For more information on the Read House and room 311 read part 1 of our story about the Read House. CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) The history inside the Read House comes with a haunted twist. Businessman and politician Thomas Crutchfield built the original hotel in the 1840s, and locals originally referred to the building as the Old Crutchfield House. You can imagine the horror staff must have felt when they attended to Annalisas room one day and found her dead in the bathtub, her throat slashed open and her head nearly severed from her body. A train station in Chattanooga meant not only increased traffic but also increased revenue due to imports and exports. Room 311 looks and feels like Annalisas room in the 1920s. Yesterday, we should you the millions of dollars in renovations taking place inside the historic hotel. Picture after picture, stories from the past, all about a mysterious room on the 3rd floor of the Read House hotel. To paint the full picture of what is today The Read House, well need to rewind to 1847. hull jane addams chicago 1900 children swarthmore devil half baby inside lives haunted college social playing peace quirk edu nursery For the Crutchfield brothers, this was a very sore topic. If you arent brave enough to lay your head down in that room, its ok. Before the Read hotel was built, there was a Union and Confederate soldier hospital on the property (More on that in a minute). 'IT WAS DISTURBING': Atlanta couple believes in ghosts after spending night at Read House, Several people injured after car incident at Dalton Convention Center, 'Haunted' hotel room at The Read House welcomes first overnight guests since renovations, The historic Read House Hotel shows off its new style, Hixson store suffers first loss since opening, facing supply chain issues, Insects spotted at restaurant cause failing inspection score, Several children injured in escalator incident at Tennessee Aquarium on Monday, Take a look at the 'world's only carbon-neutral spaceship', Cell phone shows the moment a woman says she was forcibly baptized by a Ham Co. Sheriff's Deputy, UPDATE: 3 taken to hospital following Tuesday crash on I-75 near Ringgold, TN Sales Tax Holiday this weekend; another for groceries in August, Why this invasive species is getting a brand-new name, Crime Stoppers: Argument at a gas station leads to senseless shooting, 7-year-old girl killed while camping with family after tree falls on tent in Smokies, WHAT THE TECH? discovery: { Another Chattanooga urban legend is also attached to Room 311, one that include the famous gangster Al Capone as staying in this haunted room during his federal trial. Perhaps it was because William was only one moment away from doing unretractable harm against his brother, but following the argument between him, his brother and Jefferson Davis, the Old Crutchfield House was sold just before the Civil War broke out officially. }); Some say she was a prostitute murdered by a jilted lover or even that she died of a broken heart. Photos Courtesy of Chattanooga Public Library, The Read House. By 1857, the Memphis and Chattanooga (M&C) was also running regularly through the self-proclaimed River City.. But he took no part in the hostilities after the first day, for the reason that he had a serious illness which lasted a week., But, more interestingly, the passage states: Years after he learned that his wife, whose sympathies were as strong for the South as his were for the Union, had drugged him heavily, and so prevented his taking further part in the fratricidal strife.. Oh yes, theres more. No one knows but just walking into the hotel lobby you get a since of history. Home Posts The Read House Haunted Hotel & a Chattanooga, TN Vacation Itinerary, Posted on July 27th, 2020 This three-story structure had rooms starting at $1 per day, and it featured a restaurant, caf, grill, and Turkish bath. It was beautiful, and nothing like what I expected! So, by 1850, Chattanooga found itself in the midst of an industrial revolution. spooky northlight lighted

We booked our stay at the Read House Hotel based on the things I look for currently in a hotel. Even in the well known silver ballroom.

2022 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Quite a few guests also report they feel like theyre being watched. Bad time to buy a new smartphone.

They were removed during renovations in 2004. Wed love to hear from you. We can only assume that these shadowy spirits are none other than the residual energy of the soldiers who may have spent their last moments at the Read House when it operated as a Civil War hospital. Maybe. Guide to Vacationing With Kids in Chattanooga, TN.

The City Cafe Diner has a huge menu and even bigger slices of cake! The room, which was home to the legendary 1920s murder and housed Al Capone on his way to his federal tax evasion trial, is still available daily for fearless visitors to tour, but it has not been available to be rented since the renovations restored it to its creepy former glory. All right reserved. Legend has it that Annalisa Netherly was a hotel guest in the 20's who was beheaded in the bathtub by a jealous lover.

