Downton Abbey in New Hampshire!

With all the hype about the new season of Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theatre (my personal favorite show to watch with my mom when I visit my parents’ house), there comes excitement about the lavish life of wealthy estates with far too many servants, acres, and dinner courses per person. The White Mountain Region has its own Downton Abbey, not as old as the Downton Estate but just as grand! I’m referring to the Mount Washington Hotel! Though the foyer is grand, the food is first class, and the spa is to die for, on my visit I would be most excited to visit room 314 to see the ghost of Princess Carolyn Stickney.

The Mount Washington Hotel has frequented a few episodes of ghost hunting shows, giving New Hampshire a mention on some reality television. But the most exciting part about the ghost story is the history behind the hotel: Joseph Stickney who had gained his wealth from investments in coal and the railroad system, decided to build the Mount Washington Hotel in 1902. Stickney lived in the hotel with his wife Carolyn lavishly. Many wealthy patrons visited the hotel and joined in in loving the grandeur of the estate. But in 1903, Joseph had a heart attack and left his wife the sole proprietor of the hotel. After his death, Carolyn eventually remarried a Prince of France and left the hotel in the care of its managers. Her life succeeded that of her second husband as well and she eventually moved back to the hotel in New Hampshire.

Eventually, Carolyn died at the hotel and it is said that her ghost haunts the tower suites as well as room 314 where she and her first husband lived together. If you go onto the chat rooms and reviews of the hotel, you will find that past patrons have posted stories of seeing or hearing the ghost in that area. However, if you are the squeamish type toward the supernatural or have no cares for it whatsoever, I’m pretty sure there are hundreds of rooms far from 314 where you can live in luxury!

If you have a personal testimony about the ghost at the Mount Washington Hotel, let us know! Post a story on our Facebook page! We would love to hear all about it!