Most Haunted Places in America: Forepaugh’s Restaurant

Forepaugh’s Restaurant is an old Victorian establishment serving fine, French cuisine in St. Paul, Minnesota. When you enter the elegant eatery, the intense aromas, historic scenery and luxurious ambience are all but overwhelming, so much so that you might never even realize that Forepaugh’s Restaurant is haunted by at least two past residents.

Built in the mid-1800’s by Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh, a man who struck it rich in the dry-goods industry, Forepaugh’s Restaurant was first a glorious Victorian style mansion. It featured three stories, a basement and beautifully landscaped gardens. Joseph and his family were very happy here for a number of years.

That happiness crumbled when Forepaugh’s wife, Mary, caught him in bed with Molly, the maid. Devastated, Mrs. Forepaugh demanded that Joseph end the adulterous relationship, and so he did.

Molly was not so accepting of her lover’s decision. Discovering that she was pregnant with his child, she tied a rope to the chandelier in one of the third floor rooms. Wrapping the other end of the rope snuggly around her neck, Molly flung herself from the window.

In 1866, about one year after Molly’s tragic suicide, Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh decided to sell his Victorian mansion and move to Europe in an attempt to escape the haunting memory of his former lover. General John Henry Hammond, a Civil War veteran, purchased the home.

In 1889, the Forepaugh’s returned to St. Paul Minnesota where Joseph built yet another stunning Victorian mansion. This home was located just up the street from their previous residence (302 Summit Avenue) and actually offered an excellent overlooking view onto the old property, along with the rest of the city.

Three years later, Joseph was not acting like himself. He told Mary he was just worried about his business, but the fact was, business was doing just fine. Mr. Forepaugh was still grieving the death of Molly (and likely his unborn child) nearly thirty years after the fact. Unable to extinguish his despair, his extinguished his own life instead. Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh shot himself in the park outside their home.

Over the ensuing years, the home changed hands numerous times. The current owners purchased the impressive property in 1983, spent countless dollars on restorations and renovations to open it as Forepaugh’s Restaurant, serving first-rate French cuisine to locals and tourists of St. Paul.

The paranormal activity that emanates from Forepaugh’s Restaurant seems to revolve around Joseph Lybrandt Forepaugh himself, and his former maid/lover, Molly. Their apparitions have both been seen on countless occasions within Forepaugh’s Restaurant.

Joseph appears to be greatly delighted by the restorations of his old home’s new owners. His ghost is often cited as walking through the dining room area in 1890’s aristocratic attire, visibly pleased with his surroundings. In fact, it has been commented several times that he walks about with the air of someone who still owns the place.

It is also believed to be Joseph Forepaugh’s ghost that turns the lights on and off in the basement.

Molly, the former maid who committed suicide after Joseph called off their forbidden relationship, while pregnant no less, is most often witnessed in the third floor area where she took her life. Hefty footsteps can be heard early in the morning, so much so that the staff once called the authorities who brought in K-9s to investigate. It took some time to convince the dog to even make his way to the third floor; he decisively refused at first. But when he did, nothing was found – at least nothing alive – that could have accounted for the strange noises.

Molly’s ghost seems to be rather sociable, and has an affinity for attending weddings. Her apparition has been captured in an infamous wedding photo that the restaurant has to this day. During one wedding reception, Molly’s ghost was seen in the hallway of Forepaugh’s Restaurant, dressed to the nines in 19th century garments – a noticeable contrast to the rest of the guests and staff. Her apparition glided along the floor then dissolved into the wall.

Are Joseph and Molly sharing their old home in ways they never could while amongst the living? Perhaps they meet up on the third floor, or even in the basement, sharing in the next life what was forbidden over a century ago. Speculate as you like, the obvious verity remains – Forepaugh’s Restaurant is definitely haunted!

To have a look for yourself, stop in at upscale Forepaugh’s Restaurant, located at 276 Exchange Street, South St. Paul, MN. The dining is said to be awesome, although a bit on the pricey side.

Related posts:

1. The Haunted Mount Washington Hotel
2. Unsinkable Molly Brown Home Ghosts
3. Poltergeist’s & Sea Creatures at the Ice House Restaurant
4. The Spirits at 17 Hundred 90 Restaurant and Inn
5. The Most Haunted Restaurant in Texas