10 things you may not know about the Hotel Congress as it turns 100

"Congress Hotel" Is Winning Suggestion In Name Competition

Dorit Dinkel Wins Prize of Three Baby Bonds; Few Great Names Overlooked by Contestants

The Congress hotel ─ that is to be the name of Tucson's newest hostelry, the "flatiron building" that is on the subway and half a block from Broadway. The honor of naming the hotel belongs to Dorit E. Dinkel of 114 East Fourth street, who was yesterday awarded the price of three "baby bonds," worth $15, by the judges ─ Mr. Latz, proprietor of the new hostelry, and the Pima county war savings committee.

Dorit was lucky. Not only were there a number of letters suggesting the name "Congress" for the new hotel, but Dorit did not think of it at first, adding it In a postscript. The names of the contestants who suggested the winning name were put into a hat, from which No. 4 ─ Dorit's number ─ was drawn.

Enough names were submitted to supply a string of hotels from the Atlantic to the Pacific and they were as varied as the names of Pullman cars. One contestant, with true Tucson spirit, suggested "The World's Hotel." Ex-Ambassador Gerard, President Wilson, an unsung celebrity named McMurry, Pershing, Lincoln, Washington, and other famous names were suggested, while one suggested the name "Democratic." The committee rejected that one quickly, since Republicans will be welcomed at the new hotel.

Mrs. M. E. Olson suggested the name Hotel Sahuara, which is good enough to build another hotel to fit. There were many suggestions of the name Triangle and Triangelo. Mrs. Roy Holloway would name the hotel in honor of Gen. John Pershing, "who is bound to make history for himself and his country." The same contestant also suggested Hotel Ally and Hotel Warrior. John W. McKay, pioneer, thought "Fort Huachuca" had just enough English on the Spanish to make it an attractive hotel name.

There were numerous suggestions that Mr. Latz incorporate his own name in the hotel name, such as The Latzuma, The Latzona, The Johnavier. Mr. Latz's modesty forbade his accepting any one of these.

Many Spanish named were suggested ─ one for every saint in the catalogue and then some. "Saint" Geronimo was among them, the contestant forgetting that Tucson already had an aircastle at Stone and Pennington by that name. An interesting suggestion, by Mrs. Maiza Atwater Holberstad, was La Planch ─ Spanish for flatiron. "The General Nelson A. Miles Hotel" was the suggestion of a well-known pioneer, Charles C. Goodwin, who urged it as an honor for the memory of the man who "rid Arizona of the Black Plague, better known as the Apache."

"La Clematide," meaning "traveler's joy," was a suggestion, but it overlooked the fact that there would be no bar off the lobby.

Harry Cannon, at the Arizona State School for Deaf, wrote as follows:

"Dear Mr. John Latz: I have thought of a name and it is 'Builder of New Hotel.'"

New Congress Hotel Is Open; Has 100 Rooms; Grill on First Floor

Formally Opened to Public Last Evening; "Gothamesque" in Its Environment

Tucson's "war bride" hotel, the Congress ─ the only building of major proportions built in Tucson during the war period ─ was opened formally to the public last evening, and was inspected by a number of the friends of Mr. John Latz, the popular hotel man, who established and popularized the San Xavier. The name of the new hotel was chosen by popular ballot.

The opening of the Congress hotel added a new bright spot to the rapidly developing subway-end of Congress street, and its cheery lights, just across the street from the Southern Pacific station, will prove a beacon of welcome to travelers arriving in Tucson.

At the corner of Congress street and Toole avenue the hotel is Gothamesque in its location and environs, for it is on the subway and a block from Broadway. It has also been called the "flatiron" building, because of its construction. It occupies a whole block, but a small one, being bounded by Congress, North Sixth, Tenth and Congress.

The hotel has one hundred elegantly furnished rooms, all of them outside ones, single and en suite, and has 75 bathrooms, tub and shower. It has a telephone in every room, steam heat and elevator service.

The grill room is on the first floor to the east of Congress street entrance. It is in charge of a chef of high reputation and service will be a la carte, with a merchants' lunch from 11 to 12 daily.

