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PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE?
When I was a small child, we lived in an old farm house, which I believe was haunted. I remember having a long conversation with a young spirit one night. Afterward, the people I told about that encounter insisted I had simply experienced an extremely vivid dream. Perhaps. But I don’t remember any other dreams from my childhood… just that one. Now that I am older, I am not so easily persuaded to accept simplistic explanations for what may be paranormal experiences, including an unusual incident at Heritage Village recently.
The House of the Seven Gables
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Heritage Village is a ‘living history museum’ in Largo, Florida. I volunteer there as a docent (tour guide) in the ‘House of the Seven Gables’. This Queen Anne Victorian home was built in 1907, overlooking the Harbor near downtown Clearwater. It was moved to Heritage Village in the mid 1970s, where it was restored to its original glory and outfitted with authentic furnishings and décor from the late 1800s/early 1900s. Whenever I’m alone in the house, I can ‘feel’ spirits around me. It’s nothing scary or threatening; just a presence. I always greet them when I arrive, as it seems like the polite thing to do. Sometimes I make comments to them between tours, and I always wish them a good evening when I lock up the house at the end of my shift.
Docents dress in period-authentic clothing and when on duty, try to keep personal items that are inconsistent with the 1900s timeframe, out of sight. I use a wicker basket for this purpose, which I stow underneath a side chair in the dining room. The only thing I don’t hide is a bottle of water, which I set on the floor next to the basket, within easy reach.
Tours are conducted every half hour. I unlock the door and let visitors into the small entryway/dining room, relocking the door before beginning the tour (prevents theft.) The dining room, like all the furnished rooms included in the tour, is roped off and only the docent is permitted behind the ropes. After telling guests about the home’s history and pointing out a few items of interest in the dining room, I usher them ahead of me into the kitchen, followed by the breezeway, side parlor and upstairs bedrooms, before concluding the tour in the front parlor, on the opposite side of the house. I unlock the door by the front parlor, see the visitors out and relock the door behind them.
It’s a challenge to complete each tour within the allotted half hour, especially when you like to talk as much as I do! I usually race back through the house, grab a quick drink of water and then unlock the dining room door to begin the next tour.
That’s my routine.
A few weeks ago, after greeting the spirits and stowing my basket, I mentioned I saw a tour bus in the parking lot, so I was anticipating a busy day. I took a swig of water and then placed the bottle beside my basket on the floor. I unlocked the door and let the first group of tourists in, relocking it behind them. There was nothing different about the tour. After I bade the group goodbye and locked the parlor door behind them, I hurried to get a drink of water before starting the next tour. But when I reached my basket, I froze.
My Basket & Bottle (recreation)
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My water bottle had been turned upside down, and was neatly balanced on its white cap. I’m positive no one in the tour group went near that bottle and no one else was in the house. Stunned, the only thing I could think to say was, “Wow… that’s cool. Thank you for showing me you’re here.” I picked up the bottle, took a drink, and carefully put it back down next to my basket, paying a bit more attention to exactly how I left it.
At the end of the next tour, I raced back to my basket and found my water bottle lying on its side. I said, “Okay, I think you’re just having fun with me now!” I took another drink and again, stood the bottle next to my basket. The water bottle didn’t move the rest of the day, so when my shift ended, I turned out the lights and wished the spirits a pleasant evening.
I am sure of this: I wasn’t dreaming. It wasn’t an uneven floor, it wasn’t a wobbly bottle, and it wasn’t another person playing tricks on me… at least, not a living person. I’m convinced spirits occupy The House of the Seven Gables, either attached to the home itself or to some of its antique objects/furnishings. If you visit Heritage Village and have similar experiences, please let me know!
QUASHING RUMORS
I recently heard a rumor that the owners of the Belleview Biltmore Resort lost their funding for the renovation. I also heard a rumor that the Church of Scientology was entering into secret negotiations with the owners to purchase the Resort. I can find no basis to substantiate either of these rumors, so am hoping to quash them.
