11/8/2019 0 Comments New Moon Café - OshkoshBuilt in 1867, this building was a variety of businesses. The most notable was the Beckwith house, named after Sanford Beckwith. Unfortunately, the house was destroyed in the Great Oshkosh Fire of 1875 with zero deaths. It was rebuilt in 1876 and redesigned by architect William Waters. The building was once again burned down in another fire in 1880. This time, a few people had passed away.
Today the building is haunted by a variety of ghosts that have been witnessed by a few anonymous guests. The first being Mrs. Leafy Cushing Bean Paige. She married retired lumberman, Mr. Simon Paige. After several fires in the Oshkosh area that burned up the family's logging business and their home, the couple moved into the Beckwith house. They only stayed a night here and there as they traveled across the world during their retirement. Mrs. Paige had a phobia of being trapped in a burning building. The day of the fire, her husband asked her to join him on a drive to the fair grounds. Instead, Mrs. Paige decided to have tea with her friend, Mrs. Harmon. When the fire broke out, the fireman awaited with a blanket for the ladies to jump out the window. Mrs. Harmon jumped down with a leap of faith but Mrs. Leafy Paige never did. She is one of 4 ghosts that have been spotted in the main lobby area. The second is Buell Rogers, Beckwith bellboy. On Friday, December 3, 1880 at 4:30 pm, young Buell Rogers was cleaning and replenishing the kerosene lanterns. This chore was done on the 2nd floor, under the stairs leading to the 3rd and 4th floor. Suddenly one of the lamps exploded sending flames & kerosene everywhere. The fire spread upwards cutting off the exits. He too haunts the residence at 401 N. Main St. A young woman from Scott, Wisconsin moved to Oshkosh to live with her Aunt Carroll. In the bigger city, Marie "Mollie" Hanrahan, could earn better wages. At first she worked at The Revere House, which mysteriously caught fire in 1877. Losing her job, the Beckwith house took her in. It wasn't long until she became head dining room girl. After the warning call of the fire, Mollie escaped with other workers. Standing outside of the building. the young girl realized she forgot something back in her room and ran back in to grab some savings that accumulated to about $250. Her body was found after the fire. Finally, a well traveled man from Canada, George Wood. He came to Oshkosh in 1879 to fill the job opening of Beckwith's night watchman and hotel porter. Being up all night, the man would most likely sleep all day. While working at the hotel, Mr. Wood made a pact with Mrs. Leafy Paige. Because she was afraid of fire, he promised to help her escape if a fire broke out. There was an escape rope from her suite on the same floor for Mr. Wood to use. The night of the fire, George was to help Mrs. Leafy Paige but it cost him his own life. On January 20, 1881, his body was found with the rope coiled around him and under the remains of Mrs. Paige's doorway. Today the site is rebuilt. Not as tall as it once was but still beautiful architecture. Located on the base floor is a scrumptious cafe called "New Moon Cafe". For years I visited this establishment with no idea that it was haunted.
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