TELEPHONE GIRL HOLDS POST AS CONGRESS BURNS

Tucson Hotel Swept by Fire With Resultant Loss of Near $100,000

GUESTS ARE UNINJURED

Fire Department Uses Full Equipment to Battle Record City Blaze

The Congress hotel was almost completely ruined by fire and water yesterday morning when the third disastrous blaze in a month gutted the structure. Valued at approximately $250,000 and in its fifteenth year, the building appeared to be nearly a total loss yesterday, according to Monte Mansfield, representing the owner, Leo Goldsmith.

Mrs. Helga Nelson, day clerk at the Congress, had been on duty but a few minutes when the fire shot up from the basement. Glued to her telephone exchange box, Mrs. Nelson stuck to her post awakening guests and summoning them from their rooms. As she completed the calls on the second floor heat reached the telephone system and cut it out. Employes and police officers dashed up to the third floor, warning the guests there.

Entire Department

Apparently starting in the vicinity of the oil furnace and oil supply in the basement at about seven o'clock yesterday morning, the fire was reported at 7:20, calling forth the total in man power and equipment of the Tucson fire department. By 10:30 o'clock all but a few smoldering areas were extinguished; the entire roof had fallen in; the third floor was a littered wreck; and the entire building had been flooded with water.

Three general alarms brought every piece of fire fighting equipment and Chief Joe Roberts' full complement of men. Five pumpers were available and three used. There were 10 pressure lines and five streams of water, direct from the plugs, focused upon the fire. Ample pressure was obtained throughout the nearly three-hour battle with the flames, with the pressure records at the water superintendent's office bearing out the statements of firemen that they had all the pressure and water necessary.

Well Started

The fire apparently gained good headway before reported. Believed to have started at or near the furnace and oil supply, the flames roared up the elevator shaft and to the roof. The 100 guests in the hotel, awakened by calls, smoke and shouting, grabbed hastily at clothing and sought the street. All were removed from the flaming building without injury. In a state of dishabile, the guests flocked into Martin's drug store across Congress street, where coffee was consumed and experiences were exchanged.

Police officers arriving with the first call, aided the management in removing the guests. Across Fifth avenue D. R. Lance, proprietor of the Manhattan café, served hot coffee to the firemen, as they emerged cold and wet from the building. In this Lance was aided by several Boy Scouts.

As the fire spread over the entire third floor and roof area, every available hose line was put to work shooting streams of high pressure water into the flaming building. The aerial ladder truck was placed on the north side of the building where the greatest mass of flame was, and at corners the three pumpers roared away at their task of boosting the pressure.

Roof Collapses

The roof fell in at 8 o'clock followed by the cupola over the front entrance, which fell to the street with a crash. Police officers were busy keeping back a curious throng which gathered from all parts of the city drawn by the mounting column of smoke and radio announcements.

In the main entrance lay a white slipper, lost by some woman guest beating her retreat. Lone, lost and pathetic, the slipper lay in an ever growing stream of dirty water, as firemen rushed in and out of the doomed building.

As the last of the guests were leaving Jesus Comacho of the police, was sent to the third floor to remove one guest who had not left his room. The guest, very drunk, was still in bed. "Get out," Comacho ordered, "The place is burning up."

"Let the blankety-blank burn," responded the drunk, "I've got my room paid for for a week." But he left anyhow.

Business Improved

The Congress Hotel is owned by the Congress Realty company, Leo Goldsmith, president. Until a short time ago it was leased and managed by John Latz, veteran Tucson hotel man. Last month after a receivership action Latz left the hotel and Monte Mansfield, representing Goldsmith, leased it to Perry M. Hatcher. The hotel, under Hatcher, had been doing an excellent business, Mansfield said yesterday. Mansfield stated that he could not give a definite statement of the damage until he had conferred with insurance adjustors, but gave as his opinion the fact that the damage must approach complete destruction, with fire and water. There was only partial coverage from insurance, Mansfield said.

The Congress hotel building was erected on a then empty lot in 1919. At the time of its construction, various mixups took place with local labor groups, as nearly all the workmen were imported from California.

Four In Month

The destructive fire of yesterday marks the fourth actually destructive or threatening fore of the past 30 days. On December 18, the building occupied by the Arizona Daily Star was nearly demolished. Then in quick succession followed a fire in the ancient and historic Orndorff hotel, which was miraculously saved by the fire department, the Silver Slipper, East Broadway roadhouse, which was burned to the ground (this structure was outside the city limits and the fire department could not make the run) and the one of yesterday.

Estimated of damage to the Congress ranged from $80,000 to $150,000, with nothing definite until the loss has been checked and adjusted.

