The hotel was built by Henry Lambert and his family in 1872 after Henry’s job as President Lincoln’s White House Chef abruptly ended with the president’s assassination. Henry went west to search for gold, but was waylaid by a wealthy Land Baron in New Mexico. He worked as a private chef to the baron for a few years while he built his own restaurant and saloon. His watering hole was so popular that he added 30 rooms to it and the Lambert Inn was born. The family was proud of the establishment, and by 1880, was considered one of the most gracious hotels west of the Mississippi.

The hotel was so popular that anyone who was taking the Santa Fe Trail spent time here. Take a look at the registry book and you will see the names of everyone who was anyone in the old west. Jesse James, using the alias RH Howard, always stayed in room 14. Wyatt Earp and his family stayed there for three days while traveling to Tombstone. Lew Wallace wrote part of the novel BEN HUR there and popular western novelist Zane Grey wrote all of FIGHTING CARAVANS in the hotel. Buffalo Bill not only met Annie Oakley here, but when they left to start their Wild West Show, they took an entire Native American village from the Cimarron area with them. Billy The Kid, Kit Carson, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday and ironically, the man who would later shoot and kill Jesse James, Robert Ford, all drank, slept, and were entertained at the St. James.

With so many different characters converging at a time when law enforcement was defined by who had the quicker draw, it is no wonder that in the hotel’s history there have been at least 26 deaths in the saloon, 43 rooms, and restaurant. In 1901, the 400 bullet holes in the roof were repaired. If you look up at the beautiful tin ceiling of the dining room, you can still see 22 bullet holes preserved by the hotel’s current proprietors. Henry had the forethought to build a 3 foot layer of wood between the first and second floors, preventing anyone upstairs getting accidentally shot. With so much death and anger, it is not surprising that there are, at last psychic count, three ghosts inhabiting the hotel. The ghosts’ personalities range from kind and caring to angry and destructive. This does not include the spirits of past patrons that still come to visit the hotel.

The most violent and prevalent ghost is that of a T. J. Wright who haunts room 18, where he was shot to death. It seems that Wright had just won the hotel in a poker game, but was never able to collect his winnings because as he was walking down the hall towards his room, he was shot in the back. Wright stumbled into his room, room 18, and slowly bled to death. The room is the epicenter of some physically violent episodes. Some of the natives of Cimarron say that there have been mysterious deaths linked with those that have entered the room, but that is just rumors. Whether rumor, truth, or a little bit of both, the room is closed off to everyone today.

For some firsthand experience, stay in room 17, the Mary Lambert room of the hotel. Mary was Henry’s wife and took over the hotel’s keeping after her husband’s death in 1913. It seems she has yet to stop, though she herself died in the hotel in December of 1926. She seems to be the protector of the hotel, watching out for it and everyone who stays. The signs that you have met Mary include a cloying floral scent in and outside of her room; tapping on the window of her room if it is left open, only to stop when someone closes it; and some have even witnessed a transparent figure walking the halls.

A spirit that haunts the entire hotel is a very short old man called “little imp”. He likes to play tricks of the employees by taking things and putting them in places where they absolutely do not belong. One story claims that he once stuck a knife in the floor between the two owners of the hotel. His presence seems to be that of the mischievous sort, laughing at those who are surprised or frustrated by his actions.

There are also many occurrences at the hotel that are the product of the many spirits that are just passing through. There are cold spots, the scent of cigar smoke permeates the second floor in the no smoking building, items falling, electronics behave strangely or stop working completely, feelings of being watched, lights turn on by themselves, and the eeriest of all, some have seen the apparitions of cowboys sitting in the saloon or playing cards upstairs.

Today, the hotel is and elegant reminder of the Wild West heyday, there are no phones, radios, or televisions in the original section of the hotel. The current owners annexed the original building with a modern set of rooms with every convenience, but that has not prevented it from some strange happenings. Those who stay in the newest part of the hotel have complained about doors opening and closing by themselves as well as hearing disembodied voices. Visiting the St. James Hotel, you will find crystal chandeliers, brocade wallpaper and velvet draperies if you stay the night, perhaps even a haunt or two.

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Many of the stories told about this specific Boys and Girls Club seem to center around the bathrooms. The ghost in the area tends to be a prankster, tapping on your shoulder when your friend is in the stall. Paper towel rolls have been tossed around when no one else is in the restroom. Dark specters have been seen crossing the bathroom, slamming doors on their rapid trip to nowhere. Others have heard disembodied voices and the shower turns off and on by itself.

