The Haunted Pfister Hotel - Milwaukee, WI

Dear Diary,
The Pfister Hotel is a historic landmark, a Milwaukee icon, and it was built in the Romanesque Revival style and opened in 1893.

(The Pfister's grand lobby ...)

It's beautiful. In fact, I struggle to associate a proper adjective that captures the hotel's grandeur and luxury. It is simply something that must be experienced in order for it to be accurately conveyed and understood. It's for this reason that the Pfister has hosted Presidents and celebrities.

It's also incredibly haunted.

CONSIDERED MLB'S HAUNTED HOTEL

Charles Pfister who, alongside his father, Guido; owned the hotel, was a big baseball fan and supporter of the local team. When he passed away, rumors began to circulate that he would haunt the visiting team's players with the hope that it'd give the home team a bit of an advantage.

Today, as professional baseball and basketball players stay at the Pfister when they're in town for games, recent reports may point to that rumor being true.

Rangers player Adrian Beltre said he heard knocking in the hallway and on his door when there was no one around, and there was pounding on his headboard.

Rays player Carlos Gomez said as he got out of the shower to get ready for bed, he saw an iPod on his dresser start to vibrate wildly, causing it to shimmy across the furniture. Still dressed in just his towel, he raced downstairs to the front desk stating, "get me outta here."

(I wonder how many guests ran out on this carpeting due to their fears.)

HISTORICAL TIMELINE

The hotel cost $1 million to construct and houses the largest collection of Victorian art in the world. At the time, however, it was completely state-of-the-art, boasting fireproofing, electricity throughout and individual thermostat controls in every room.

In 1962, movie theater mogul Ben Marcus purchased the aging hotel and renovated it to its former glory. A 23-story guest room tower was added to the structure as part of the Marcus investment.

And for over 125 years, the Pfister has served its community and beyond.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Yes, I have one.

I had booked a small suite in the barely-touched, historical section of the hotel. For my money and when I have the choice, I always opt for the historical experience. I admired the craftsmanship and attention to detail, and was delighted in the fact that this renovated hotel still celebrated its history.

One morning, I was drinking coffee in the suite's sitting area. I was the only one awake, and I was surrounded by silence.

Suddenly I was startled by a knock on the door. Before I could get up to answer it, I watched the door knob turn clockwise, then counter clockwise, and then snap back in place.

The stillness and silence that followed that moment chilled me to the bone. There was no one around. And I have no explanation as to how that could have happened. To this day, I am convinced the Pfister Hotel lodges both the living and the dead.

Stay, if you dare:
424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee
Web site

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