Lost to the Fire – Ghosts of The Calumet Hotel

Some places refuse to die. Pipestone, Minnesota’s Calumet Hotel is one of them.

Built in 1888 from the town’s signature Sioux quartzite, the Calumet has survived devastating fires, financial ruin, ownership feuds, and decades of whispered ghost stories. It has been a grand hotel, a crime scene, a courtroom battleground, and—if the legends are to be believed—a haven for spirits who never checked out.

This is the story of the Calumet Hotel—its rise, its hauntings, and its uncertain future.

Fire and Tragedy: A History Written in Ash

The first Calumet Hotel opened in 1883, a wooden structure that quickly became a source of civic pride. That pride turned to devastation when, on December 15, 1886, a fire reduced it to rubble. Without a fire department or a reliable water supply, there was little anyone could do but watch the flames consume the building.

The fire claimed the life of Reverend Alfred Stoddard Orcutt, a Baptist minister who either died instantly when the hotel collapsed. His body was later recovered from the wreckage, a grim reminder of the fire’s fury.

Undeterred, Pipestone rebuilt. The new Calumet Hotel, made of fireproof Sioux quartzite, opened in 1888, bigger and grander than before. But fire wasn’t finished with the Calumet.

1. December 30, 1906 – A fire broke out in the basement laundry, filling the upper floors with thick smoke. Guests, including several women and children, were trapped in the halls, and multiple people fainted while trying to escape. Though the fire itself was contained, it caused widespread panic.
2. February 14, 1944 – A fire swept through the hotel, leading to the death of Chris E. Herschberger, who was found dead in the hallway near Room 308. This incident is a major factor in the modern ghost stories tied to that room.

Yet, the Calumet kept coming back.

Murder, Mayhem, and a Man Called “Jack the Hugger”

In addition to fire, the Calumet has seen its share of crime. In 1903, John Oliver Vilan, a former janitor at the hotel, was arrested for breaking into women’s rooms in the middle of the night. He had a habit of sneaking in, grabbing their hands or feet while they slept, and then fleeing into the night when they screamed. Locals dubbed him “Jack the Hugger,” a name reminiscent of the infamous Jack the Ripper—though far less deadly.

The hotel also became a makeshift hospital after tragedies struck the area, like the Great Northern train wreck of 1900, which left multiple passengers seriously injured. Survivors, including a doctor and a railroad agent, were treated in the Calumet’s rooms while awaiting transport.

And then there are the deaths. The Calumet’s guest ledgers have, over the years, doubled as an obituary column. One notable entry? Benjamin Weaver, listed in the death notices of 1932 as having died at the Calumet Hotel. Who he was, and what happened to him, remains unknown.

The Hauntings: Ghosts Who Never Checked Out

For those who believe in ghosts, the Calumet is prime real estate for the restless dead. The hotel’s most infamous room? Room 308. In 1944, a guest was found dead in the hallway outside Room 308 after a fire evacuation. Since then, the room has gained a reputation for strange occurrences. Flickering lights, televisions turning on and off, and an overwhelming sense of being watched.

Other eerie experiences include:

• Unseen hands tapping on shoulders
• A little girl crying near the basement laundry room
• Pianos playing by themselves
• Shadowy figures spotted on the grand staircase

The Basement Laundry Room: A Cry from the Past

One of the most unsettling reports from the hotel is the sound of a little girl crying near the basement laundry room. Guests and staff alike have described the faint but unmistakable sound, only to find the space completely empty upon investigation.

This eerie phenomenon takes on an intriguing layer when compared to a newspaper account from 1906, which details a fire that broke out in the basement laundry, quickly filling the upper floors with smoke. Nearly twenty women and children had to be rescued, some carried out by police and firefighters while others collapsed in the halls from smoke inhalation.

It’s easy to wonder if that chaotic moment left an imprint on the space. Many hauntings are thought to be residual energy—events so emotionally charged that they leave a kind of echo behind, playing out again and again. Perhaps the cries heard in the basement aren’t those of a spirit trapped between worlds, but rather a lingering memory of a frightened child calling out for help in the confusion of the fire.

The Presence of Reverend Orcutt?

Another frequently reported spirit is that of Reverend A.S. Orcutt, a Baptist minister who tragically lost his life in the Calumet Hotel fire of 1886. Newspaper reports describe how he was either killed outright or caught in the falling debris, and his body was later discovered badly burned and stretched across the pavement in front of the hotel.

While there are no clear reports of direct encounters with his ghost, some guests have noted unexplained cold spots, flickering lights, and a heavy, almost watchful presence in certain parts of the hotel. Could it be that the energy of that terrible night still lingers? Does the hotel itself remember?

Some claim that Reverend Orcutt still walks the halls, replaying the final moments of his tragic death.

A Hotel at War: The Modern Calumet Controversy

While ghosts might haunt the Calumet’s halls, legal battles haunt its future.

In March 2020, the city of Pipestone condemned the hotel, citing fire code violations. The closure sparked a fierce legal battle between the city and then-owners Tammy Grubbs and Vanda Smrkovski, who argued that Pipestone was unfairly targeting them. As of December 2024 a judge ruled in favor of the city, dismissing the lawsuit brought by owners Tammy Grubbs and Vanda Smrkovski. However, the legal battle is not over, as the owners have vowed to appeal.

What’s Next for the Calumet?

Despite its struggles, the Calumet refuses to die. Whether it reopens under new ownership, remains a haunted relic, or becomes something else entirely, one thing is certain: The Calumet isn’t just a building. It’s a survivor. A place where history and legend blur together. A place where the past refuses to stay buried.

And, if the stories are to be believed, neither do some of its guests.

Do you dare stay the night?