Soup and Superstition in Lima, New York

In 1861 the American Hotel in Lima was built. In 1920, during prohibition the hotel was purchased by John Reynolds who provided lodging and food, but no alcohol.. After the repeal of prohibition the bar reopened and still serves the thirsty denizens of Lima, a historic small town in New York state.

The tin ceilings and architecture takes one back to the 1860s, and the telephone booth with the old thick telephone book still hanging by a chain reminds you of a century later, before cell phones. One wonders how many calls were made to wives at home with some sort of explanation why they would be late, so they could have a few more drinks at the bar with friends.

The bar was converted to a soda fountain when owned by John Reynolds during prohibition. The hotel is still owned by the Reynolds family, the present owner is John Reynolds grandson Pat.

The first Sunday of every month the hotel hosts a session. Tables across from the musicians are filled by four o'clock to listen to the two hour session and everyone orders the famous soups the hotel makes. Patrons are spoiled for choice. There were a half dozen different homemade soups to chose from and chilli. Delicious.

Our room on the second floor. I had heard the hotel was haunted and specifically asked to have the "haunted" room. Pat Reynolds, the owner told me there were two "haunted" rooms, one with a shared bath and one with a private bath. I am a skeptic, but curious and I took the room with the private bath. After the session we had settled into our room when a small dog ran up the stairs and started barking incessantly . We laughed as the dogs owner repeated pleased for the dog to come back downstairs and chastised the dog for the barking. The yelping went on for a long time to our amusement until the dog finally returned downstairs to the relief of the exasperated owner at the bottom of the stairs.

This is the door to our room. At about three in the morning I was awakened by a slow repeated tap at the top of the door. The knock was repeated five or six times. As I am a skeptic , I fell back asleep deciding to investigate the door the next morning. I told the husband about the sounds and he suggested it was the radiator making the noise, but I told him, no it was the door . I tried to recreate the tap. I could not determine any source or reason for the slow knocking. And then, I thought to myself. "What was the dog barking at?"