Before The Read House even existed, this property at the current-day 827 Broad Street boasted a different hotel together: the Old Crutchfield House. First, lets have a brief history lesson! And theres more! Given the opportunity, I would go back for a long weekend and just spend the entire time in the hotel. After a thorough polishing job, it was discovered that the pair were solid silver. And, for the most part, they succeeded. Over time, the building expanded, and became the now famous Read House, which began operating as a hotel in 1872. The suspension of housekeeping by the hotel during your stay remains, and turndown service is still paused. Say what you will, but Im thinking there were four of us in that hotel room. It even had a ticket office for the railroad located within the building for added convenience. The back alley of the hotel has a super Instagramable art installation that we forgot to go check out! I had no knowledge of the hotel other than the location and its cleaning protocols. The sconce was saved by the bell(man), Howard Johnson. Tours of the Read House are available upon request. In 2018, The Read House underwent a renovation, and during the process, restored room 311 to the style that would have been reflected when Annalisa Netherly was a guest herself. You're awesome for doing it! It is perhaps only in thanks to Thomas Crutchfield that neither William nor Jefferson Davis died that day. Polish them.. Or not. I still hadnt even scratched the surface of how unique my stay here was going to be. Most historians tend to believe that William Crutchfield never actually enlisted in the fight, but that he did serve as an honorary captain for the Union at the Chickamauga campaign as well as at the Siege of Chattanooga. I must warn you, though, this would be better suited as a girls-night-out type activity. Those bars still protect the room almost 100 years later.

Furious, Davis demanded satisfaction in the form of a duel. Join Ghost City Tours on a spooky Ghost Tour in downtown Chattanooga! Mystery and an uneasy feeling. Published in 1905, an excerpt from Saxons book goes on to claim, Will Crutchfield, to whom I have been referred, was then a major on the Union General Wilders staff and twenty-off in number of his blood relations swept up in the gray-clad ranks of the Confederacy, to meet death. Jon Weitz, Currently there is a spirit that stays there her name is Analeise Netherly.. All Rights Reserved. On his way home to Mississippi, he opted to stop by the Old Crutchfield House to stay the night. If youre looking for a journey into haunted Chattanooga, there is no better place to start than at the Read House Hotel, formerly the Old Crutchfield House. The bars were removed years ago but hotel owners plan to replace them before the renovations are completed. Aside from all of the historic and haunted stuff, the Read House is a well-appointed hotel that is doing a lot to keep its guests safe and healthy. detail_page_enabled: true, A tour guide leads you around room 311, explaining the gruesome history of the infamous room. Along with his son, Samuel, the Reads set out to build the finest hotel Chattanooga had ever seen. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But why 311? Its officially fall time to snuggle up with some ghosts. St. Augustine Ghost Tour, St. Augustine, FL. After all, the sconces were wrought-iron, and the Silver Ballroom was intended to be, as one might imagine, silver. Id love to show them around the city and impart a tantalizing tale or two. And, if youre feeling brave enough, request Room 311 for your own chance to meet the ghost of Annalisa Netherly. And, it was during this same time period that Dr. John T. Read decided to make something of the rubble that was the Old Crutchfield House. You have permission to edit this article. READ MORE |'Haunted' hotel room at The Read House welcomes first overnight guests since renovations.

In the 1930s the notorious mobster Al Capone requested he be allowed to await trial in room 311 at the Read House. Recently, the hotel reinstalled rebar to allow visitors a glimpse into the past. Ick! Maybe just ask for a ghost-free room? I texted My Kidding Around Cohorts in excitement and told them I was on a mission to find a ghost! Luckily you dont need to have special permission to get the VIP tour of The Read Hotel!

The most popular place to photograph is the vintage claw foot tub, which is allegedly the location Annalisas brutalized corpse was discovered. Your email address will not be published.

Giving hotel guests an experience they may never forget. The toilet gurgled and sounded like it was flushing when nobody was in there. Today, those security bars no longer exist. Are you looking for a one-tank trip destination that you can take that includes something for everyone? Impressive! I even told them about some travel destinations nearby that they hadnt ever heard of; I love it when that happens! Walking into the hotel, I knew I had hit the jackpot.

It was in desperate need of restoration, refurbishing. },

Update on 7/11/22: Becky spent the night at the Read House; hear her first-hand account of the haunting here.

Believe it or not, Room 311 at the Read House has seen more than just the murder of an adulterous young lady. } Since her death, many guests have described paranormal experiences in room 311.

