Ghost in the Tavern

So since the conversation about Hex signs led to a conversation about beer which led to a brief history of Allentown and since Allentown and Bethlehem are practically the same thing (and Easton, but that's irrelevant to this story, so we'll ignore it for now) I figured this might be as good a time as any to share a story I heard in Bethlehem about the Sun Inn and the haunting of same.


The Sun Inn, located on the main drag in Bethlehem PA, has been in service since before the American Revolution. (In American terms, my fine friends from across the pond, that is very very old indeed) some notable dates, according to the Sun Inn's website, include:

• 1758 ~ Building of the Sun Inn began
• 1760 ~ First Guests Welcomed
• 1777 ~ Meeting of the leading members of the Continental Congress. Signed the order of Protection.
• 1792 ~ A deputation of Six Nation Indians, fifty-one chiefs and warriors, including Red Jacket, the Corn Planter and Osiquette, lodged at the Inn on the way to Philadelphia to meet General Washington.
• 1799 ~ Fries Rebellion at the Sun Inn
• 1803 ~ Commodore Berry of the ship United States stayed at the Inn.
• 1826 ~ A full story is added to the Inn
• 1865 ~ November 3, a gala dinner for the honorable Asa Packer upon his announcement of the founding of Lehigh University.
• 1892 ~ Memorial Tablet placed on the occasion of the Sesqui-Centennial Celebration of the settlement of Bethlehem.
• 1910 ~ Brother Albrecht's Secret Chamber: A Legend of the Ancient Moravian Sun Inn at Bethlehem Pennsylvania and What Came of It was published.
• 1972 ~ Founding of the Sun Inn Preservation Association to restore the Inn.
• 1982 ~ The restored Sun Inn is opened.

During our visit, we learned that many notable people had visited and accepted the hospitality of the Sun Inn. We visited some of the guest rooms and suites that had housed them. Yep. George Washington slept here.


Now we learned all of this when we visited this summer. But what really caught the attention of our kids was this:


That's right. The Inn has been declared officially haunted by R.I.P.A. - Research and Investigation in Paranormal Activity. And this Halloween, for the first time since the 1960's, people will actually be allowed to sleep at the Inn hoping to spot a spectre. It's rumored to have a few. According to The Morning Call:

RIPA Members say they have had their pants leg tugged, their hat tapped and their hair pulled. A camera left recording in an empty room was mysteriously knocked askew.

It is the tangible evidence of strange happenings that is the most exciting for the group. And there is plenty of strange evidence.

Recordings done in the first floor room, known as the Gas Tube, includes a spectral voice singing along to the hymn ''A Mighty Fortress is our God,'' and an exclamation of ''God Save the Queen'' after the British national anthem was played on a harpsichord in the corner of the room. In another recording, the voice requests ''play the piano'' and says his name is ''William.''

Members speculate that the music-loving spirit is William Jones, who was secretary of the Navy under President James Madison and died at the Inn in 1831.

Now old Bill isn't the only apparition who has made his presence known at the Inn over the past couple few years. There's a little girl who has been mentioned. And there have been strange figures in the windows. I don't know if I believe all of this or not, but I DO know that I won't be making any reservations at the Sun Inn anytime soon.

Lady T ( I do believe in spooks, I do, I do, I do) of the living