Let's Quash Negative Rumors!
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It is true that loans are hard to come by right now and supporters of the Belleview Biltmore are justified to be concerned for her future. However, these tough economic times and the delay in the renovation project aren’t connected… at least not right now. The current owners, the Latitude Management Real Estate Investors Group (LMREIG) has consistently stated they will not apply for funding until all of the legal battles surrounding the resort have been settled. That hasn’t happened yet.
Most who are following the remaining law suit… an appeal of a previous judicial decision involving the portion of the resort located on Sand Key Beach – expected the case to be resolved by the end of the year. We anticipated LMREIG would file an application for a loan to finance the renovation shortly thereafter. Because this legal issue is still unresolved, unsubstantiated rumors are gaining momentum. I have heard rumors that run the gamut from ‘court officials have been bribed’, to ‘staff reductions in the court system have resulted in monumental docket backlogs’ to ‘Scientologists want to make the resort into a church’ and so on.
It’s natural for those of us who love the Belleview Biltmore, and long to walk her beautiful halls again in the not-too-distant future, to be concerned about her. But we must try to quash false, negative rumors. Instead, we should remain optimistic and do our best to make sure everyone knows we have not forgotten The White Queen of the Gulf and will continue to fight for her. Please go to www.SaveTheBiltmore.com regularly to participate in promotional events and discover additional ways that you can show your support for this historic beauty.
NO SHRIMP BISQUE?!
Even though the hotel is closed, the Belleview Biltmore Resort Golf Course, located on Indian Rocks Road, remains open for play, and its clubhouse still serves lunch. Originally, the resort owners planned to serve a scaled-back Sunday Brunch at that location throughout the renovation. This was happy news to me, as I could still get my fix of the Resort’s famous Shrimp Bisque (just like Lobster Bisque, but made with shrimp.) However, due to a lack of advertising (and probably because the golf course dining room lacks the ambience of the Belleview Biltmore hotel), brunch attendance was lacking. The Resort owners decided to suspend the brunch indefinitely.
My mother and I recently ate lunch there anyway. Alas, there is no Shrimp Bisque on the menu; just typical golf restaurant fare (hot dogs, hamburgers, etc.) Our meal was quite good and the prices reasonable, but sigh… I hate the thought of going without that bisque for four more years! I wonder where I can find their recipe?
FILLING THE VOID - GASPARILLA
The historic origins of the annual Gasparilla festival can help fill the void for those of us missing our Belleview Biltmore connection to the past. This annual event, held on the last Saturday of January, has been a tradition in the Tampa Bay area since 1904. The festival is named for Jose Gaspar, a real-life pirate who plundered the western shores of Florida from 1783-1821.
The Pirate Invasion
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Historical information about the character of Jose Gaspar varies quite a bit. Some accounts paint him as an impish and mischievous, but loyal rogue. Others say he was a greedy, ruthless murderer. What is certain is that he gave up his aristocratic birthright and a commission in the Royal Spanish Navy to become a pirate, at which time; he began to go by the name ‘Gasparilla’. Like all good pirates, Gasparilla supposedly buried his immense treasure in a secret location. Sadly, he took that secret with him to his watery grave, so the treasure was never found.
In 1904, Tampa officials decided to adopt Jose Gaspar as its pirate mascot, and hosted a mock pirate invasion to entertain Tampa’s local population and tourists. The invasion was such a success that it immediately became one of the highlights of the annual social calendar. Tourists and residents alike would line the shores in front of Henry Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel to enjoy the spectacle of the invasion, followed by a city-wide street carnival. With only ten exceptions, Gasparilla has been celebrated every year since that time.
