The Strange Case of Dr. H. H. Holmes

This afternoon found me working on a research paper proposal for my Gilded Age class. Now that I'm finally finished for the night I have decided to relax by...doing more writing. I know. My brain is weird. But in my defense, Castle is not on right now. Also, I was told this class was going to have some Holmes discussions and midway through the semester I can report that my favorite (very handsome) multi-murderer has NOT BEEN MENTIONED ONCE! And since he's not included in any of our books, I'm starting to wonder if I've been duped into this three hour lecture course with a promise as hollow as a chocolate bunny. I swear, if Holmes is thrown into a sentence for two seconds and then never brought up again...well I'm not sure what I'll do at the moment. Maybe I'll show up to my professor's office hours dressed like Holmes and ask for directions to the nearest medical school while discreetly motioning to the (fake) skeleton hand sticking out the top of my valise. (My professor thinks I'm a wee bit obsessed with Holmes, which I deny, so that would definitely freak him out).

Okay, that's a joke. I won't dress or act like Holmes. However, I am finding ways to incorporate Holmes, Pitezel, and the rest of the gang into my various class assignments. (It's not hard considering Holmes was the human embodiment of the Gilded Age. I'm serious. When we talk in class about the skills needed to survive in Gilded Age America, my mind is all like, "Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes"). (Alright. Maybe I am a wee bit obsessed with him).

Anyway, the last essay I had to write was about how the idea of democracy changed during the Gilded Age. I used the example of Pitezel and Holmes' partnership to show how workers were dependent on bosses.

Today I worked on the proposal for the final paper in which Holmes is one of two people I will discuss in depth. Among the sources I am planning to use for research is the book The Strange Case of Dr. H. H. Holmes by John Borowski and Dimas Estrada. It is the written accompaniment to the documentary (also by John Borowski) H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer.

The book is a collection of four primary sources, some published for the first time since 1895. The titles include Holmes' Own Story, the autobiography Holmes wrote while awaiting trial in Moyamensing Prison. The same one in which he claimed to tell the real story about his life and supposed crimes (ahem-bullshit-ahem). It, along with his prison diary, was originally printed in 1895 and until this book was released the only way to see it was to visit the Library of Congress (where one of the few known copies is housed) and transcribe all 200 something pages yourself. (I cannot imagine doing that. It took me all day just to photograph the book).

The Holmes-Pitezel Case was also printed in 1895. It was written by Detective Frank Geyer (his attempt to cash in for his role in the unfolding events) and details his search for the missing Pitezel children. Also included is some word for word dialogue from the trial which is helpful since the actual transcript has never surfaced.

The Holmes Castle is a lesser known book from 1895, authored by Robert Corbitt. It gives some descriptions of the Murder Castle and talks about the lives of Holmes and a few of the known victims (though not always accurately since there were still many conflicting stories about who died where, when, and how).

Finally, the book includes The Confession of H. H. Holmes. Though there are a few confessions, this is the main one, published shortly before Holmes' execution, in which he "confesses" to murdering 27 people and attempting to kill 6 more. I say "confesses" because no one really knows how much truth can be given to statements that were born in Holmes' twisted mind. My guess is that he blended fiction and (some) fact to make his notoriety something history would remember.

Since these writings can be difficult to find, I would recommend purchasing this book (which is readily available on any book selling website). Even if you are not as obsessed with H. H. Holmes as I am, you will still find the information fascinating. After all, the words on the page (even if they aren't always truthful) came from the hands of the real people who experienced the stories we now learn about. You can't get any closer to history than that.

It's also humorous to watch Holmes try and explain away his guilt with fanciful tales of his innocence and good will toward others. (Nice try, Holmes. But no one believes that bullshit about how Benjamin Pitezel committed suicide. You still lose).

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

A Message from the Mistress

Hi everyone.

I know it has been some time since something new has been posted. These past few weeks have been very busy and filled with various time consuming tasks, including an end of summer trek to Washington DC.