Businesses located in the building were the Blue Bird Beauty shop, Triplett Brothers Construction company, the Congress Barber shop, the Art Craft Stationery company and the Congress [unreadable word].

One water-drenched guest of the Congress walked across Toole avenue holding in his arms his hastily collected luggage and personal effects. As he crossed the street a picture dropped from his arms. A spectator saw it fall, picked it up and handed to the visitor. The visitor took one look at it and remarked, "Oh, that is just my mother-in-law. This is a good excuse to lose it."

Guests Slow in Realizing Magnitude of Hotel Blaze

One Awakened Only When Explosion Takes Wall of His Room; Couple Hears Noise and Finds Only Escape Is Down the Fire Department Ladder

Tales of personal experiences in the Congress hotel fire of yesterday ranged the whole gamut of petty annoyances including loss of personal belongings, fright, loss of temper, loss of dignity and unpleasant surprise.

William P. Humason, dining room manager, was one of the first to discover the blaze. He saw smoke as he was preparing to open the dining room, went into the lobby and found that Mrs. Helga Nelson had already called the fire department.

Back in the dining room he discovered tiny tongue of flame licking up behind the baseboard. Thinking someone has thrown a match or cigarette which had started a small fire, he induced some of the firemen to use a small extinguisher. This had little effect and a larger chemical apparatus was brought into play. Finally the water hose was used, but it was discovered that the flames were eating their way rapidly up an old chimney in the corner of the dining room.

Humason helped collect some of the hotel records and spent considerable time aiding the removal of considerable hotel property. After he had done all he could on the first floor, he went up to his room on the third floor secured his violin from a closet in the room and took it down to the first floor. There was some difficulty in awakening the occupants of one room, he declared.

So far as he could discover everyone on the third floor was out of his room when he made his trip to his room. He explained he had time to save none of his property but his violin.

Reports indicated that Claude Straight was wakened only when a minor explosion blew a hole in the wall of his room.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Smith reported that they were wakened by the fire engines and someone's screaming. They had a room on the third floor near the elevator shaft and were unable to leave by the stairs. They made a journey down a ladder taking most of their belongings with them. Mrs. Smith reported some losses including a diamond pin.

Another version of the fire was given last night by Dr. J. K. Glenn, of Kansas City, who with his wife occupied room 322 on the third floor.

Glenn declared that occupants of rooms along the hall on which he was located were not called and that when he awakened the place was full of smoke and that the only voice he heard was one assuring someone that the "fire was under control."

Glenn added that he had he wife left by a rear stairway, it being impossible to use the elevator when they left their room about 7:40. He said that another man and wife, located near him in the hotel, were taken out via a window and the aerial ladder of the firemen, having not been warned in time to escape through the hallway.

Miss Bernice Rhodes who had a room on the second floor was awake when the fire started and had no trouble in leaving with her baggage.

All indications were that the seriousness of the fire was recognized only gradually. Last night a story of one guest who was told the flames were under control and actually went back to bed in his second floor room was told, but the guest himself could not be located.

DILLINGER GANG CAPTURED HERE

POLICE FORCED TO USE GUNS IN NABBING TWO GANGSTERS OTHERS SUBMIT TO OFFICERS

Triggerman Pulls Gun On Chief In City Lockup

IDENTITY IS SURE

Men Are Wanted In East For Murders, Bank Robberies

By Fred Finney

John Dillinger and three members of the “Dillinger mob” bank robbery artist, jail delivery specialists and machine gun terrorists supreme in the Midwest, were captured here yesterday afternoon and evening by Tucson police.

In a series of breath-taking captures, each of which might have at any moment culminated in a stream of lead and death, which included lightning displays of gangster armament and as sudden squashing of murderous hopes by officers, Dillinger himself, Charley Makley, 50, Russell Clark, 39, and Harry Pierpont, 31, the “trigger-man” of the gang were apprehended, were stripped of a young arsenal apiece, subdued, identified, and locked up in the county jail for safe-keeping.

The jail was under double guard last night.

The four are being held under fugitive warrants and, in addition, charges of assault with deadly weapons were preferred by the county attorney, Clarence Houston, against Clark and Pierpont. All will be arraigned at 9:30 this morning in justice court before Judge C. V. Budlong.

