He then moved to santa fe and was a very successful merchant. Her life spanned the second half of the nineteenth century, and her death came too soon. In american ghost, julias greatgreatgranddaughter, hannah nordhaus, traces her ancestors transfiguration from nineteenthcentury jewish bride to modern phantom. Hannah nordhaus audio books, best sellers, author bio. When hannah nordhaus was a teenager, she would tell her friends about her greatgreatgrandmother julia staab, a pioneer of the western frontier, whose ghost was often spotted in the hotel that used to be her mansion in santa fe. Born in lugde, a small town in northern germany, julia, 21, was brought to santa fe in about 1865 as the bride of abraham staab, 26. Visit this page to learn more about the book american ghost written by the great greatgrandaughter of julia staab. Julia staab, the central character in american ghost. American ghost, her latest book, explores the life and legend of julia staab, hannahs greatgreatgrandmother, who traveled the santa fe trail to new mexico in 1866 as a mailorder germanjewish bride, and whose ghost is reputed to. The true story of a familys haunted past published by harpercollins, is celebrated with a reading. Late last winter, hannah nordhaus book american ghost, a familys haunted past in the desert southwest, was released by harpercollins. There are all kinds of legends about julia she went mad, her husband murdered her, she killed herself. The stories im hearing tonight about julia staab, about her ghost, from the people who stayed in the room im starting to believe more, nordhaus said at a booksigning friday night. There are all kinds of legends about juliashe went mad, her husband murdered her, she killed herself.
But the interior was little changed from how it must have looked in julia staabs time dark against the brash highdesert sun, cool, filled. Author hannah nordhaus on chasing her ghostly ancestor julia. The first formal structure of the area, the three story structure was victorian in architecture. Within its beautiful landscaped grounds and fountains sits the hotels centerpiece, the staab house, a victorian mansion built by an old santa fe trail merchant in 1882. It belonged to abraham and julia staab, who emigrated from germany in the midnineteenth century. The building was a private home before becoming an inn, built for julia staab. In part, the book is the authors quest to find out if the rumors about julia s ghost are true. In part, the book is the authors quest to find out if the rumors about julias ghost are true. American ghost book by greatgreatgranddaughter of julia staab. In her book american ghost, hannah nordhaus, author of the beekeepers lament, hopes to use any tools at her disposal to discover whether or not her greatgreatgrandmother julia is indeed haunting the santa fe hotel she once called home. Her name was julia schuster staab, nordhaus writes in her riveting new book american ghost. In american ghost, nordhaus offers a fascinating and nuanced account of her ancestral ghost story and her complicated clan. Mar 10, 2015 julia staab was a member of the nordhaus family tree and also santa fes most famous ghost.
Ghost, a familys haunted past in the desert southwest, a book about julia. American ghost charleston county public library system. Julia was born julie schuster in ludge, germany, in 1844. Author hannah nordhaus on chasing her ghostly ancestor. Nordhauss book, which explores the life of the authors greatgreatgrandmother julia schuster staab, does start with sightings of a ghost, but then moves on to become part memoir, part history book, part journalistic endeavor. Denver post journalist hannah nordhaus braids personal memoir with historical research and resolute ghost hunting in a narrative that investigates the restless spirit of her greatgreatgrandmother julia schuster staab. The staab house is more than a hundred years old, its construction finished in 1884. In addition, youll receive a copy of american ghost, a familys haunted past in the desert southwest, a book about julia staab written by her greatgreatgranddaughter, hannah nordhaus.
Family diaries, photographs, and newspaper clippings take her on a riveting journey through three hundred years of. A few days after her wedding in 1865, 21year old julia schuster staab left her large family and her village in the forested hills of northwestern germany for the american frontier. Kaadt, courtesy palace of the governors photo archives. Hannah nordhaus is the national bestselling author of the beekeepers lament harpercollins, 2011 and american ghost harpercollins, 2015.
Living in new mexico, i have heard about julia staabs ghost for many years. In this intriguing book, nordhaus shares her journey to discover who her immigrant ancestor. In part, the book is the authors quest to find out if. American ghost by hannah nordhaus the boston globe. Julia staab as a young bride left and julia and abraham staab early in their marriage. American ghost alachua county library district overdrive. Mar, 2015 julia and abraham staab early in their marriage. Oct 30, 20 living in new mexico, i have heard about julia staabs ghost for many years. Julia staab was a member of the nordhaus family tree and also santa fes most famous ghost. Born to a welltodo jewish family in germany in the mid1840s, julia eventually married a fellow german jew who went on to become one of santa fes most prominent and scandalridden businessmen.
A familys haunted past in the desert southwest, a new book by boulder writer hannah nordhaus, had just arrived. And in the 1970s, the hotel acquired a resident ghosta sad, darkeyed woman in a long gown. Julia was born in germany, but she married a man from her hometown whod struck it rich supplying settlers and soldiers in the new mexico territory. He was one of the few jews who had settled in santa fe a few. Mar 17, 2015 in her book american ghost, hannah nordhaus, author of the beekeepers lament, hopes to use any tools at her disposal to discover whether or not her greatgreatgrandmother julia is indeed haunting the santa fe hotel she once called home. Her husband abraham staab made his fortune supplying goods to the u. The hotels bar, aptly named the staab house, is reported to be a favorite target for julia. I had always hoped that when the book came out, id gather more information. Distant cousins have sent me family photos of julias siblings and nieces and nephews. To this day, nordhaus says, julia staab is santa fes most famous ghost. Its a chronicle of germanjewish immigration to the american southwest, a reckoning of family secrets, and an account of the authors. This special package provides you with a twonight stay at our lavish and historic resort, kicked off in proper style with a pair of welcome drinks at the staab house bar. Julia staab died in 1896but her ghost, they say, lives on. American ghost king county library system overdrive.
Her greatgreatgranddaughter, hannah nordhaus, has just written a fascinating book on julias life and legacy. Within its beautiful landscaped grounds and fountains sits the hotels centerpiece, the staab house, a victorian mansion built by an old santa fe trail merchant in 1882 amassing a fortune as a major supply contractor for the u. We hope youll take advantage of this oneofakind opportunity to learn more about our resorts muse and experience the magic of our santa fe luxury. Julia staab, who died in her santa fe home in 1896.