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The Octagon
One of the most celebrated Haunted Houses is in Washington D.C. The Octagon is a historical building with many manifestations. So many, the Octagon caretakers have broken them down to categories. The Quadroon, a female slave, once the favorite of the owner and builder of the Octagon, Colonel John Taylor III. According to the stories, Taylor was somehow involved in this woman's death. Some say he attempted to kill a visiting English officer who made advances
to the female slave, and in his excitement shot her instead. Some say the Englishman killed the slave & then himself. Whatever the case, she haunts the Octagon house. She is oftentimes seen roaming the building. She is not violent but appears to be wandering about in search of something.
Another strange occurrence in the house is the Bells. When Taylor died, the service bells rang for a long time after his death. Even after the wires were cut, the bells for servants continued to ring. Some say it is Taylor himself ringing the bells. Others say it is the spirits of slaves released from their chains only by death, announcing their return to the Octagon.
Another story says the bells ring because of a gambler who once lived in the house. The gambler was assaulted one night by a drunken farmer. Supposedly, to steady himself, he grabbed the bellpull and reached for his gun, but the farmer shot him. This story explains why the bells continue ringing, and enters another ghost. In the early part of the 1800's a cruel & brutal slave owner is believed responsible for the ghost dubbed "the whipping". legend says the slave owner whipped and starved slaves to death in the Octagon.
One story tells of a Jockey employed by the slave owner, threw a race, and his employer found out. He reportedly whipped the jockey to death.
The Octagon has 2 staircases, the main one spirals up 3 floors. At least 3 young women are credited with haunting this irresistible staircase. All 3 haunt, it is said, because of marriage problems. One is said to be the eldest daughter of Taylor. Another jumped, fell, or was pushed after the Englishman she loved refused to marry her. The third was a beautiful slave girl who was thrown from the top of the staircase by an English Naval officer whom she refused to marry.
In 1814, the British burned the White House, while it was being refurbished, President Madison lived at the Octagon. This explains why Dolly Madison (his wife) also haunts the Octagon. Dolly, they say, made the house the center of social activity in Washington. She loved the house & did not want to leave it. She is a popular apparition. Finally, the last ghost who has been identified, was done so by a doctor from this century. The doctor was called to treat the caretaker's wife. When the doctor arrived, he asked the caretaker if there was a costume party going on. He was told there was not. The doctor then
explained that moments before, he bumped into a man on the staircase dressed in a military uniform of the 1800's.
There have been many other ghosts seen at the Octagon, but most, no one is able to identify. One such ghost talks in a woman's voice, another merely moans, and another says nothing, but the silk skirts of her period clothing rustles when she moves past the living.
There have never been any formal investigations of the Octagon, but the incidents reported are numerous and certainly warrant investigation!
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