy—reality distinction in young children. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9(1), 105–123. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-835X.1991.tb00865.x
Married. (1849, September 25). Hampshire Gazette.
McLain, A. (n.d.). 17 Times Kids Saw Ghosts, And Totally Scared The Living Daylights Out Of Their Parents. BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 4, 2020, from https://www.buzzfeed.com/asiawmclain/kid-ghost-stories
Moore, A. (2020, January 26). What is it about kids and ghosts? The tales that will give you shivers. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-7891245/What-kids-ghosts-Anna-Moore-hears-tales-send-shivers-spine.html
Mrs. Jane L. Woodman. (1915, June 7). The Springfield Union, page 4.
New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915
r/Paranormal—Any stories of your children seeing ghosts? (n.d.). Reddit. Retrieved December 4, 2020, from https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/5rm3ig/any_stories_of_your_children_seeing_ghosts/
Sharon, T., & Woolley, J. D. (2004). Do monsters dream? Young children’s understanding of the fantasy/reality distinction. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 22(2), 293–310. https://doi.org/10.1348/026151004323044627
The Spirit of Mrs. Woodman. (n.d.). NECN. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://www.necn.com/news/local/_necn__the_spirit_of_mrs__woodman_necn/58282/
Woolley, J. D., & E. Ghossainy, M. (2013). Revisiting the Fantasy-Reality Distinction: Children as Naïve Skeptics. Child Development
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