haunted places in dc - The Spooky Stuff by Alex Matsuo

This Alexandria legend is one of the most popular ghost stories in the town. Alexandria is noted for its plethora of ghost stories, many of which feature women at the forefront. As with many legends and lore, they often deviate from the truth for the sake of a good scare. But sometimes, at least in the case of Laura M. Schafer, famously known as the Burning Bride of Alexandria, truth is more horrifying than fiction.

One Fateful Night

In June of 1868, Laura M. Schafer lived with her family at their home on N. Fairfax Street. On the bottom floor was a confectionary ran by her father Mr. Christian Schafer, who was a prominent citizen of Alexandria. The second and third floor would be the residence in which the Schafer family lived.

On one fateful night in late June, Laura was getting dressed for bed on the third floor of the house, with her grandmother, named Mrs. Ballenger, in the room with her. According to an article from the The Alexandria Gazette, Laura went to father’s room to wish him goodnight. She wasn’t even halfway into her father’s room when she heard the glass of her kerosene lamp crack. The burning oil from the lamp landed on her dress. Laura frantically threw the lamp into the hearth in her father’s room and ran out of the room, screaming and crying for help.

Unfortunately, the wind from Laura’s running only added fuel to the fire. By the time she reached the bottom, the flames had reached above her head. Her brother-in-law, William Phillips, had been at the stairs in front of the house when he heard her cries. Her mother also heard the cries and tried to help her. Phillips removed his coat and wrapped Laura, which extinguished the flames. Laura’ grandmother had used a blanket to extinguish the flames that had been going in Laura’s father’s room.

*Clip from The Alexandria Gazette recounting the tragedy from June 29, 1848.*

Sadly, Laura had severe burns, parts of which The Alexandria Gazette described as “to a crisp.” By 11:00am the next morning, Laura passed away, with her companion, Mr. Charles Tenneson by her side.

It was rumored that Laura and Charles were engaged to be married, but not confirmed. They were friends for years and Laura wouldn’t take another man as a friend.

A Broken Heart

Charles took Laura’s death rather hard. The day of her death, he took to drinking. His friend, a Mr. Henry Green, walked with Charles to the local wholesale liquor store and bar. Mr. Green didn’t have the key to the back door, so Charles waited for him in Ramsey Alley, which was right next to the Schafer House. Mr. Green let Charles in through the back door and he offered to buy Charles any drink on his bill. As the two men said cheers, Charles said, “Here’s to you and I – God save us.” As Mr. Green took an empty glass back to the bar, he heard a gunshot and Charles on the floor. The heartbroken Charles took a pistol to his head. Even though he was unconscious, he passed away around 3:20pm.

While not specific, local churches took care of the final arrangements for the young couple. Laura is buried at Washington Street United Methodist Church in Alexandria, and it’s believed that Charles is buried not too far from her.

*The staircase of the Schafer House. Credit: Alex Matsuo*

The Schafer House went through a few different identities after it was a confectionery with the Schafer family. It has been a real estate agency, a Christmas trinket store called the Christmas Attic, once again a candy store, and currently, at the time this piece was written, it is a coffee house and gelato shop with an AirBnB on the third floor. According to Michael Lee Pope, author of Ghosts of Alexandria, tenants who have owned and worked in the building know something is different and not quite right.

Echoes of a Traumatic Past

One local ghost tour guide shared that she felt lightheaded and dizzy when she visited the house while it was the Christmas Attic. Employees of the Christmas Attic also shared that Christmas trees and other holiday props would be knocked down the next morning after the store closed.

When a woman named Candida Kreb opened Candi’s Candies in the house in 2007, she never knew the story of Laura Schafer until a ghost tour was outside one evening. Kreb told the group that she doesn’t believe in ghosts before closing the window. But then she had an experience that changed her mind.

*Front of the Schafer House. Credit: Alex Matsuo*

Kreb was working alone one evening while closing the shop when she smelled something burning. She went to the hallway to search for the source but didn’t find anything. Using her nose, Kreb followed the smell upstairs, but once again, found nothing. Kreb decided it must have been a neighbor smoking. So, she closed the shop for the night. The next day, the smell came back. As Kreb went to investigate once more, she went to the same staircase that Laura ran down for her life and it was then Kreb remembered the story of Laura.

