Wednesday, May 7, 2008

ABC Wednesday - P




To finish the last three posts about the Port Townsend Victorian Festival, The Palace Hotel works well for the letter P. The three story building was built in 1889 by Captain Henry L. Tibbals with the bottom floor used as a saloon and billiards parlor with rooms to rent upstairs. Here is an excerpt about Capt. Tibbals from the history page of the Palace Hotel :
Having first gone to sea in 1839 at the age of ten, Captain Tibbals was one of Port Townsend's most colorful residents. During his sea-going years, his more notable exploits included carrying cargo of railroad iron across the Isthmus of Panama and testing the first US. diving bell, using it to retrieve $68,000 in silver from a sunken Spanish frigate in the Gulf of Mexico. Captain Tibbals also had many careers in Port Townsend, serving on the city council and as sheriff, postmaster, and county commissioner. He also built the Union Wharf.

Like so many of today's buildings that survived frontier days in the west, the Palace has its share of colorful history. In the 1920s and '30s it was fondly known by some as "The Palace of Sweets" operating as a hotel and brothel. An early morning raid in the mid-1930s put an end to that period.

And finally, it seems that many Palace Hotels in this country and around the world share a remarkable thread with ghost stories. I have never been one with much interest in things paranormal, but it was on the stairwell of this Palace Hotel many years ago, when going to my room on the third floor, that I sensed a totally unexplainable and memorable cold chill work it's way slowly down my spine. I have stayed there since and, as always, consider it one of the best places in town for lodging because of its location and history.

Be sure to stop by
Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for more of ABC Wednesday. It's always an enjoyable visit.

14 comments:

Petunia said...

Great post. I'm reading "the burning court by John Dickson Carr and the shot of the lady in the old custume remind me of the book:)

Profile Not Available said...

Thank you for visiting me again today! I admire your photos very much! The perpective of the stairwell shot is very, very eye-catching!

FO - 2 said...

A nice and venerable place to stay. Beautiful photos. But, i would not like to meet any of the ghosts..... )

Ida

Texas Travelers said...

This is a great story with a lot of history. Terrific "P".

Nice photographs.

"P" is Posted.
Come visit,
Troy

imac said...

Great post P see my Pot post also
We were at Belvoir castle on tues,pop over to my blog and see.

Neva said...

I love the Victorian series you did...the sign backwards is quite eye catching!!!
Mine are posted!
Neva 1
Neva 2

Lake Lady said...

Excellent finale to the series! Great composition and wonderful history lesson. Thanks!

Mrs Mac said...

WOW! That first photo in particular is fantastic! What a perspective!

Small City Scenes said...

A great festival and perfect history of the Palace Hotel.
MB

Rune Eide said...

Seems like Palace to stay in (and knowing the history behind it would certainly help). Thank you for sharing.

PS Thanky for a nice comment

Jane Hards Photography said...

I love the stirwell shot, the lighting is spot on. Interesting set of post you've had about the festival.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a festival everyone is enthusiastic about.

Louis la Vache said...

"Louis" is a little late to the party at the Palace....

He wonders if the chill you felt down your spine was the realization that the Palace, too, could be the future home of a Starbucks..... :-)

mrsnesbitt said...

Sorry for not coming over to comment sooner, but Jon took some time off work to enjoy the sunshine and we have been out and about on the motorbike.

What an amazingly appropriate P post, so perfect!
The victorian period was an amazing time. One of my favourite influences was William Morris .