My husband is not much of a B&B man, but he does love history. So, when we visited historical Salado, TX, this New Years with relatives, he agreed to stay in the Historic Rose Mansion built in 1872 by Major Archibald Rose. It was the home of his family for a hundred years. The home is filled with antiques and artifacts used and treasured during the family's lifetime. Guests can browse at leisure.The architecture is interesting in that you approach the enclosed stairway from the rear of the entry hall. I thought these old homes had exposed staircases and they met you as you entered the room.
To the left you enter the front parlor, move on into the rear parlor, and then into the dining room with the kitchen at the end. The front three room are now used for dining, though the front parlor also has a sitting area. One bedroom is located downstairs. It's the Salado Room.
Upstairs are two bedrooms, the Quilters Room and the Sallie Suite. To reach the bathroom in the suite, you walk down several steps into a small, long room with an entrance onto a porch. Off the porch and behind the suite is another room, the Traveler's Room, with an outer entrance behind the suite. The outdoor stairway is steep.
The Sallie Suite is named for Major
Rose's wife, Sallie. Pictures of the couple hang in both the front parlor and dining room. They are a distinguished pair.
Many guests, who have no prior knowledge of the mansion's reputation, have reported sightings of a spirit. They claim to have seen a woman, dressed in a green or white robe, at various places in the home, yet have never felt afraid or threatened. Guests have described the apparition as being warm and maternal.
Though many believe the resident ghost is Sallie, it is one of her eleven children, her daughter Beatrice as identified from an old family photograph.
My husband and I slept peacefully both nights we stayed in the Sallie Suite. Though I had to get up and trip down those stairs to the bathroom, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn't until I picked up a copy of Salado, A Jewel In the Crown Of Texas, Free Guide to the Historic Village of Salado, Fall 2005 Edition, for my blog post on the Stagecoach Inn that I saw the article by Chris McGregor, Staff Writer on Visiting Salado's 'haunted' Past.
I complained all the way home. "Darn, I'd loved to have seen Sallie, Beatrice, anyone." If I'd known, maybe I would have been more in-tune, but I doubt it. I guess the spirit knew we were all having a good time and didn't need any intervention. Plus, we had colds and she may have avoided our sneezing.
I do have to say, New Years Eve, as we sat around the fire in the front parlor, an aura showed up in two pictures. Maybe she was around and we just didn't know it.
I give credit to Chris McGregor for much of the information in this post. I loved your article, Chris, and thank you.
If you're ever in Salado and want a nice place to stay, visit The Rose Mansion. The food and hospitality is wonderful.
Happy reading and writing!
Linda