This week I began my third year of college and have been working on completing assignments, getting comfortable back on campus, and memorizing my constantly changing schedule (I had to switch around a few classes this semester).

Anyway, since I refuse to write, post, and have you read half formed thoughts, this message is here to tell you that the World's Fair Hotel will be closing for the next few weeks so the owner can focus on school work and finding an internship. I am NOT closing the blog forever. This is merely a short hiatus. In fact, I have some great posts planned (including one that concerns a fun little find from the Library of Congress) so make sure you stay tuned.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate 

H. H. Holmes: Fan Maker

The other day I was out searching for a new bedroom fan since my old one began making this squeak noise that was impossible to sleep through. I finally found this one.

 

H. H. Holmes: Doctor, architect, businessman, multi-murderer, fan maker. I like it. (Imagine how that would look on a business card).

I'm happy to say that the fan works well. Which is good considering I purchased it mainly because Holmes is written on the front and it matches some of the décor. (I have a sign that says World's Fair Hotel and a hat that says Murder Castle as well).

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Tomb Raider: Dr. H. H. Holmes vs. President Abraham Lincoln

This is the first time I'm doing a cross blog post and intertwining my Murder Castle blog with my Civil War blog. The Holmes related information is here. To find the Lincoln related information, click here: Lincoln's Tomb.

I figured that instead of just writing facts about the graves of both men, I would be a little more creative and compare and contrast the tombs to see which would be harder to break into (there are pluses and minuses to each). Which do you think will prevail? Will it be the tomb of the World's Fair Serial Killer, Dr. H. H. Holmes? Or will it be the tomb of 16th President Abraham Lincoln?

DISCLAIMER:

 

THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL (AND CREATIVE) POST DETAILING HOW THESE TWO MEN WERE BURIED. THIS DOES NOT PROMOTE GRAVE ROBBING OR BODY SNATCHING. LET THE DEAD REST IN PEACE! IF YOU DO NOT, YOUR DUMB ASS WILL BE ARRESTED AND I WILL NOT TAKE BLAME FOR YOUR STUPIDITY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Now that all the bases are covered, here are the statistics concerning the burial of Dr. Holmes:

Good: There is a picture of his final resting place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Bad: As the image shows, he is in an unmarked grave beneath a rather large plot (actually two plots combined) and the exact location of Holmes' tomb is unknown. We know he's somewhere under the dirt but that's about it.

Good: The man was a killer. No way around that fact. So there is little chance an armed guard is watching over his grave.

Bad: Because it is a cemetery, patrolling guards still could be present in the area. Some sides of the cemetery also back up to houses so there is the chance of someone seeing or hearing you moving about inside.

Good: Obviously no monument or memorial sits over his grave.

Bad: He is still buried ten feet down. (Remember that movie Holes? They only had to dig five feet). Some serious digging would be required in this situation.

Good: To get to him, just a shovel would be needed.

Bad: Should you actually get there, giant, heavy, and loud machinery will be needed to lift him from the grave since he is encased in a giant slab of cement. (Holmes' coffin was filled with ten inches of cement before he was placed inside. Once he was, his face covered with a handkerchief, the cement was poured over him and packed to the brim. The coffin was then sealed and taken to the cemetery. The next day, the double, ten foot grave was dug and the coffin was placed inside. It was covered with two feet of sand and cement. Finally, the dirt was shoveled back into place). It also took 24 men to move the coffin/cement slab to the grave in 1896. Unless you are actually Superman is disguise, I don't believe you will be able to move it with your own hands.

Good: You wouldn't have to blow up the cement block in the cemetery itself. Instead, you could attempt to move it up and out in one piece.

Bad: The graves are very close to each other and, according to Google Maps, Holmes is located in the center of the cemetery. Good luck getting a crane or a backhoe to and from the grave without damaging the other stones or attracting attention.

