Manresa Castle
in Port Townsend, Washington
Manresa Castle in Port Townsend is the Seattle and the Puget
Sounds gem for both dining, catering and hosting for your
next event. The beautiful Manresa Castle and the surrounding
grounds are an elegant storybook setting for weddings,
receptions, social events including, concerts, and corporate
events. To inquire about our packages and amenities, please
email info@manresacastle.com or phone the front desk
360-385-5750.
Manresa Castle in Port Townsend is the Seattle and the Puget
Sounds gem for both dining, catering and hosting for your
next event. The beautiful Manresa Castle and the surrounding
grounds are an elegant storybook setting for weddings,
receptions, social events including, concerts, and corporate
events. To inquire about our packages and amenities, please
email info@manresacastle.com or phone the front desk
360-385-5750.
Manresa Castle's romantic gardens, banquet hall and rich
library have seen many couples exchange their vows. You will
experience one-of-a-kind ceremony and reception venues for
events both large and small. With so many indoor and outdoor
settings for your event, any season is a good time to get
married at Manresa Castle. The library is elegantly draped
windows and rich wood paneled walls can be transformed to a
variety of intimate configurations. The Banquet Room can
accommodate 80 guests at a sit-down dinner and dancing
reception. Other rooms can be appropriated to handle larger
groups.
Our staff is ready to share their expertise with you to
ensure that your wedding day or event is truly memorable.
From assisting you to select a menu, linens and settings to
locating the right vendors and finishing touches, our
friendly and knowledgeable staff is ready to answer your
questions and make your experience as seamless and special
as possible.
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History of Manresa Castle
The Castle was completed in 1892 as the home of Charles and
Kate Eisenbeis. Mr. Eisenbeis was a prominent member of the
early Port Townsend business community. His business
interests were diverse including a bakery, brick works,
lumber mill, brewery, bank and a hotel. In 1878, when Port
Townsend became the first incorporated city in Jefferson
County, its citizens elected Eisenbeis as the first mayor.
In keeping with his status in the community, Eisenbeis built
what was the largest private residence ever built in Port
Townsend, consisting of 30 rooms. Locals referred to the
building as the "Eisenbeis Castle;" its design was
reminiscent of some of the castles in Eisenbeis' native
Prussia.
The walls were 12 inches thick, made with bricks from
Eisenbeis' own brick work's and the roof was slate. Tiled
fireplaces and finely crafted woodwork were installed by
German artisans.
Charles died in 1902 and Kate remarried a few years later.
The Castle was left empty for almost 20 years except for a
caretaker
In 1925, a Seattle attorney bought the Castle as a vacation
place for nuns teaching in Seattle schools. This plan did
not work out well and in 1927 the Jesuit priests purchased
the building for use as a training college. The priests
spent their sixteenth and final year of training here
studying ascetic theology.
In 1928, the Jesuits added a large wing housing a chapel and
sleeping rooms. They also installed the elevator (an Otis)
at a cost of $3,400 -- a substantial sum in those days. When
their addition was complete, the Jesuits stuccoed over the
bricks of the original portion to give the building a more
uniform look. They named the complex "Manresa Hall" after
the town in Spain where Ignatius Loyola founded the order.
The Jesuits left in 1968 and the building was converted into
a hotel. The elements "Manresa" and "Castle" were taken from
the two previous owners to create the current name.
The three different owners since 1968 have all done their
part to lovingly renovate the building to modern standards
while maintaining its Victorian elegance. For example, there
were only 3 bathrooms when the Jesuits left - today we have
43.
Ghost at the Manresa Castle
Reports are that rooms 302, 304 & 306 are haunted. There are reports of two
ghosts in residence. One is about a monk who hung himself in the attic.
Sometimes people hear footsteps walking above them, but there is no one in the
attic. The other ghost is a young lady who had been waiting for her beloved to
return from war. After hearing of his demise, she threw herself out her window.
Also, In the chapel/cafe drinking glasses are know to explode, even when in one
server's hand, & sometimes the empty glasses are know to be turned upside-down.
Manresa Castle
7th & Sheridan
PO Box 564
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Phone: (360)385-5750
Email:
info@manresacastle.com
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