There has been enough activity throughout the building that some people recommend that visitors try their hand at EVP recording. EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomenon Recordings were caught accidentally by two girls messing around with a tape recorder. When playing the tape back, the ladies distinctly heard a male voice say, “I love you.” Twice. Perhaps this ghost had an issue saying those three little words in real life and now has to practice for eternity…

What is the background story of this place? No one knows. There is no legend commonly known about the Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club to explain a man’s gruff voice proclaiming love or any plausible reason a mischievous spirit would hang out in the restrooms and showers. No murders, no traumas—just lots of the standard teen angst and energy. Often that seems like enough of an attractive force to cause things to manifest.

If one is to believe the sightings of a floating candle in the building, then logic says that the haunting would precede the building’s modern construction, but what does logic have to do with the ghostly realm?

With the success of EVPs in the building, someone could always ask…

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In 1918, the Sisters of St. Francis established the orphanage and boys’ school and cared for children without homes until 1971, when the Department of Labor claimed it. There are city records that describe an occurrence of one of the nuns, a Sister “M” who went insane and seemingly randomly murdered a number of the boys. When the school was installing a swimming pool in the location of an unused well, they found the children’s bodies in the well shaft. It is said that you can still hear the cries of dying children.

Since the Job Corps has taken over the old orphanage, many of the stories have been kept hushed up. One has to wonder exactly what does the Job Corps know about the haunting of its buildings? In the Job Corps handbook, it specifically prohibits the use of Ouija boards on campus. Though the school tries to keep any hauntings “mum,” tales of strange noises and sightings have leaked out. One of the most prevalent is seeing a nun carrying a baby outside of the cafeteria. Could she be the murderous nun with a young victim? Or a caring nun who is trying to watch out for the kids even to this day?

A bench in front of the old Independent Dorm is also the location of some strange activity. If you take a seat there at night, you just might hear the laughter, cries, and noises of children playing, as well as adults scolding them. It is as if the area in front of you is a playground for ghosts.

Looking up to the top of what used to be the Chapel when the tract of land contained an orphanage, some have seen what seems to be a lantern floating about. The building at the front gate may also have some haunting activity, but the security staff are not admitting nor denying it, as they have been told not to encourage any “ghost talk.”

A student who attended in the 1980’s remembers the dorms having lots of activity. There were sounds of laughter, crying, and the click-clack of hard-soled shoes walking down the halls when there was no one there to create such a distinctive noise. Past students have also alluded to people seeing things in the silvered mirrors of the older rooms.

One of the more eerie incidences reported is that, on occasion, all clocks in the haunted Jobs Corps Center, including wristwatches, stop at the same time.

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The legend says that the wealthy Maes or Maese family came to Mesilla during the Mexican-American War from Santa Fe. The Senora, Carlota, of the household had great plans for the family. Easily the richest family in the area, she wanted to use her eldest son, Armando, as a pawn to increase the family’s name, wealth and connections. She had already promised his hand to an aristocratic family in Mexico City. Armando, however, did not have the same lust for power as his mother. In fact, he was the type who let his heart lead him, and it did, straight into the servant Inez’s arms. It is written that Inez was a beautiful girl, with long dark hair that reached to her waist. They tried to keep their love a secret, but were not very good at hiding it. Soon, the servants were aware of the budding romance. Knowing the Senora’s lofty plans for her son and feeling no real love for her snobbish attitude, they worked at keeping it a secret. As the story of the lovers leaked out into the town, the other inhabitants of Mesilla also worked at protecting the young lovers and keeping the tryst from the Senora’s eyes.

The Senora finally noticed that the relationship between her son and servant was more than it should be, and there was an argument between them that ended with Inez being kicked out of the house. Soon after, the Senora returned early from a trip. Noticing the way the servants were flustered and unclear about Armando’s presence, she went to his room to find him. It was there she caught the two in an illicit embrace. She stumbled backward from shock and anger, knocking over her sewing basket that had been sitting on the patio. She lifted the shears and headed for Inez and Armando, who were getting dressed.

And here is where the most common versions of the lovers’ plight diverge…

Some say Senora Carlota stabbed Inez in the chest, and when Armando flew between them to defend his love, the Senora stabbed him in the back. Inez died in Armando’s arms. Armando collapsed, smiling. He died three days later, never having regained consciousness.

