Haunted Peninsula part one

The Monterey peninsula is an enchanting place. A place of breathtaking beauty, colorful history and intriguing spirits that not only haunt some of the area's homes, but many of its most famous landmarks as well.

Cannery Row was made famous by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name. Some of the places he told of are still there on the Row, but most are long gone, the victims of progress, fire and time. The old cannery buildings that remain have been converted into restaurants, art galleries, antique stores, and of course the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. They are all haunted. Sometimes late at night, when the ocean is very calm, the voices of those who toiled within these buildings can still be heard. While taking in the sights at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, many an unsuspecting tourist has unknowingly rubbed shoulders with some of the ghosts that still inhabit the Row.

Although John Steinbeck himself is said not to have believed in ghosts, his spirit is rumored to haunt his boyhood home in Salinas. . Steinbeck was born in the front bedroom of the fine old Victorian on February 27, 1902. Today the home, located at 132 Central Avenue, has been converted to a small gourmet restaurant operated by the Valley Guild. It is a charming little restaurant filled with Steinbeck family memorabilia. The home attracts visitors from all over the world who wish to pay homage to the Nobel Prize winner. Over the years some of these visitors have reported seeing the shadowy figure of Mr. Steinbeck looking on as diners ate their meals. A few Guild members have even caught glimpses of Mr. Steinbeck's ghost as it wanders through the house.

But John Steinbeck isn't the only writer who seems to be connected to the supernatural on the peninsula. Robert Louis Stevenson was recovering from a serious illness when he rented a room at the boarding house of Mr. and Mrs. Giradin in 1879. He paid his rent in a timely manner and by all accounts enjoyed his short stay on the coast. Stevenson never owned the home. Nonetheless, it is referred to as the Stevenson House and is said to be one the most haunted places on the peninsula.

The house is treasure trove of Stevenson mementos, including the desk he sat at while writing Treasure Island. However, it is not Robert Louis Stevenson himself who haunts the home. That honor is usually given to Mrs. Giradin herself. Most of the hauntings occur in what is referred to as the nursery. The rocking chair often rocks by itself and unseen hands sometimes scatter the toys about. Caretakers have told of seeing an elderly woman in black hurriedly walking through the upstairs part of the house. Located at 530 Houston Street in Monterey, the Stevenson House, is a museum open to public.

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