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Lee Bosmans probably knows more about what goes in the basement of the Gunter Hotel than anyone alive. Being the owner of the hotel’s barbershop, Mr. Bosmans has seen many employees and customers come and go, some who use to be alive.
After serving the Navy, Bosmans went to barber school and started cutting hair in the Gunter Hotel Barbershop since 1975.
“Oh, yes, I have over the years, especially from the housekeepers, heard about the ghosts walking the halls and in the rooms,” Bosmans said while cutting the hair of a favorite customer, Charles Harris, on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 20, 2010.
“I have never actually seen a ghost with my own eyes,” he continued as he snipped Harris’ hair. “But I have actually seen employees come to me and say ‘that’s it, I’m leaving’ because they just saw a ghost.”
Over the last 35 years Bosmans has known numerous housekeepers and other employees that felt they needed to quit, some even “on their first day because they were so spooked.”
The Friendly Ghost
“Of course, the most famous ghost is of the woman that was dismembered on the sixth floor,” Bosmans said. “But we have our own ghost down here.”
“His name is James.” Bosmans declared. Harris, who recognized the name, shook his head in agreement.
James Ellison, a proud and soft spoken World War II veteran who served under General Patton, worked as the porter in the barbershop from 1946 until just prior to his death at age, 75, in February 2000.
Harris, who has been a customer of the barbershop since 1987, proudly acknowledged how kind and fun Ellison was.
“When my son came in for his first hair cut, James walked over here and made him feel good, sort of important,” remembered Harris.
“Well, he was important,” laughed Bosmans. “He was sitting in my chair wasn’t he?
Harris chuckled, “but I will never forget was how he pretended to give Andrew a shoe shine and sort of dust off his shoes.”
“Oh, he was quite a character,” said Bosmans. “And in all the years he worked for me he only missed two days.”
The hanger
Not long after Ellison passed away, the current porter, Drew Miller was shining a gentleman’s shoes while Bosmans was cutting his hair.
“Drew was new here and I wanted to make him feel good and comfortable,” said Bosmans. “So as he was finishing up I looked around at the man’s shoes and told Drew, ‘Wow, I didn’t think anyone could give a better shine than James.”
Bosmans pointed to a hat stand.
“At that same second a (clothes) hanger fell off that stand, right there behind poor Drew.”
Bosmans showed Harris and the other men in the barbershop how nearly impossible it was for that to happen, by demonstrating how the hanger firmly hangs from the stand.
To the barbers at the Gunter, there seems to be no doubt in their mind that James, with his sense of humor and working there every day for over half a century, is revealing his spirit.
The brush
After Ellison’s family came to gather his belongs, “I noticed one day that his brush was still here,” Bosmans told the men. “It was right over there on that ledge and it was just an old brush so I just threw it away.”
“The next day when I opened the shop I noticed the BRUSH WAS RIGHT BACK WHERE IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE.”
(No one has access to the shop at night).
Watch where you're going
The friendly spirit of James Ellison remains at the Gunter Hotel.
With much respect, the barbers recall some of their favorite Ellison quotes:
“If your shoes aren’t becoming to you, you should be coming to me.”
“I have three types of shines. Good, Better and Best. I never rest, til my good is better, and my better is best.”
“Displayed, mislaid, relayed and parlayed.”
“All sizzle and no steak.”
“Phases and stages, circles and cycles, scenes that we’ve all seen before.”
“Watch where you’re going. Know where you’ve been.”
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Comments
I have to stay there.
I know Charles Harris. Heck of a nice guy. Good story.
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