Saving Manresa Castle: Ghosts or No Ghosts?

By Ronald Smith

High on a hill in Northwest Washington, overlooking the Key City of Port Townsend, lies Manresa Castle. Built in 1892 by area pioneer Charles Eisenbeis, the former home and later a Jesuit seminary served as a community landmark for over eighty years, but, by 1973, was badly in need of restoration; however, neither banks nor local investors would grant the owners loans for improvements. Saving Manresa Castle takes you on a journey that reveals how Ronald Smith left his high-tech position in Silicon Valley, purchased the Castle, and, with his family, spent sixteen years (1973""1989) overcoming major obstacles to create a unique and now famous guest inn. Since that time, thousands of guests have come and gone, taking with them unforgettable memories of one of Northwest Washington's most popular vacation venues. Here, Ron Smith tells his version of stories about the widely publicized ghosts of Manresa Castle in which the Smith family lived, full time, for many years. He shares information about the ghost of the Jesuit priest who supposedly committed suicide by hanging himself in the attic turret. He also tells how he and his wife, Carol, lived in the very suite where Kate, a guest at the castle toward the end of the nineteenth century, purportedly committed suicide by jumping out of the third-floor bedroom window. As you begin reading Saving Manresa Castle, prepare to enjoy never-before-published stories and photographs that will give you insight into the restoration of a fabled landmark. Ron and his family hope you enjoy this virtual tour of Manresa Castle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644168196

Ronald Smith

Retired, general mender of deteriorating items and struggler with encroaching chaos, fond of pipe music, frogs, friends.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Helpful History

Readers familiar with basic history of Port Townsend, Washington, Charles Eisenbeis, Eisenbeis Castle, and Manresa Hall may skip ahead to chapter 2. This chapter contains a brief introduction to the importance of Port Townsend, pioneer Charles Eisenbeis, his castle, and the expansion of the castle to accommodate a Jesuit training college called Manresa Hall.

Port Townsend

Let’s begin our journey through time with Port Townsend, the historic gateway to Puget Sound, a territory where nature brought together the most complete and varied combination of resources for American commerce and manufacturing anywhere.

Port Townsend, a booming port of entry, was called the Key City. It is about ninety miles from the Pacific Ocean; forty miles from Seattle; sixty-six miles from Tacoma; thirty-five miles from Victoria, British Columbia; eighty miles from Vancouver, British Columbia; and about eight hundred miles nearer to the commercial ports of China, Japan, and Australia than San Francisco. Shipmasters testified that there was no better harbor on the globe than Port Townsend Bay. Splendid Victorian homes and beautified city streets reflected the economic success of the flourishing commerce that spread beyond the city boundaries.

Victorian Architecture Charms the Community

James House 1889

Francis Wilcox James built his home for $10,000. It is a fine example of Queen Anne architecture. James came to Port Townsend in 1853 and held several jobs before starting his own mercantile business. He made a fortune in the currency markets.

Old Consulate Inn 1889

Built by Frank Hastings during the depression, the unfinished house was purchased at auction by Owen Olsen and completed in 1907. It was the first home to have electric lights. Boarders occupied the house including August Dudenhousen, the acting German vice-consul. The house was never an embassy but is referred to as the Old Consulate.

Ann Starrett House 1889

George Starrett, craftsman, home builder, and brick manufacturer, built this home, at a cost of $6,000, for a wedding present to his wife, Ann. The home has been widely recognized, locally and nationally, as a brilliant example of unique original features that blend together creating a Victorian home of stately character.

Rothschild House 1868

David Charles Henry Rothschild, a German immigrant, settled in Port Townsend and developed a mercantile store, The Kentucky Store. He was thrifty and lived and worked in the store with his young wife, Dorette. Following the sale of The Kentucky Store, Rothschild ventured into the shipping business during 1881. The business became depressed during the 1886 depression. That led to his suicide. However, under family management, the business and home survived. The home remained in the family until Rothschild’s son, Eugene, inherited the home and donated it to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. The home opened as a museum in 1962 and is managed by the Jefferson County Historical Society. The home has a must-see collection of early Port Townsend