Le Richelieu Hotel - New Orleans, LA (From Public Executions to Executive Suites)

1234 Chartres St.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.961888,-90.059717

www.lerichelieuhotel.com 

            At the turn of the nineteenth century, Louisiana was quite a happening place. The fight for the eight hundred and twenty-eight thousand acres that was known as the Louisiana Purchase was underway. France would battle tooth and nail against Spain to retrieve this massive piece of land with the hopes of transforming it into a grand empire. Once acquired, France would face an impending war against Britain, which would interfere with these plans so the decision was made to sell the land to the United States in 1803. 
            During this time, an expanding New Orleans was dealing with their own growing pains, such as riots, revolts and many of the other gruesome acts we have learned about so far in these blogs. The remnants of Spanish soldiers who had committed treason against the French were also an issue in the city as many were captured and executed. Public executions were often held in various parts of the city. One such location where many of these death sentences were carried out was on the land that now is at 1234 Chartres Street.

            Through 1845 and 1846, plans were made to build several townhouses on this block, with a small hotel being built on portion of the property, which was later expanded in 1902. Following the remodeling, the hotel would be used for several purposes such as private homes, apartments and even a macaroni factory. By 1969, the building would fall under new ownership and officially be transformed into the near ninety-room Richelieu Hotel that sits here today.
            As the Richelieu continues to thrive as a luxurious hotel in the French Quarter, an eerily paranormal presence still tends to hang over the property like the residue from a smoldering fire. Many staff and guests have seen apparitions of soldiers wearing old Spanish military uniforms. Said

Historical photo taken in 1965. Note the main entrance has
doubled in size.

to be the victims that were put to death here years ago, they haphazardly roam around the hotel and courtyard area. They seem to make no interaction with the living, as they may simply be residual energy left behind from the former incidents of military executions. As stated before, a residual haunting may not necessarily mean the presence of an actual spirit. This type of haunting is simply a collection of energy that replays itself like a tape recorder, with no awareness of the living nor its surroundings.
            Despite the residual energy at the Richelieu there is one spirit that is a little more intelligent and is said to be a former employee by the name of Ellen. She interacts with guests as if she is still on the clock, adjusting bed sheets, tidying up after occupants and rearranging personal belongings. When visitors have witnessed her, she quickly vanishes. If you ever plan on visiting the city and need a classy place to stay just a few steps away from the noise that is the French Quarter, the Richelieu is the perfect place, still offering the serenity most vacationers are seeking. If you are in a hurry and have to attend a last-minute dinner reservation, don’t worry about straightening up your room, as Ellen may do it for you. As you rush out and accidentally run into, I mean through, a few Spanish men in old clothing, fear not, for they are etchings in time from an era long gone.