July 8, 18921 – Forepaugh’s Restaurant in S.t Paul is named after Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh, the original owner of the Victorian mansion that now houses the restaurant. Forepaugh committed suicide on this date, and is said to be haunting his old home, along with his former mistress and maid, Molly.
“Forepaugh made his fortune in the dry-goods business and was Senior Partner in the J.L. Forepaugh and Company. In 1870, Joseph bought [five] lots of land and in the center of his land, he built a ten thousand dollar Victorian mansion with a basement, three floors and beautifully landscaped grounds and gardens for his family. His wife Mary and their two daughters moved into a mansion filled with the highest quality, finely crafted room furnishings.
“Forepaugh made his fortune in the dry-goods business and was Senior Partner in the J.L. Forepaugh and Company. In 1870, Joseph bought [five] lots of land and in the center of his land, he built a ten thousand dollar Victorian mansion with a basement, three floors and beautifully landscaped grounds and gardens for his family. His wife Mary and their two daughters moved into a mansion filled with the highest quality, finely crafted room furnishings.
Along with the fine living, Joseph hired servants as well. He made the mistake of having an affair with a young maid, Molly. When Mary, Joseph's wife, caught them in bed, she asked Joseph to end it and he did. Molly, realizing she was pregnant, hung herself in a third floor room by tying the rope to a chandelier and throwing herself out the window, probably around 1865.
In 1866, Forepaugh sold his mansion to Civil War veteran, General John Henry Hammond, while Joseph and his family went to live in Europe. Joseph moved away to [forget] about Molly and reestablish his ties with his wife. They came back to the states in 1889 and built another palace-like mansion at 302 Summit Avenue, which had a glorious view of his first mansion and the city as well.
Second Forepaugh home
However, in 1892, [Forepaugh] had sunk into a deep depression. Though he said he was worried about his business, which was doing fine, [he] really was still mourning Molly's death.”2 He shot and killed himself on this date1 in Irvine Park,3 near his original home, although other reports say he shot himself near the railroad tracks that lie below Irvine Park.
Other Haunted Places in Minnesota:
The Jackson Hotel, now Billy’s Bar & Grill, Anoka, Minn.; see December 8, 2012 blog
Thayer’s Hotel, Annandale, Minn.; see August 24,2012 blog
LeDuc House, Hastings, Minn.; see October 30, 2013blog
The Palmer House Hotel in Sauk Centre, Minn.; see Feb. 11, 2014 blog
Railroad tracks below Irvine Park
“Many people have owned [the] mansion [that now houses the restaurant] over the years. In 1983, the current owners bought the mansion, and began the long process of renovating and restoring the mansion to its former glory. The mansion needed to earn its keep, so it became a French restaurant, much to the benefit of the people of St. Paul, who [get] to enjoy the ambiance of the rooms while eating great food!
The entities of Molly and Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh [seem to still be] hanging around the mansion:
Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh - Very pleased with the renovation / restoration efforts of the current owners!
* His entity in solid form has been seen by customers and staff, as he walks through the dining rooms, dressed in 1890's dress-up clothes, looking pleased, with the attitude that he owns the place.
* In the basement, lights turn on and off by themselves, the living feel cold chills and hear strange noises.
Molly - (Maid who killed herself so long ago)
* Molly has been seen and heard near the area where she killed herself.
* During a reception, where all the waitresses were dressed in 19th century dresses, a woman, dressed in a 19th century dress, unlike the other employees, was seen gliding down the hall by staff before she melted into the wall.
* Employees opening up the restaurant heard distinct tromping on the third floor. The police were called, who brought a K-9 dog to investigate. The dog refused at first to go up to the 3rd floor, but finally did after some persuasive coaxing. The tromping stopped and no one living was found.
* Molly is a sociable ghost. She likes to sometimes attend weddings and receptions. The restaurant has a wedding picture [that] captured her image as well.
* In the basement, lights turn on and off by themselves, the living feel cold chills and hear strange noises.”2
1http://www.dreadcentral.com/story/forepaughs-restaurant
2http://www.hauntedhouses.com/states/mn/forepaughs_restaurant.htm
3http://minneapolis.about.com/od/lifestyles/tp/hauntedplaces.htm
Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain July 8, 2013,
as long as acknowledgement included.
The entities of Molly and Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh [seem to still be] hanging around the mansion:
Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh - Very pleased with the renovation / restoration efforts of the current owners!
* His entity in solid form has been seen by customers and staff, as he walks through the dining rooms, dressed in 1890's dress-up clothes, looking pleased, with the attitude that he owns the place.
* In the basement, lights turn on and off by themselves, the living feel cold chills and hear strange noises.
Molly - (Maid who killed herself so long ago)
* Molly has been seen and heard near the area where she killed herself.
* During a reception, where all the waitresses were dressed in 19th century dresses, a woman, dressed in a 19th century dress, unlike the other employees, was seen gliding down the hall by staff before she melted into the wall.
* Employees opening up the restaurant heard distinct tromping on the third floor. The police were called, who brought a K-9 dog to investigate. The dog refused at first to go up to the 3rd floor, but finally did after some persuasive coaxing. The tromping stopped and no one living was found.
* Molly is a sociable ghost. She likes to sometimes attend weddings and receptions. The restaurant has a wedding picture [that] captured her image as well.
* In the basement, lights turn on and off by themselves, the living feel cold chills and hear strange noises.”2
1http://www.dreadcentral.com/story/forepaughs-restaurant
2http://www.hauntedhouses.com/states/mn/forepaughs_restaurant.htm
3http://minneapolis.about.com/od/lifestyles/tp/hauntedplaces.htm
Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain July 8, 2013,
as long as acknowledgement included.
Other Haunted Places in Minnesota:
The Jackson Hotel, now Billy’s Bar & Grill, Anoka, Minn.; see December 8, 2012 blog
Thayer’s Hotel, Annandale, Minn.; see August 24,2012 blog
LeDuc House, Hastings, Minn.; see October 30, 2013blog
The Palmer House Hotel in Sauk Centre, Minn.; see Feb. 11, 2014 blog
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