| The House of the
Americas was built on the site where the aristocratic Van Ness mansion, named for its
owner John Van Ness, once stood. The mansion was the first residence in the district of
Columbia to have both hot and cold running water, a luxury unheard of at the time. After
the death of John Van Ness, his heirs chose to live elsewhere, for several years.
Leaving the mansion empty In fact, the house
was vacant for so long that it began to acquire an eerie reputation among the city's
inhabitants. It was said that six headless white horses could be seen cantering about the
grounds on the anniversary of their master's death, hoping to provide him with one last
ride. It was also reported that the forlorn ghost of Mrs. Van Ness could be spied
wandering from room to room, waiting in vain for the reappearance of her beloved
husband. |