Dillinger, Pierpont, Clark and Makley, sought throughout the country for months, are wanted for the murder of Sheriff Jess Sarber, of Lima, Ohio, following their jailbreak last October 12. At the time of the jailbreak and murder of the Ohio sheriff, Dillinger, Pierpont, Clark, and Makley were being held, charged with the robbery of the Blufton, Ohio, bank of $2800. Sheriff Sarber’s widow has named “Pierpont, Dillinger mob “triggerman,” as the murder. In addition, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin banks charge the quartet with robberies aggregating more than $154,000 gained from recent sensational bank holdups.

Women Also Held

Three Women companions were also arrested and held as material witnesses. These are Ann Martin, Dillinger’s companion, Mary Kinder, nabbed with Pierpont, and Opal or Bernice Long, arrested with Clark. A fourth woman, said to be the companion of Makley was released when it was learned that she was an entertainer in a local cabaret and had no connection with the gangsters prior to their arrival here a few days ago. The Kinder woman said to be wanted by Chicago City, Ind., in connection with murder charges there.

After three members of his mob had been arrested yesterday afternoon, Dillinger, one of the most sought-for criminals in the United States, walked into the arms of three waiting traffic officers at 927 North Second avenue, totally ignorant of the arrest of his men. The three traffic officers, who throughout the afternoon, had been specializing in the arrest of notorious eastern gangsters, were on watch at the house occupied by Makley and Clark “just in case.”

Sneering at the effrontery of the “small-time cops” who had nabbed them, Dillinger, Pierpont, Clark and Makley were taken to police headquarters, stripped of numerous hand guns, five sub-machine guns, enough ammunition to run three Mexican revolutions, and a half dozen bullet-proof vests of the latest design. Of the four only Makley was unarmed at the time of his arrest.

Photographs and fingerprint identifications were fixed positively by a U.S. department of justice agent and Mark Robbins local identification expert. Search of the four men and three women held disclosed nearly $27,000 in currency, serial numbers of which were noted by C. J. Endres, U.S. operative, sent here from Phoenix on order of J. Edgar Hoover at Washington for further check against currency losses of the mid-western banks.

When booked at the police station, Makley, first in the series of arrests, gave the name of J. C. Davies, and his business as a “garageman.” Clark gave the name of Art Taylor, business tailor. Pierpont, the “trigger-man” gave the name of J.C. Evans, “tourist.”

The identification of Dillinger came as a surprise to the police. The officers had booked him as Frank Sullivan of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Letters and automobile certificate of ownership taken from his pockets were in the name of Frank Sullivan.

Identified

As Frank Sullivan he was taken to the fingerprint room to be searched, photographed and fingerprinted. After being fingerprinted and as the man was dressing, Robins started classifying the prints. This done, he turned to the police files of the Dillinger gang. As he came to the picture of John Dillinger he looked up and compared the picture with the man in the room. “This is Dillinger,” he remarked quietly.

Then to be positive he looked for a scar on the left wrist and another on the upper lip. Both scars were there on the man the police had booked as Frank Sullivan, although Dillinger had the scar on the lip hidden by a mustache. In addition he was wearing glasses.

When Dillinger was finished dressing Officer Evan picked up the glasses and started to hand them to him. “You can have them,” Dillinger said quietly.

“What, you don’t need them?” Eyman said.

Dillinger smiled in answer.

The series of apprehensions dates from the Congress hotel fire of last Monday. Registered in the hotel, Makley and Clark were the first men to obtain aid in having their baggage removed. It came down the aerial ladder truck from the Tenth street side of the hotel. Firemen William Benedict and Robert Freeman affecting the rescue. Makley or Clark presented the firemen with $12 as a token of appreciation, and were remembered for their anxiety.

The next afternoon, while reading a recent issue of a detective magazine. Benedict and Freeman recognized the picture of Clark and Makley, and later checked this with records of wanted men from the sheriff’s office and police station. The police went into action. Checking deliveries of baggage from Congress hotel, police officers located a recently rented house by one Davis, at 927 North Second Avenue.

The First Capture

Four officers went to this house early yesterday afternoon where Clark was arrested, but not without bloodshed. Chet Sherman went to the front door, a paper in his hand simulating a searcher after a strange address. Behind was Dallas Ford. To the rear door went Frank Eyman and Kenneth Mullaney. As Sherman reached the door, he saw Clark leap from divan and come to the door with a woman. Sherman drew his pistol and Clark, accosting him, grabbed the gun. The two men struggled for its possessions, through the living room of the house and in to the bedroom adjacent. Clark, by far the larger and more powerful, pushing Sherman ahead of him and the plucky officer hanging on to the pistol like grim death.