This wouldn’t be Kreb’s only experience. One night, she was cleaning the store when she had this overwhelming feeling of being watched. She heard a voice in her head say, “Enough. Leave.” Kreb didn’t stick around and quickly took the cash register and left. She believes that this was Laura telling her that she overstayed her welcome and it was time to go. Kreb also reported feeling an overwhelming presence in the basement as well and described it as a male.

Kreb kept a receipt signed by Laura M. Schaefer behind the cash register. It is unknown if the coffee and gelato shop still have it, but it’s a nice reminder that there are real people behind these stories.

Legends & Lore Emerge

Variations of Laura Schafer’s tragic end and the paranormal experiences following have become widely popular. The story I heard on the ghost tour described Laura as a bride and the wedding was taking place at the confectionery and the town square right next door. Laura the Bride had gone upstairs when the kerosene lamp broke and the burning oil spilled onto her wedding dress. Like the real account, Laura the Bride ran downstairs while engulfed in flames. But this time, she ran outside to the wedding reception and was ablaze in front of her wedding guests. Other variations will state that Laura was just trying on her wedding dress for the ceremony that would take place a week later. Hence, this is why Laura became known as the Burning Bride of Alexandria.

*The Schafer House as a coffee and gelato shop. Credit: Alex Matsuo*

Similar outcome as well as the death of Charles Tenneson, with stories sometimes pinning his death in Ramsey Alley instead of the bar. Other bastardizations of the story even have Charles as a stalker throwing stones at Laura’s window and setting her on fire himself.

Given the horrific tragedy of Laura’s death, no embellishment or exaggerations are needed. Laura certainly had her own identity and agency, which seems to be reduced to a burning bride. But, there are people who are dedicated to sharing the true story of Laura’s passing, thus giving her her identity back.

Washington DC is one of those haunted places that many people sleep on. Why is this? Well, Washington DC is dominated by its reputation as the capital of the United States. When people visit DC, it’s usually not to see the ghosts. Instead, it’s to see the White House, the Capitol Building, a Smithsonian Museum, the Library of Congress, and more. Ironically, the places I listed are also haunted.

After I relocated to Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River and minutes from DC on a good traffic day, I decided to learn more about the area by researching the local haunts. Imagine my surprise when I counted over 60 haunted locations just within 10 miles from where I live!

First on the list is the Smithsonian Institution, also known as the Smithsonian Castle. It served as the institution’s first headquarters and is still a prominent landmark today.

A Generous Gift

The Smithsonian was established through the will of James Smithson, a British scientist and mineralogist, who left his fortune to the United States to create an institution dedicated to the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.” How exactly the United States obtained the fortune is rather complex. Smithson was originally born in scandal and when he passed, he left his fortune to his nephew. If said nephew died without an heir, then the fortune would be passed on to the United States.

Sure enough, when Smithson’s nephew passed unmarried and childless, the United States got quite the gift on their hands. This unusual bequest, which is believed to be a result of Smithson’s fascination with American democracy and scientific advancements, laid the foundation for what would become the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian Institution was established in 1846 by the United States Congress after years of legal and bureaucratic processes in order to accept Smithson’s generous gift. The design of the castle was determined by a competition and architect James Renwick, Jr. won by a unanimous vote. Renwick’s design of the Castle included a Gothic revival style with Romanesque motifs, a style often chosen for universities in England.

Construction Begins

Construction officially started in 1847. That same year, the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents made a decision to save money by replacing the brick vaults and iron beams with wooden columns and rafters instead. This decision would end up being disastrous. The East Wing was completed in 1849 and occupied by Joseph Henry, the institution’s first secretary. Joseph Henry was a prominent physicist and played a crucial role in shaping its early direction.

The exterior was completed in 1852 and Renwick excused himself from the rest of the construction since his part of the work was done. The rest of the work was completed in 1855 by the general contractor, Gilbert Cameron..

In 1865, a roof fire heavily damaged the upper floor of the Smithsonian and sadly, destroyed the original letters of Smithson as well as Joseph Henry’s papers.