The couple says it was a sleepless night in Room 311, hearing voices, the sound of scratching, and even getting touched. Jon Weitz, I still dont know that I believe in ghosts but things have happened since we have owned it, that I cant explain.. number: 3, We had the ghost show up on command, it touched one of our guides.. Crutchfields son took over ownership of the hotel in 1853 and operated the building until he ultimately sold it in 1861, fearing that the Civil War would result in the buildings demise. "$666 and 67 cents. "It was just very disturbing," said Shiba Gorman, who stayed overnight in 311. Johnson had worked at the hotel for twenty-seven years and when he saw that the contractors intended to throw away the sconces, he said, No, dont take them out. The Crutchfields knew exactly what they were doing when they constructed an inn just across the street from the new railway station in the mid-1800s. Four years later, Dr. John Read, alongside his wife Caroline, opened another hotel on the former Crutchfield House site. We have checked article after article to try and confirm Capones experience at the Read House hotel but have come up short. Boulevard in downtown Chattanooga. Your email address will not be published. Its become a place for the wealthy and the elite to mingle with the everyday American or international visitor.

publisher_id: "7057",

Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been on my list of places to check out for almost as long as Ive lived in South Carolina. If traveling to Chattanooga isnt in the cards for you right now, you can also tour the room virtually! As for the tension between the Crutchfield brothers, were given a little more information into their relationship, thanks to a book written by Elizabeth Lyle Saxon, a close relative of the Crutchfields. Tripp says he had just left the living room and when he came back, drawers were wide open. Well, really she wanted to know if the Read House had a haunted reputation and figured I might know. They believe it was the ghost of Annalisa Netherly. Jealousy, or perhaps revenge, had been at the root of the murder. Shiba Gorman and her husband Tripp Gorman drove from Atlanta to Chattanooga as the first guests to stay overnight since the room was restored. If you do, be sure to let me know what she has to say!

When construction began months ago on this multimillion dollar renovation, crews started complaining. Instead of going through the hassle of a remodel, two architects from the design firm Holabird and Roche, opted to have the Read House Hotel demolished. As the story goes, Capone never mentioned having a run-in with the Read Houses resident spirit, but that security bars were placed on the window of Room 311 to ensure that Capone could not escape the feds. I think the other rooms might have friendlier guests, I mean ghosts, hanging out in them. Others, however, are awakened by something a little more spine-tingling. Over time, the Read House Hotel became synonymous with opulence and luxury. He was a wealth of knowledge about the hotel. Bordering states encouraged Tennesseans to build a railroad of their own, so that their own trains could chug their way through the scenic mountain landscape. For the length of the War between the States, the old Crutchfield House served only the Union troops--and it is this time frame that many believe has made the modern-day Read House Hotel as haunted as it is.

Get our FREE monthly bucket list packed with family fun! We checked in and I wound up talking for a long time with the front desk clerk and concierge about Chattanooga and our plans for the trip. Find our privacy policy and terms and conditions here. Other guests have claimed to have experienced similar supernatural activity, as well as seeing ghostly soldiers roaming the halls of the hotels fourth floor. If you think you are brave enough to hang out with Annalisa, call the hotel and get your bid on the books. When Margaret Read more, The History of Walden's Ridge and the W Road (Above) Postcard of Waldens Ridge: Along the Dixie Highway, circa Read more. It has a sordid past complete with civil war ghosts, murder, and even a famous (infamous?)

However, because this happened so long ago, there are numerous rumors of alternate ways Annalisa may have died. Required fields are marked *. The suspension of valet parking has been lifted. We've received your submission. 423-785-1200 | news@wdef.com3300 Broad Street, Chattanooga TN 37408. In the entire building, all of it. Hotel management says her ghost has unfinished business. (Above) The Read House Room 311, present day, Area High School Alumni Take on the World These graduates have accomplished incredible things and enjoyed great successes since their Read more, A Luxury Hotel on Lookout (Above) A view of the Inns wing and wrap-around porch, circa 1890 Photos Read more, For the Love of the Outdoors When a couple of college students started a small-scale fundraising venture in their free Read more, Raising the Bar in Senior Care Transitioning a loved one into assisted living can be a wearisome process for all Read more, From Tokyo With Love Traveling to distant countries for a living would be a dream for many people.

The owners chose not to rebuild. All Rights Reserved.

Thats how I discovered that the Read House was more than just a pretty face. I slid it back in; but, oh my God, I was shaking for about 10 minutes," Tripp said.

The architects did their best to incorporate some of the fine decor that the first Read House Hotel had boasted. It was in that year that Thomas Crutchfield, Sr. began constructing the Griffin House. Okay so I know what yall are thinking. An audio podcast of real ghost stories, told by the very people who experienced them. I had no idea what to expect and was a bit leery, but I grabbed the doorknob and swung it open.

This website also contains non-paid mentions of our sponsors, partners, and other local businesses when applicable to our readers.

Some pieces, however--like the massive mahogany bar--were unfortunate victims of time and were never replaced. Have I scared you off yet? It just so happens that the historic hotel is also home to one of the citys most haunted locales.

Skip recommended stories carousel and go to main content.

Sitemap 10

the read house haunted room