Pirate Parade-Throwing Beads
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In the mid 1950s, Jose Gaspar and ‘Ye Mystic Krewe’ of pirates began to sail into Tampa Bay aboard an authentic pirate ship; water-cannons blasting. Over the decades, the invasion grew to include boats of all sizes, using water cannons, squirt guns and other wet weapons throughout the invasion. Some boaters attempt to defend Tampa, while others take the pirate’s side in this giant water fight.
And Catching Beads!
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Every year Tampa falls to the pirates. They steal the key to the City and take the Mayor prisoner. Many other pirate crews join Gasparilla and together, they parade with Ye Mystic Krewe down Bayshore Boulevard, throwing booty (beads and toys) to the throngs of people lining the street. Beads of all colors, shapes and sizes flood the streets. Eager children and adults alike, barter for ‘special’ beads; evaluating them based color, length, bead size, and special décor. By the time the parade is over, some people are wearing so many beads around their necks; one wonders why they don’t topple over!
At the end of the day, the pirates are driven out of Tampa Bay and the key to the city is returned to the Mayor. With the pirates gone, the city returns to normal. Well, at least until next year!
FEEDING THE BIRDS
The Birds Miss the Terrace Restaurant!
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Home to an amazing variety of birds, Belleair is a registered bird sanctuary. Local birds often enjoyed free meals from guests at the Resort, who were dining in the outdoor section of the Terrace Restaurant. Despite signs that read; “Don’t feed the birds!” many hotel visitors were entertained by local birds that would come in and help themselves to food left on plates whenever busy restaurant staff didn’t bus the tables quickly enough.
Sparrows and finches feasted on bread crumbs, Monk Parakeets and Black Hooded Conures flew in for nuts and berries, while the big birds - the Ravens, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Herons and Wood Storks - held out for meat (especially fish, chicken and shrimp.) A few of the glorious big birds showed up at the Terrace Restaurant with such regularity that they earned nicknames like the great white egrets, ‘Hungry Bill’ and ‘Starvin’ Marvin’.
So what has happened to these lovable scavengers now that the hotel is closed? One thing is certain. The birds miss the Belleview Biltmore, too! Most of them returned to hunting the old fashioned way…searching for food in and around local outfalls, ponds on the golf course, the gulf shore, and occasionally, in back yard koi ponds (like mine!) Unfortunately, this winter has been extremely harsh. The water in the Gulf of Mexico is so cold that countless small fish (the primary staple in the diet of the big birds) have died, as have thousands of small lizards. As a result, many of our beautiful birds are starving.
Egrets fighting over chicken hot dogs in the yard.
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Like many area residents who want to make sure birds continue to thrive in Belleair, my husband and I fill several bird feeders in our yard to help care for the smaller birds, and we supplement the diets of the big birds with chicken hot dogs. Fortunately, there is also a wonderful volunteer organization nearby, called the Seabird Sanctuary, which has been caring for hundreds of birds until the fish population is restored. For more information about this worthwhile organization, or to see how you can help, visit their website at www.SeabirdSanctuary.com.
Baby Wood Stork waiting for food.
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Turtle Suffering from Cold Stun
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By the way, sea turtles are also affected by this unusually cold water, many suffering what is called "cold stun" If you would like to see how you can help them, go to: www.SeeWinter.com
SPIRITS OF THE BELLEVIEW BOOK UPDATE
Like the beginning of the hotel’s renovation, my efforts to publish my “Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore” novels stalled last year. I took some editing advice to heart and have been busy reshaping the first novel in the series, “Pearls”. I’m grateful for the sound advice I received, and believe my book, which was good before, is better now.
Fortunately, I’m back on track now and believe my efforts to sign with an agent (a huge step in the publishing process) will be successful this year.
While I remain focused on publishing my novels, I can’t help but muse… wouldn’t it be fun if the novels took off and someone decided to make them into movies that could be filmed on location at the Resort? That might just be the financial boost necessary to ensure the Resort’s future.
Please keep your fingers crossed for me, as I try to make these dreams come true for both myself and the Resort we all love so dearly!
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