The Smithson Crypt

Smithson Crypt. Credit: The Smithsonian Institution

James Smithson originally passed away in Genoa, Italy in 1829 and was buried there. Then, his remains were brought to the United States in 1904 by a team headed by Alexander Graham Bell before being reinterred in 1905 at the Castle. His tomb is located in a small chamber in the lower level and includes the original Italian grave marker. An inscription on the tomb reads:

“James Smithson, Benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution, Died June 27, 1829”

In 1974, the Castle was going through renovations and the gate to the crypt was removed, giving visitors the opportunity to see Smithson’s tomb up close and personal. Also during the renovation around 1973, Smithson’s coffin was opened and his remains went through a scientific study by curator Dr. Lawrence Angel. It was determined that Smithson was about 5 feet 6 inches tall, had an extra vertebrae, smoked a pipe, and died of natural causes. 48 hours later, Smithson’s remains were resealed and the coffin was returned.

Visitors to the Smithsonian Castle can still see his tomb today, paying tribute to the man whose generosity and vision led to the creation of one of the most renowned institutions for education, research, and culture in the United States.

Reported Hauntings

Joseph Henry

One of the earliest ghost stories surrounding the Smithsonian Castle is that of Joseph Henry, who was the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He died in his living quarters in the Castle in 1878. He was a physicist who specialized in the study of electromagnetism, so he was very much a skeptic of any sort of afterlife. Ironically, Henry didn’t believe in ghosts, so the fact he’s such a prominent ghostly presence is quite ironic. Today, a statue of Henry’s likeness stands in front of the Castle. It is reported that his shadow will escape from the statue and his spirit wanders the halls at night. In 1900, a nightwatchman reportedly ran into Henry, who was dressed for the work day and getting ready to go about his duties at the Castle.

Joseph Henry statue at entrance of Smithsonian Institution Building. Credit: The Smithsonian Institution

James Smithson

Even though James Smithson died long before the Castle or any of the museums were ever built, let alone thought of, it seems that he is admiring the result of his generous gift. His apparition started to get spotted after his remains were brought to the Castle and interred at the crypt. The apparition was noticed enough to the point where his tomb was actually reopened to check the status of his remains, which, according to legend, is why Smithson’s coffin was reopened in 1973. Upon opening the casket, it was noted that Smithson’s remains were very disorganized and disheveled. Once his remains were placed respectfully back into the casket, sightings ceased.

Dr. Emil Bessels

Dr. Emil Bessels was a German Jewish naturalist as well as an Arctic explorer. He was also a zoologist and physician who had a thirst for knowledge. This is why it shouldn’t be surprising that Dr. Bessels is frequently spotted gliding down the hallways of the Castle and looking through the Institution’s curios.

Spencer Fullerton Baird

Spencer Fullerton Baird was the first curator of the Smithsonian Castle as well as the second secretary. His apparition has often been seen around the Castle. Upon looking at his photo, his appearance is rather striking and unforgettable, so it’s unlikely that he would have been mistaken for someone else. His long career at the Smithsonian was so notable that it doesn’t seem he wants to leave, even in the afterlife. But if you try to talk to Baird’s spirit, he disappears.

Fielding B. Meek

Fielding Bradford Meek lived at the Smithsonian Castle with his cat and passed away in his room on December 21st, 1876 after dealing with a debilitating bout of tuberculosis. His original room was under one of the staircases before he was relocated to one of the towers after the 1865 fire. He was known to be an odd character and mainly kept to himself. Today, he is one of the most active spirits. If you encounter Meek, he doesn’t mean to do you harm. He’s just looking for someone to talk archaeology and mollusks to.

Meek wrote, “This is all the family I have” under this drawing of his cat.

The Smithsonian Today

Today, the Smithsonian comprises 19 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and a zoo, collectively attracting millions of visitors annually. Its mission to “increase and diffuse knowledge” continues to guide its diverse activities, making it a revered institution in the United States and a symbol of the nation’s commitment to education, science, and culture. The Smithsonian team is very open and transparent about the hauntings around their different locations, even hosting an episode of their podcast on the topic. But in other articles, people have determined that the Smithsonian Castle is not haunted and it’s simply urban legend.

The Smithsonian Castle is currently closed as of February 1st, 2023 for a 5-year renovation project. But you can still look and admire the building from the outside!