Place: Hotel Leger
Location: Mokulemne Hill, CA
Date: 09/26/13
History:
California Historical Marker 663 lies with the Hotel Leger. originally the Hotel de France, it also was known as the Baldwin Hotel, Union Hotel, and Grand Hotel. The Hotel Leger began as a humble canvas and wooden building in 1851. When the devastating fire of 1854 tore through the town the Hotel Leger was not spared, it was rebuilt quickly and with much sturdier materials, brick and rhyolite, only to be gutted by fire once again in 1874 and rebuilt again.
During its heyday the Hotel Leger operated as courthouse, post office, gambling establishment and saloon. Interesting enough the tunnels that are beneath the hotel are believed to connect the hotel guests to the brothel across the street. Some locals believe that the tunnels were used for illegal ferrying of Chinese workers or the hiding of gold.
The remnants of the circular area where the tunnel may have been located can still be found in the brick wall of the basement of the Hotel Leger.
Underneath the hotel, down a dank dark dirt path, through heavy iron doors, into a small domed brick room, in the far corner and under a dust-covered lead bar from which a rusted set of skeleton key handcuffs hang eerily, the mortared patch job can be found at the presumed location of the mouth of the tunnel.
Reported Activity:
Every town has its ghosts, and sometimes they like to be seen or heard. The Ghosts here like to be seen and heard quite often. “The ghost of George Leger, who was assassinated in the Hotel in 1879, has been seen in the saloon and in many of the Hotel’s thirteen rooms, which are furnished in period antiques. There are stories of a woman in white in room 2 and a young boy in Room 3. Children are heard playing in the rooms and halls of this grand old building. They have compiled a collection of experiences from staff and guests alike.
Date of Investigation: 09/09/09
The Investigation: Let me begin by saying this was our second Investigation at the Hotel Leger. We arrived around 5 pm. During the check in process and we were a little shocked when we realized no other guests would be there. Same thing happened to us on our first stay. We were shocked again when the new owners handed us the keys to our rooms and to the front door. They asked us to lock the front door before retiring to our rooms for the night. They told us they never stay over night. Once again we were three women all alone in a haunted hotel and once again we were excited and nervous at the same time. I mean really, who leaves total strangers in their place of business alone overnight? who or what is protecting the Hotel and all it’s fortune?
Our Investigation:We investigated Hotel Leger back on August 26, 2009 and again on Sept 24, 2013. After two investigations we still believe there is Paranormal activity at this location.
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