By Ava Velez and Marley Helfer
Transcript:
IN THIS FIRST EPISODE OF “NIGHTMARES ON BOYLSTON STREET”, WE’RE EXPLORING THE OMNI PARKER HOUSE, WHICH IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN BOSTON.
THE STORY BEGINS IN 1855, WHEN THE HOTEL WAS FOUNDED BY HARVEY PARKER, WHO CREATED A CULTURAL HUB FOR GUESTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE HEAVILY REVERED, INCLUDING CHARLES DICKENS AND JOHN F. KENNEDY.
BUT, THE SPOT’S CLAIM TO FAME IS FROM THE PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPENED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT. SINCE 1940, PATRONS AND WORKERS HAVE SAID THEY WERE HEARING VOICES AND SEEING GHOSTLY APPARITIONS ON THE 3RD AND 10TH FLOORS. IT IS SAID THAT HARVEY PARKER ROAMS THE HALLWAYS, SUPPOSEDLY WHISPERING TO GUESTS AND APPEARING BEFORE THEM.
ONE STORY IS OF A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO STAYED IN ROOM 1012. THE DAUGHTER CLAIMED THAT A MAN DRESSED IN 1800S GARMENTS WOKE HER UP AND ASKED IF SHE WAS ENJOYING HER STAY. SHE SMILED AT THE MAN AND HIS GENTLE DEMEANOR, AND WHEN SHE WENT DOWN FOR BREAKFAST, SHE WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT THE MAN SHE SAW WAS THE DECEASED FOUNDER, HARVEY PARKER.
THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE HOTEL IS ALSO A COMMON SIGHT OF STRANGE ENCOUNTERS. DECADES AGO, A LONG-TIME RESIDENT STAYED AT ROOM 303. HE WAS KNOWN FOR SMOKING ODOROUS CIGARS AND DRINKING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WHISKEY, AND PEOPLE SAY THEY CAN STILL SMELL THE REMINENTS OF HIS VICES TO THIS DAY.
BELL CAPTAIN DAN MCKENNA, WHO HAS WORKED AT THE OMNI FOR 47 YEARS, SHARED THAT HE HAS HEARD MULTIPLE FIRST-HAND ENCOUNTERS FROM GUESTS WHO HAVE STAYED IN ROOM 303.
“303, THE ROOM THAT’S ALLEGED TO BE HAUNTED, SOMEONE TOLD ME THEY WERE REALLY SCARED AT NIGHT, TOLD ME THEY WERE CALLING HOME TO THEIR MOTHER THEY WERE THAT SCARED. I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH OF IT WAS INFLUENCE OR IF THERE WAS REALLY SOMETHING GOING ON.”
ALSO, CHARLES DICKENS STAYED ON THE THIRD FLOOR BETWEEN 1867-1868, AND ITS BEEN REPORTED THAT ELEVATORS ARE CONSTANTLY CALLED TO THE FLOOR, BUT NO GUESTS WERE WAITING OUTSIDE OF THE ELEVATOR— AND THE BUTTON WAS NEVER EVEN PUSHED.
ALTHOUGH DAN HAS NEVER HAD ANY PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS, HE BELIEVES IN THE SUPERSTITIONS BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENT STORIES TOLD BY PATRONS.
“THEY SAID THEY’VE SEEN IMAGES IN THIS MIRROR HERE, THE CHARLES DICKENS SUITE MIRROR AND THEY SAID THINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AROUND IN THEIR ROOM DURING THE NIGHT, COINS THAT WERE JUST THROWN ON THE TABLE WERE STACKED UP NEATLY, THAT TYPE OF THING.”
IT’S RUMORED THAT ROOM 303 INSPIRED STEPHEN KING’S SHORT STORY “1408”, A STORY ABOUT A REPORTER STAYING IN A HAUNTED HOTEL ROOM. A COMMON MYTH ABOUT THE HOTEL IS THAT KING WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE THE SHINING BECAUSE OF THE OMNI’S HISTORY, BUT THAT NOVEL WAS CREATED DUE TO THE INFAMOUS STANLEY HOTEL IN COLORADO. ALTHOUGH, WITH THE HOTEL’S TUNNEL HALLWAYS, MUTED COLORS, AND PATTERNED CARPETS, IT ISN’T UNREASONABLE TO ASSUME THE CONNECTION.
THE OMNI PARKER HOUSE IS NOW ONE OF BOSTON’S MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS DURING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON, ITS SPOOKINESS BEING COMPARED TO THE CHILLING LIZZIE BORDEN HOUSE AND HISTORIC TOWN OF SALEM.
NAT SOUND: 5-7 SECONDS
TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF “NIGHTMARES ON BOYLSTON STREET.” FOR YOU ARE HERE, I’M AVA VELEZ AND I’M MARLEY HELFER.
