Haunted Texas Capitol part 2

Written by Mary. Long time employee at the General Land Office

In this photo from the 1980’s, the Texas Travel Center used to be situated in the foyer of the Texas State Capitol. The young woman to the right, behind the desk is Mary Jackson.

We at Austin Ghost Tours have always maintained that if the titled of “Ambassador of Texas” was ever a “thing”, the undisputed winner, tiara and sash would go to Mary. Her authentic twang and greeting of “Howdy, Y’all” as you mosey up the the counter of the Travel Desk at the Capitol Visitors Center are the epitome of Lone Star State hospitality.

She has called AGT Founder Jeanine a friend for over 20 years, and she calls tour guide Monica “the Ghost Whisperer.” Whenever a visitor, co-worker or even a DPS officer has something strange to report in or around the Texas State Capitol complex, Mary sends that story to us. She has worked in the Capitol Building, the Visitors Center and the Greer Building where the Highway Department is headquartered.

Take it away, Mary!

A Saturday morning, about 7:45 am, building locked up tight and empty except for me and one security guard. But, behind closed doors in the Capitol Gift Shop, I clearly hear women laughing and having a conversation. saying things like: “Look at this one!” and “Over here!” and “This one is darling!” and whispers and giggles and intimate conversation. So, I assume Shawn and Angela who work the store must have come in early, and are getting weirdly excited over items they stocked the shelves with in the first place. But, when I push the door open to say “Good morning!” the gift shop is empty. Completely. Empty. I go back to my counter to stock literature, and the security guard Gary walks up and begins a conversation with me, during the course of which, those women in the gift shop start right up again! Gary asks me “Who’s in there?” and I say, “Beats me! Go look and see!” Ha! Was he surprised! I call them “the Daughters” for their likely membership in the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and maybe the Daughters of the Alamo. Women dedicated to God, family, the Republic of Texas, Jefferson Davis and this building! This building, which was the site of many monthly Daughter-inspired meetings and two museums dedicated to the histories of the confederacy and the Republic of Texas! Sure, they might occasionally open a window or shut a door or admire someone’s scarf and forget to put it back or rearrange our brochures with a particular affection for wildflower festivals or freak out an employee by walking by him in the attic. But, as ghosts go, I like them! And, I feel they like us, too! (Right after God, family, the Republic of Texas and Jefferson Davis, of course!)

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Fingerprints on Capitol Window

The Lt. Governor’s apartment consists of 3 bedrooms, a dining room, small kitchen, and a den. In 1983 on the second floor, in the east wing, inside of the Lt. Governor’s Apartment 23-year-old Matthew Hansen was in the den smoking cigarettes, drinking and watching MTV. Kate had sat with him for a little while, after they returned at 2 am from the Driskill, where they had attended the Texas Hunter and Jumper Association Banquet. Matthew’s employers, the Waterson’s, who owned the Pine Hallow Stables where he had worked for 8 months as a trainer, had also attended the banquet. 18-year-old Kate Hobby, Lt. Governor Bill Hobby’s youngest daughter, kept her horses and trained at the Watterson’s stable.

At some point between 3 am and 5 am Matthew retired to his bedroom which was between the Watersons’ and Kate’s.

At 5:30 am Kate was awakened by someone banging on her door. When she opened the door smoke and flames shot from behind capitol security guard Joel Quintanilla. Kate ran out and went down the hallway connecting the 3 bedrooms and out a side door to safety. Joel went to the middle bedroom to help Matthew. He later he said he heard “hollering and yelling.” By the time Joel opened the door the smoke was so thick and the heat so intense that he was overcome and barely able to get out and save himself. While trying to save Hansen he received severe burns on his face and hands.

Hansen died from smoke inhalation while trying to open the window, not realizing that it was nailed shut. He never tried to get out of the room through the door.

The Waterson’s were the first to leave the apartment, exiting through the back door. They had made it to the dome before Joel had even knocked on Kate’s bedroom door.

Downstairs Kate Hobby reunited with Mr and Mrs. Waterson. Obviously not concerned with the possible destruction of their state Capital or its contents, they decided to leave, and asked a cleaning lady that was leaving to give them a ride to Kate’s parent’s duplex.

Back at the Capitol, firemen were risking their lives, and many were injured trying to save the invaluable state papers. They fought with such intensity; the fire didn’t stand a chance.

Citizens gathered and sadly watched the heart rendering awesome sight of the proud state of Texas’s monument burned.

After the fire the state began a 10-year restoration project to ensure that such a tragedy wold never again happen.

Today the cleaning staff maintain that finger prints appear on the window of the middle bedroom. They wash them away, but to no avail. They reappear again and again.

Read about the Texas Capitol ghosts

Cause of the 1983 fire