The Coombs House Inn
Hwy 98
Apalachicola, Fl December 12, 2009
The Coombs House was built in 1905 it was known as “the most elegant house in Apalachicola. The house was the pride of James N. Coombs, successful entrepreneur, recognized as the wealthiest man in town for his ownership of three sawmills. Mr. Coombs married his childhood sweetheart, Maria. In 1877 they moved to Apalachicola. Increased demand for lumber brought success to Coombs and enabled him to set up the Franklin County Lumber Company in Apalachicola and in nearby Carrabelle. With all his business success, Jim Coombs had a keen political interests an active member of the Republican Party at one Republican convention he met young governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt, and the two became friends. A local rumor had it that Teddy had offered him the opportunity to be the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States in the election of 1904, but that Coombs had turned him down.
In 1905, James Coombs decided his family needed a home that would reflect their social and economic status. Tragedy struck the Coombs family in 1911. At midnight on March 6 a fire started in the attic of the house and burned its way through the roof. Three volunteer horse drawn fire companies answered the call, and quickly pumped enough water onto the house to douse the fire. While the house was not destroyed, it was seriously damaged, and Mrs. Coombs’ prized furniture, bedding, china and linens were piled in a soaked heap in front of the house. Shocked and saddened, Mr. and Mrs. Coombs moved into the Franklin Hotel that night with the intention of living there until their house could be repaired. They never returned to their home. Mrs. Coombs, who had taken to her bed, died ten days later in the hotel. Many said she died of a broken heart. Three weeks after that, on April 8, James N. Coombs died. Both are buried, side-by-side, in the Chestnut Street cemetery, just across the street from their beloved Coombs House. Through out the next 99 years other owners and occupants of the Coombs House have come to the realization Mr. & Mrs. Coombs earthly reminds might be across the street from the house ,however there spirits are very much perhaps not alive but well in there beloved home.
In September 2009 BBGT was approached by the current owners of the Inn regarding Ghost encounters themselves, the staff and inn guests were having; an investigation was planned and scheduled for December 12th.
BBGT investigators arrived at the Inn at the appointed hour, after a round of greetings a Ghostly encounter update was given to the investigators. After conducting baseline data and putting equipment in place the night’s investigation begin.
As the night progressed a variety of other unexplained anomalies occurred to include doors left closed and then shortly thereafter be found open. There were Knocks on doors by the unseen, footsteps on the stairs by the unseen. This is the same area where an apparition of what is believed to be Mr. Coombs is often seen.
As the early morning hours approached the team decided to call it a night. We were assigned to room #8 Mr. Coombs bed chamber. Twice during the night the door open and closed by itself, the second time it opened something came in and stood at the end of the bed………. (As the brave souls we are, we were too scared to look) presuming to be Mr. Coombs or perhaps Mrs. Coombs confused as to why strange women were in her husbands bed!!
Is the Coombs House Inn Haunted? YOU BET IT IS!!
Are The Ghosts Friendly? FOR SURE
After spending the night and many day time hours at the Inn, One can see why Mr. and Mrs. Coombs would want to live out there eternity in it.
