San Francisco’s Queen Anne Hotel is a Victorian Bed & Breakfast, built in 1890, on the corner of Sutter and Octavia in Pacific Heights. The full service boutique hotel, which was formerly a girl’s finishing school, is a full service boutique hotel with European charm and elegance. It is said that the former headmistress of the boarding school is still in residence.
This building was a girl’s finishing school during the Gold Rush. There are reports that the school’s headmistress, “Miss Mary Lake” is still around. People have reported seeing her reflection in a mirror. There have also been reports of hot and cold spots in the room. It is even rumored that Mary tucked in a napping traveler, by wrapping the blanket snugly all the way around the bed.
These ghostly events occur in “Miss Mary Lake Suite”, which is room 410. The reports have made 410 the most popular room for ghost seekers. Strangely, it seems that Miss Mary is a good hostess, who is concerned for the comfort of guests. She has even been said to unpack their bags.
Miss Mary doesn’t confine herself to Room 410. She has been spotted grooming herself in the hallway mirror and playing the piano in the parlor.
The haunting at the Queen Anne Hotel is reportedly neither frightening or threatening. Instead it is reported to be a rather comforting presence.
The Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco.
Originally this building was “Miss Mary Lake’s School for Young Ladies”, a girls boarding school. The school had been constructed by Senator James Graham Fair, who had become extremely wealthy during the Gold Rush from the Comstock Lode in Nevada. Senator Fair was estranged from his tow daughters,, Theresa and Virginia, and is said to have built the schools to keep his daughters close. Senator Fair went on to build the first Fairmont Hotel.
According to an article in the New York Times archives, Senator Fair passed away in 1894. The obituary published in the paper stated that Mr. Fair had been an immigrant from Ireland, who had made a fortune in the gold mines. He was known as a talented miner, working the rigs himself. Fair was elected to represent Nevada in the Senate. After retired from the U.S. Senate he lived in a magnificent Oakland, California residence. Fair spent his time tending to his many properties and his vast fortune.
At the time of his death, both of his daughters lived in New York. Fair had one son, who he had been estranged from, but reconciled with before death. Fair left a fortune of $40 million, a vast sum of money, especially in 1894. He left several bequests to various parties and charities. He left the income from his estate to his three children to be used during their lifetimes.
The school, which was opened in 1890, did not last long. It was closed in 1896. The exact reasons for the closing are not known, but it was likely due to financial difficulty, since Senator Fair had died.
After the school closed, the building changed hands many times. The building was used as the Cosmos Gentleman’s Club and the Episcopal Diocese’ Girls Friendly Society Lodge. The building spent a 50 year period of disuse. In 1980, it was purchased and renovated to be opened as the queen Anne Hotel.
This historic landmark hotel is included in several walking and bus tours. The “Jewel of Victorian Architecture” offers 48 luxurious guest rooms. Guest accommodations all have private baths. Individually decorated rooms are furnished with antiques, for turn of the century flavor. The sitting area is the place to enjoy a civilized afternoon Tea and Sherry with cookies, next to the cozy fireplace.
Queen Anne Hotel is the first stop on the Pacific Heights Ghost Trek, in San Francisco, California.
