I was skeptical of this as I looked around at this bright and elegant little oasis of a home, but I tried to keep an open mind. During my stay, I learned about this honored and permanent guest, Miss Mabel. Although I did not have the good fortune to meet the lady of the house, by the time I departed, I knew without a doubt that she was there. I also realized that I had grown as fond of her as I had her grand home.

The story began in 1915, when J. Duncan Puller, president of the First National Bank in St. Augustine had the home built for his family. The Pullers were members of high society and had frequent visitors and social gatherings. Sometime around the late 1920's or early 1930's, the Pullers had a newly engaged couple stay for a short visit. On the last day of this couple's visit, the man decided to go fishing. Mabel (named by the owners of the Casa de la Paz who did not know her given name), his loving partner, had a premonition that something bad would happen and begged him not to go. He told her not to worry, and instructed her to pack her things and get ready to leave. That day, a terrible storm blew into St. Augustine- the man's boat capsized and he lost his life. Mabel was left heartbroken and stayed as a guest in the Puller home until she died at a very young age.

Around eighty years has passed, and Mabel still resides in this romantic inn waiting for her beloved to return so they can leave together. Numerous accounts have been reported by guests, staff, and trained experts about the existence of a spirit in the Casa de la Paz. Being a skeptic, and curious by nature, I asked George Dann to enlighten me with specific details about Mabelle's visits. I felt a chill crawl up my spine, down my arms, and out to my fingertips as he regaled me with countless instances of Mabel occurrences.

Several different people have seen a young woman in a dress, suitcase in hand, standing at the top of the staircase. When these same people turn to take a second look, she would be gone. It has been reported that she has spoken to guests asking, "When are we leaving?" The best answer to soother her according to George is "We are leaving soon." Reports of tapping on walls and bedposts have occurred frequently, as well as knocking on the door of the Queen Isabella room (the room where I stayed).

He also reported that Mabel enjoys the crystal wine decanters that contain the white zinfandel in the living area of the house. He has personally witnessed- along with a group of travel writers- the top of the wine decanter fly across the room into a man's lap while telling Mabel's story. People have seen the decanter top fly straight into the air and land perfectly- resting right back in the decanter. They have changed the decanters and moved the wine, but it is always the white zinfandel that is Mabel's first choice. The staff and owners have seen items move from one floor to the next- and no one admits to moving the items.

The owner and his wife have had several personal experiences with the lonely lady. George and his wife live in an apartment off the back of the house, with a dead bolted door that separates them from the kitchen. They once tried to unlock the door to their apartment to get to the kitchen and the lock was stuck- for half an hour. They tried everything to get into the house, but nothing would get that door unlocked. Suddenly, with no explanation, the door unlocked and they were able to get in. Kathie Dann has reported feeling a strong force try to pry a Diet Coke can out of her hand, only to have it be yanked out and roll to the floor moments later.

Word had gotten around about Mabel's special appearances. Christopher Moon, professional ghost hunter and publisher of Haunted Times Magazine, contacted the Dann's about scheduling a "Ghost Hunting University" weekend. The Dann's agreed, and hosted a weekend course for guests that included lessons on how to contact spirits as well as using ghost hunting equipment, measuring energy fields, digital photography, and digital voice recordings. Photos taken during that weekend contained round orbs of white light, and when the images were blown up, the faces of the spirits could be seen clearly in the orbs. In fact, they discovered that Mabel was not alone: the spirit of a young boy and an older man with a handlebar moustache could plainly be seen in the pictures. During that same weekend, they did recordings of Mabel's voice. They asked her questions like; "Are you content?" and Mabel can be heard whispering "No".

It was difficult to be skeptical once I had heard all of the stories of Mabel. On my last night, I gazed out the window of the Queen Isabella room looking across the street at the stunning display of moonlight caressing the water. I watched a starry-eyed couple climb into the horse drawn carriage on the street. I easily had the most romantic view in St. Augustine. I looked around at my room, beautifully furnished with antiques, a dozen fresh pink roses sitting on the dresser, and was embraced by my luxurious queen sized bed. I thought of Mabel, and how she must have gazed out that window, waiting for the man she loved who would never return. I must have dozed off, but I woke in the middle of the night to sounds of footsteps in the hall. Perhaps it was one of the guests in the house. I couldn't prove that it was Mabel- but I know what I believe.

Stephanie Moreland is a freelance writer with a passion for exploration and travel. She writes unique, descriptive, and in-depth travel stories that bring readers through personal experiences. She is a native Texan who recently relocated to Florida in the Tampa area to begin graduate studies. She is a regular contributor to Talking Travel and the Brandon- Valrico journal, and has been published in Travel World International magazine. She is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association, the Florida Freelance Writers Association, the Tampa Writers Alliance, and the Florida Writers Association.

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