Who's Haunting The Hotel Bethlehem?

We always love a good hotel ghost story here at HotelChatter so on this cold day, kick back and get spooked.

Four ghosts have reportedly taken up residence at the historic Hotel Bethlehem but instead of conducting exorcisms or ghost evictions, the hotel has embraced these "guests" by offering up a special hotel room that's supposed to witness all the paranormal activity.

So who's haunting this place? The most well-known guest during the days of the Eagle Hotel, Hotel Bethlehem's predecessor, was May Yohe. The actress/singer was born in the hotel, which her grandpa owned, in April 1866. As a child, Yohe would sing and dance for guests in the lobby.

Even though she ended up performing in Europe in her later life and subsequently married and left Lord Francis Clinton (the owner of the Hope Diamond), Yohe was supposedly most happiest in life at The Eagle. So she may have chose to return there in the afterlife as people say they hear her singing in the lobby.

And randomly, she's been seen chilling in the exercise room. Ghosts need to work on their fitness, who knew?

The oldest guest, Francis "Daddy" Thomas, has been spotted in the hotel's boiler room. Back in the day, Thomas served as the town tour guide, tending to visitors. He died in April 1822, but it's said that he stays in the hotel to continue his work of welcoming tourists, though if he came to wish us a how-do-you-do, we'd book it outta there.

In the Eagle days, its owners, the Moravian Church, weren't happy with the landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Brong. The Mr. constantly got drunk with the guests and the Mrs. had a predilection for running around without shoes or stockings�scandalous, we know. So the church booted the couple, but some kitchen staff and restaurant diners report seeing a woman in period clothing walking around sans shoes.

If you're a ghost hunter, stay in room 932 on the ninth floor. The hotel calls it a "Room with a Boo" for all the paranormal activity that happens there, including sightings of things in the mirror, lamps flashing and the bathroom wallpaper turning pink. One couple stayed in the room and were woken by a man standing over them asking, "Why are you in my room?" and when they put on the light, he disappeared.

The room, a popular request, costs about $199 a night. And if you're not a believer, 932 offers another perk: the top-floor executive suite has a prime location with a view of Bethlehem's famous illuminated star that hangs above the city year-round.

[Photo: Jennifer Kester]

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