In the meantime the woman had shunted Ford to one side and slammed the door on the officer’s hand, breaking a finger. Reaching the bedroom, still struggling for the gun, Clark forced Sherman down on the bed, at the same time grabbing a pistol from down under a pillow.

That was his last affirmative move for a while as Ford’s pistol landed on his head. Simultaneously Eyman and Mullaney reached the scene. Clark’s struggles were soon halted and, his head a mass of blood, he was carted off to the station. A trail of blood drops from the bed across the living room out the door and down the walk marked his march to the police car.

Dr. George Purcell, county physician, pronounced the lacerations superficial. After arriving at police headquarters, Clark’s head was bound up by Drs. I. H. Howard and Jack Eason.

Makley was arrested peaceably in the Grabe Electric company store entrance and had no firearms on his person at the time. In the North Second avenue address were found two Thompson sub-machine guns, one, of the regulation, 45 calibre and one of the new “tank gun” models, chambered for the superior powerful 351 calibre rifle bullet.

In addition there were two of the latest type steel and velvet bullet-proof vests and many hundred rounds of ammunition. Two handguns were also taken. On a tabourette, near where Clark was sitting when the officers arrived, stood a half-consumed bottle of Schlitz beer bearing the caption on the label “Repeal Special.”

Shortly after the men arrived at the police station, O.E. Glover, Tucson attorney, entered, stating that he had been asked to represent Davies. Last night Glover stated that he believed Pierpont had called him on the telephone relative to Davie’s (Makley’s) case.

Has Inspiration

While police officers were booking and fingerprinting Clark and Makley, Motorcycle Patrolman Earl Nolan had what looked like an inspiration but which was, in reality, but the reaction of a trained officer and observer. It resulted in the appreciation of Pierpont, “trigger-man” of the Dillinger mob.

Nolan remembered talking to a man Wednesday night, a man with a soft voice, a new car bearing Florida license plates (the car of the original pair of gangsters bore Florida plates) and a pile of luggage in the rear of the same type and pattern as that seized in the arrest of Clark and Makley. Nolan also remembered he had seen a Florida licensed car in a South Sixth avenue tourist camp. The car with the Florida license, loaded and packed, was just leaving. The driver politely agreed to come to the station for questioning.

Eyman drove down with him, the other officers following in the police car. The man was tall, slender, soft voiced, very polite. His mild gray-blue eyes peered through glassed. His manner was that of a diffident, retiring scholar. At the station he walked down the corridor and into Chief Wollard’s office. Here he whirled and pulled out a pistol form his waist. Eyman thrust his gun in the man’s ribs and the man’s gun was relinquished. As quick as a flash the man drew another gun from a shoulder holster, but again Eyman was ready – first.

The glasses fell off; the expression changed to one of pure un-adulterated venom. It was Harry Pierpont, the killer, the “trigger man” for the Dillinger mob.

Almost immediately identified by the department of justice operative and Robbins, Pierpont sneered at the “small-town cops,” looked the group over coolly and said, “I’ll remember you – and you – and you. I can get out of any jail. I’ll be back, and I’ll not forget.”

Again a carload of expensive clothing and luggage, as in the instance of the first arrests. Again a deadly little Thompson sub-machine gun and worlds of ammunition. Also several pair of handcuffs and a set of brass “knucks.”

As Pierpont was being booked at the desk, where he was never unshackled, it became certain that he had something in his mouth. The slender “trigger-man” only gave up a small wad of paper when extreme pressure from a set of “come-alongs” on his wrist was applied. Later it was found that he had a crumpled mass of paper in his hand. This was extracted from him clenched fist via the same method. The moistened wad of paper Pierpont released offered no clue as the writings had become too blotched to be legible. The paper in Pierpon’t hands was an Indiana driver’s certificate made out in the name of John Donavan.

Plenty of Money

On Pierpont’s person officers found $3,116.20. The prior search of Clark and Makley had produced $6,500. The cars were 1934 Studebakers and Buicks and all luggage was of the finest quality, as were the sub-machine guns and ammunition.

