Officers' Row - Fort Vancouver
LOCATION:
Officer's Row Location: The city of
Vancouver can be found on the north bank of the Columbia River, directly
across from Portland, Oregon. Officer's Row - is located on the very north
part of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, which can be found
in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
History:
This 366 acre Reserve which also includes
the Vancouver Barracks, Pearson Field and Fort Vancouver, is considered
to be the most "historically significant site in the Pacific Northwest."
Over 50 years of archeological excavations have produced a collection
of 1.5 million artifacts.
From its early beginnings, Fort Vancouver
was an important establishment involved in the settling of the Northwest.
The Fort originally was first established by the British, as a trading
post. British owned Hudson's Bay Company moved its western fur trade headquarters
operations to the fort, which did a lot to establish Vancouver as a diverse
growing community made up of almost a 1000 people, attracting French Canadians,
Hawaiians, scots and members of over 30 different American Indian tribes.
In 1846 the United States government
and Great Britain signed a treaty that established an international boundary
at the 49th parallel, which allowed the Americans to build their Army
Fort Vancouver directly across from the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort.
Beginning in 1849, Fort Vancouver
existed as an Army and military administrative headquarters for the Northwest
for 150 years, defining the border of the United States. Vancouver Barracks
was established in 1849 to defend settlement of the Oregon Territory, offering
protection and help for the people living there and for the new settlers
coming west on The Oregon Trail. For 11 years, they co-existed with Hudson
Bay Company, which got a little prickly between the two. The area that
the Army was using slowly spread, even usurping part of a colonial graveyard
for a parade field/and housing area.
Finally in 1862 Hudson's Bay Company
threw in the towel and closed down their business in Fort Vancouver and
departed for Victoria, leaving it all for the Army and ever increasing
numbers of settlers. This Army post was active during the Indian Wars,
the Philippines and both World Wars.
DESCRIPTION:
Officer's Row is located on a lovely,
large grassy area with trees, gardens and sidewalks, with plenty of room
between the 21 stately Victorian mansions with the standard 2 - 3 floors
and perhaps a basement. These were built to house the families of soldiers
and officers stationed at Vancouver Barracks, over the years when this
was an active Army establishment.
Over the years, time wasn't kind to
these mansions, especially when the army officially moved out and these
once proud homes were then referred to as "21 white elephants nose to
tail."
However, they were listed on the National
list of Historic places, got a new lease on life, and were renovated and
revitalized when funding became available. They are now owned by the City
of Vancouver and known as Officer's Row. They are under the management
of Key Property Services, who rents the buildings and property as townhouses
and business offices. Now, some of these homes have a new purpose; housing
local businesses while others still remain private residences.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS:
Possible reasons for the hauntings:
One always wonders, why buildings
and structures have entities attached to them.
When buildings are renovated, the
entities which have attached themselves to the structure become active,
perhaps thrilled that the living have come to their senses and are fixing
up the place, or perhaps annoyed that repairs aren't to their standards,
or maybe even just going about their business as usual, choosing to make
their presence known to the living.
It is also thought that several homes
in Officers Row was built on top of colonial grave sites, which isn't
a good idea. Sometimes entities get a little hot under the collar when
the living build on top of their eternal resting places.
WHICH ARE HAUNTED?
The stately Victorian Mansions known
to be haunted, now are home to the following businesses, except for one,
which is a private home.
Wendermere Real Estate /Stellar
Group -
850 Officers' Row
Grant House Art Center & Cafe -
1101
Officers' Row
Morgan Financial, Inc. 903 Officers'
Row Pacific Mortgage Brokers originally moved in, but Morgan Financial
now is in this home. (not pictured)
Admiral Paul Nelson Mansion - Located
2 houses down from the Grant House. Do not bother the tenant. (not pictured)
MANIFESTATIONS:
General Paranormal Occurrences experienced
in these three mansions.
* Entities became lively after the
homes were renovated to accommodate businesses moving in.
* The living now occupying these
homes have felt Unexplained Cold Spots, heard footsteps, and have been
touched by unseen hands.
* Doors open and close at will.
* Unplugged telephones manage to
ring by themselves.
* The entities love their coffee,
and feel free to help themselves to any freshly made coffee, sometimes
before the living get a chance to have some.
The living have adjusted and are sure
to make some extra!
HISTORY of THE GRANT HOUSE:
This mansion has the distinction of
being the first commanding officer's quarters, Ulysses S. Grant, who was
stationed here as quartermaster in the 1850s. (This famous Civil War general
became President after the Civil War.) It started off as a log cabin.
It became a grand square building, with a covered verandah which stretches
all away around the outside of the mansion, on both the first and second
floor. This mansion was used as the officers club before it became Grant's
residence. It became the commander's home on base for many commanders
who came after Grant. Today this building houses the Grant House Folk
Art Center - open Mon.-Sat. ( 11am to 3pm,) and Sunday 10am to 2pm (admission
is free). Also Grant House Restaurant serves lunch to hungry visitors.
* An entity by the name of Sully has
made himself known to the living. People have heard him and felt his strong
presence. Likes to supervise in the restaurant. The restaurant has information
posted about their ghost.
Admiral Paul Nelson Mansion - A private
residence. Some of the mansions are privately owned by people who take
a dim view of ghost hunters/seekers. Respect their privacy or you will
be arrested!
On Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday,
blood drips from the walls and the grass keeps dying and coming back to
normal, so reports a local newspaper.
STILL HAUNTED?
Apparently so!
Entities co-exist with
the living.
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