Looking at the facts, it would be a bit (a really small bit) easier to find Holmes' tomb than Lincoln's. However, you would most likely get arrested while attempting to drive a machine through the front gates. Let's face it. Both cases end with you getting hauled off to jail. But at least you can touch the ground in Holy Cross Cemetery before being overtaken by police. I doubt you would even get inside Oak Ridge Cemetery, let alone near Lincoln's tomb.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

The Scarlet Mansion

The Scarlet Mansion is a book about the life and crimes of H. H. Holmes, beginning with his childhood in Gilmanton and ending with his execution in Philadelphia. It was written by Allan Eckert and published in 1985. After reading some reviews on Amazon and then procuring it from the library today, I decided it would make for a good first book review.

So far all I have read is the dust jacket. However, what stuck out to me there is that the tale is described as being "dramatic" but "lightly fictionalized." That is not necessarily a bad thing.

No one followed Holmes around every second of his 34 years and recorded what he did. With that being said, it is impossible to give a 100 percent accurate day by day account of Holmes' life. A light dusting of fiction sometimes means the author went above and beyond to get as close to the truth as possible and not embellish or insert his or her own opinion on what someone thought or did. However, it can also mean that the author considers "lightly fictionalized" merely getting names correct. Also, thankfully, nowhere have I noticed the two words historians dread.

BASED ON

Even though I hate seeing it happen, some authors choose to take the easy way out and put the words "based on" in the subtitle. Why? Because it means that the respective audience knows that just because something occurs in the story doesn't necessarily mean it occurred in real life. Therefore, the piece is not meant to be a learning experience. This also gives authors free reign to do no research and throw all historical accuracies out the window so they can write their own version of events with made up characters, incorrect dates, or, in the case of one example, ignore every first person account (including those written by Holmes), kill off characters at random, decrease the number of Pitezel children, and transform the skinny skirts of 1893 Chicago to the light up hoop skirts of a really bad Civil War reenactment. But I digress.

The reviews (13 in all) on Amazon, where the book currently holds four stars, go back and forth. One person gave it only one star and stated that the book was too long, filled with unnecessary information, and a work of pure fiction. Others gave it five stars for it's realistic feel and phenomenal writing.

I guess it's my turn to be the judge. Stay tuned.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Independence Day in the White City

On July 4, 1893, the dark storm clouds that threatened to cancel the World's Columbian Exposition's grand fireworks show parted to reveal a beautiful night. Chinese lanterns hung throughout Jackson Park while red lights illuminated from the Ferris Wheel. Out on the lake, hundreds anchored their well lit boats and waited for the first rocket. Thousands crowded the fair and every Columbian Guard (the fair's police force) was on hand should problems arise.

Among the throng was H. H. Holmes and his guests, Minnie and Anna Williams. The trio stood with hundreds of others on the roof of the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building. This "roof" actually doubled as a large observation tower that visitors could access via elevator. It spanned the length on the gigantic building and was one of the best vantage points for taking in the sights of the fair (and the Fourth of July fireworks display).

 

Minnie, Holmes, and Anna

The band struck up "Home Sweet Home," the buildings became outlined in gold, searchlights on the Liberal Arts Building came alive, and colorful jets of water poured from MacMonnies Fountain. Soon fireworks from all directions exploded in the night sky and ended with a giant light up picture of George Washington that flared from Festival Hall. Some said being on the roof of the Liberal Arts building was as close to heaven as they would ever get. But heaven was much closer that year.

Holmes, Minnie, and Anna waited hours for a train back home. That night, as they talked together in the flat Holmes had rented (located at 1200 Wrightwood Ave) to get Minnie out of his hotel, Holmes told the two women that the next day they were going to leave on a trip to Europe. Giddy with excitement, Anna wrote a letter home telling her relatives that they "need never trouble any more about me." It was the perfect ending to the day.