But another version of the stabbing tells it differently…

As Carlota’s scissors slashed down on the frightened Inez, Armando got in her way and took a fatal wound. Inez ran away, not being seen for more than a year. Then one evening Inez returned to Mesilla, disguised. Perhaps she was careless, perhaps she seemed suspicious, but she was recognized by a cowboy who’d been drinking his pay away. A confrontation occurred and the cowboy drew his gun. No one can be sure if he intended to shoot the prodigal Inez, but she suffered a gunshot. Locals (supposedly unable to see past her disguise) took her to the Maese house and laid her in Carlota’s bed. It was there that some say Inez finally died.

The Senora became bitter and supposedly never said another word after the tragic loss of her young son, Armando.

The house itself was either a private residence or intermittently abandoned until 1972. Since opening to the public, many have described strange happenings. The ghosts seem to haunt the Carlotta Salon, which was once Armando’s room. They seem to be pranksters; moving furniture, breaking glasses, whispering names, and even the faint perfume of lavender has been reported. Full-bodied entities have been seen wandering the home by employees. Two newly upholstered chairs in the Salon mysteriously show signs of wear in the cut velvet.

The Double Eagle has been investigated by the Southwest Ghost Hunters Association. They documented some high electromagnetic readings in areas that have no wiring to cause such readings. Others who have done investigations have seen a French baccarat chandelier measuring seven feet by three feet, containing more than 1000 hand-cut glass crystals, weighing over a hundred pounds, and spinning. There is also a painting in the hallway that seems to have a “ghost” in its image. It seems that the house may have its own history, the antiques that fill the building have brought their own “memories” as well.

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All deaths of children are tragic, but the torture of the ghostly child who still haunts the High School is the stuff of parental nightmares. Many years ago, during a school dance, a young female student named Ana was supposedly forced into the building’s basement by two males, where she was raped and murdered. Another story says that Ana committed suicide in a second floor classroom. Whichever horrible end Ana came to, she is seen now as a white apparition. Ana walks through the school’s halls from one end of the building to the other, walking straight through walls. Students and staff have claimed to either see her or hear her, and some have even witnessed her trek as they were standing outside of the school building, looking in.

A student saw her recently while waiting for the after school buses to leave. She and a friend were looking up at the very last classroom on the north side of the second story when they saw a girl in white looking out the window. Behind her the building was dark, but the girl seemed to be luminescent. Ana seems to concentrate her wanderings to this location of the building.

One employee who used to work in the library claimed that there is a yearbook where you can actually see Ana’s apparition. It seems the boy’s basketball team had an extra member in their team photo. Standing at the steps of the Old English building behind the team is Ana.

Another haunting is that of an Hispanic janitor who was accidentally locked in the basement under the boy’s gym next to the Old English building over winter break supposedly sometime in the late 1970’s or early 80’s. In late December, stand by the railing next to the concession stand. You will hear him pounding on the metal door and calling out “Ayuda me!” forever pleading for help. The janitor is said to be joined by a boy ghost who also died needlessly in the basement. He broke in on a dare, got lost, and did not make it out alive.

The girls’ gym is said to have a spirit that turns the showers off and on as well as the lights.

Many students say not to ask the teachers about those who haunt the hallways of Gadsden high School, but go to the custodians. It seems they are not nearly as sketchy about what they have seen roaming the halls, bathrooms, and basements of this tragic school.

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Mesilla still has the thick adobe walled buildings that kept out both heat and dust. This was where Billy the Kid was caught, jailed, and allowed to escape. This is also the home of San Albino’s cemetery, home of the Witch’s Grave.

At the end of Calle De Lupe is the dirt packed ground that composes the cemetery. Tumbleweeds skitter across the graves, but your eyes will be drawn from the beautiful sculptures that serve as tombstones to a 4’x4’ cinderblock and cement tomb decorated with a 2‘ black cross that someone has carved with the number “666.” This, legend says, is the Witch’s tomb. It is the only headstone in the cemetery that has no name inscribed on it. There is no record of who she is or what she had done to get such a fortified grave, but it has been said that when she was buried there, her ghost kept trying to get out from its supposed final resting place. She has spent decades trying to find a crack that will set her free, and those who live near the cemetery have spent just as many years repairing the cracks that do appear.

Local lore claims a girl once slept on the tomb in response to a dare. She walked away alive, but was afterwards afflicted with incurable epilepsy. Further caution to those who feel the need to visit– in case escaping witches and mysterious illnesses aren’t enough, the fine folk who live near the cemetery do not appreciate late night visitors, and strongly discourage entering the cemetery after dark.

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