The Davenport Hotel

Everyone in Spokane, Washington knows what the Davenport Hotel is. The history is one chalk full of tragedy and even the occasional forbidden romances. One name that runs across the lips of many who stay at the Davenport, is Ellen McNamara. Wandering around the halls late at night, she searched for answers. It is believed that she doesn't know she died. She walks across the mezzanine and the grand lobby of the hotel asking, "Where did I go?"

With so many patrons reporting seeing the apparition of Ellen, I did a little research and there is an article in The Spokesman Review on August 18, 1920 with a headline reading "Matron falls to death through hotel skylight."

The article describes the mysterious case of Ms. Ellen McNamara, a frequent guest from New York City. While touring the West Coast with a few family members, they stopped in Spokane. They were on their way to a NAtional Park. Ms. McNamara told her family that she wasn't feeling well and retired to her room without supper that night.

Because no one was with Ms. McNamara, the exact details of her death are unknown, but here is what was pieced together.

Ms.McNamara was said to have tried to step out for a breath of fresh air, seeing as how she wasn't feeling well. At that point, she must have been confused and accidentally opened a wrong door. That door led to the glass roof, which is the ceiling for the Grand Lobby. Ms. McNamara, probably thinking it was a checkerboard floor in the dark, must have stepped out on to the grass unknowingly. The glass, unfortunately, was not strong enough to hold her weight, and she fell through the glass landing in the Grand Lobby while other guests were eating dinner. Her family watched in horror as she hit the floor and didn't get back up.

As people rushed to her side, the only words she uttered were "Where did I go?"

Suffering from a major skull injury, McNamara died in her room an hour later.

Due to my research I have come to the conclusion, that in January, I will get the chance to find out if what people are seeing is true. I will walk the halls, wandering in circles, until I am inside the grande Lobby late at night. I may even ask an employee or two if they have seen her.

To Be Continued....