The next morning, Holmes took Anna on a tour of the Castle. Most, if not all, of the guests were out at the fair. He returned to the flat alone. When Minnie asked where her sister was, Holmes said she was waiting for them back at the hotel. Giving her his arm, they departed. Neither Minnie nor Anna Williams were ever seen again.

Anna's clothing trunk arrived in Chicago but no one could find the owner.

The Oker family who rented Holmes the flat were surprised when Holmes sent a letter surrendering it. They had never seen anyone leave and had heard nothing about a departure. Books with torn out fly leaves (what people would sometimes write their names on) and several other odd items were found left behind in the room.

An Englewood resident named Cephas Humphrey who made his living transporting large objects (furniture, crates, trunks) was hired by Holmes to carry away a box and trunk. Later, he recalled Holmes' strange instructions to "come after the stuff about dark as I do not care to have the neighbors see it." Both items were heavy and when Humphrey leaned the coffin like box on it's side, Holmes ordered, "Don't do that. Lay it down flat." The box went on a train to an undisclosed destination. The trunk may have been given to Charles Chappell, the same man who had stripped and mounted the bones of Julia Conner.

A few days later, Holmes gave Benjamin Pitezel's wife, Carrie, some dresses, shoes, and hats that belonged to Minnie (who he said was a cousin that had moved east). He suggested Carrie use the fabric to make clothing. Pat Quinlan, janitor of the Castle, was given trunks. Carved into both were the initials MRW.

Minnie and Anna Williams became the fourth and fifth victims of H. H. Holmes.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Hotel Holmes

Post number 13 (which I consider good luck) finds me doing the blog's first (unofficial) review. I use the term unofficial because I am reviewing a video game (yes, a video game) that I have never tried, just seen.

Titled Hotel Holmes, the game was created by second year students at Teesside University (which is located in the United Kingdom in case you were wondering). The number of creators totaled 20 (10 artists and 10 designers) and this team (together known as the JourneyMan Project) had a mere 4 months to make a 3 level game.

I saw a good portion of Hotel Holmes on YouTube and have to give the genius creators some big merits. What these 20 people created in four months rivals what I have seen hundreds take years to create. They even did extensive research on the World's Fair Hotel, studying blueprints and records, so the virtual version would be as close to accurate as possible. And the fastest way to win points with me is to be concerned with the historical accuracy. (Every JourneyMan Project member gets ONE MILLION AWESOME POINTS). Aside from that though, Hotel Holmes was chosen as the best JourneyMan game of the year and was awarded with footage being presented at the University of Teesside booth at Eurogamer 2013.

This does not look like a basic school assignment. This looks like a real game that can be marketed and sold. As of now, there are no plans for this to happen. Believe me, I emailed one of the creators to check. But if the game ever did get released to the public, I would be first in line to purchase one. Yes, I would fly all the way to the UK to get the first game (and then blog about it). But onward to the good stuff.

Hotel Holmes consists of three levels that take place in various locations around the Castle (the basement, the attic, and the hotel). That might be the actual level order but don't quote me on it. The main (and only playable character) is a Priest (I cannot remember his name at the moment) who has been trapped in the hotel by Holmes. To escape, he must explore to building, completing puzzles and rescuing victims, all while evading the clutches of Holmes.

It's an interesting premise that in turn makes for an interesting game. But don't just take my word for it. Check out the action for yourself right here:

 

 

 

If the game was expanded, I think it would be awesome to play as Holmes or Benjamin Pitezel. You could even meet real life characters like Frank Geyer or Ned Conner in the game.

 

Personally, I would want to be Minnie Williams and subdue Holmes so I could take over the Castle myself. Maybe even open it as a real hotel and amass a nice fortune for myself. Female power!  

 

Until next time.

 

XOXO, Kate

 

And a shout out to Jonathan Cliff, the kind creator who answered my email. You can check out his website here:

 

http://jonathan-cliff.co.uk/