Dillinger, he who walked into the waiting arms of three enthusiastic young police officers, had one hand-gun on his person, and $9,174.44. Of this sum $15 was in hoarded gold. Among his effects in the car were found two more sub-machine guns, an additional 500 rounds of ammunition, a young bulldog puppy and a suitcase containing $6,500 in coin and currency, and two shortwave police radio sets.

Like Dillinger, Pierpoint also carried hoarded gold, $22.50 of it. Dillinger was driving a Hudson sedan, Wisconsin license number 27001. The waiting arms which so gladly gathered the gang leader belonged to Milo Walker, James Herron and Kenneth Mullaney, the latter of whom yesterday raised his average to three gangsters, grade AAA, in three times up.

Dillinger was arrested as Frank Sullivan, this being the name he gave. Cooly he stood at the desk, his hands manacled behind him, while his money was counted. Shown a slip with the total, the prisoner nodded his head. He was then taken into the office of Mark Robbins, finger print expert for the police department. Robbins from his files drew the identification data on John Dillinger, brains of the terrorist mob. Fingerprints checked to a “T.” Then Dillinger admitted his identity and even signed his proper name “John Dillinger” to Robbins’ criminal record card.

Dillinger told officers he had rented, yesterday, a house at 1304 East Fifth street. He had also gas and electric receipts. He was captured quite by surprise at the North Second avenue address about 8:30 o'clock last night when he drove up, being ignorant of the arrest of the other members of his gang. Dillinger was walked over to the county jail to join his fellows, manacled and under heavy guard.

A check-up on the recent activities of the Dillinger mob showed that the men were here about three weeks ago, driving other cars with California licenses, left for the coat, and when apprehended here yesterday had other newer cars with Florida licenses. Clark and Makley entered Arizona last January 21, their on the ticket windshield showed.

From unofficial estimates last night a total of approximately $30,000 in rewards, some of the “dead or alive” category stands against Dillinger and his mob from all parts of the country. On this basis a number of Tucson police officers should have a very good fiscal year what with this and that.

Notable in yesterday’s sensational series of captures, was the work of Chief C.A. Wollard’s younger men, notably the traffic squad. Featured with Chief Wollard in yesterday’s wholesale round-up were Officers Dallas Ford, Chet Sherman, Frank Eyman, Kenneth Mullaney, Earl Nolan and Milo Walker. Mark Robbins, finger print expert, make all the true identifications of the various members of the gang.

Identifications were made through bulletins in the possession of the police department and augmented by a confidential bulletin on the gang issued by the American Banker’s association. This was brought to Chief Wollard by a local banker who, after learning who had been arrested, passed through the group of officers, giving each a heartfelt handclasp. The American banking group had posted a $1,000 “dead or alive” reward on each member of the Dillinger mob.

The aggregate rewards for the bank bandits were unofficially totaled last night at $30,000, which, it was said, included a number recently published by various bankers’ associations.

According to some, Tucson's historic Downtown hotel is definitely haunted.

"Usually when it's quiet they come through," said Shana Oseran, co-owner of Hotel Congress. "They look like normal people ─ they're not transparent or anything. You might see someone out of the corner of your eye and then turn and look and they won't be there."

She is speaking, of course, about the several "permanent" guests who frequent her hotel. Most of the ghosts are seen in the same clothes doing the same things over and over again.

One of the most familiar ghosts is easily recognized by his old-fashioned attire. "A gentleman comes through in a top hat," Oseran said. "He walks through the lobby and sticks his head into the office door if it's open."

Other ghosts have their own routines ─ one always peeks out a top window, another walks through the kitchen, and one, who wears a maid uniform, is always seen cleaning.

Based on an informal Lost Souls investigation, Allan (the subject of the article) concluded that these repeated sightings are the result of enduring impressions of people ─ something a bit like watching a video tape of past events.

"There's definitely a residual effect there," she said. "It's like a movie being played back."

That's not to say that all ghosts are just a video-loop from beyond the grave. Many deceased individuals are active, aware and able to interact with sensitive and receptive people.

Hotel Congress has several of those ghosts as well.

"One night, someone asked me for the woman desk-clerk they had just spoken to," said Oseran, "but we only had a make desk-clerk working that night, so I knew it was one of our ghosts."

She said another resident ghost is able to physically affect its surroundings. "There's one on the second floor that locks the bathroom from the inside and we have to take the door off the hinges to get in," said Oseran. "There's no window in that bathroom so it must be a ghost."