KOHL MANSION AND THE KOHLS
Charles Frederick Kohl, the original owner of the Kohl Mansion, was a capitalist who grew up in
San Mateo. His father was Capt. William Kohl of San Francisco’s prestigious Alaska Commercial
Company.
In 1911 a family maid shot Freddie. Although he survived he was physically and emotionally
disabled thereafter. He and his wife moved into Kohl Mansion in 1914, but separated 2 years
later.
Freddie was convinced that the housemaid was still trying to kill him and in November 1921
Freddie committed suicide.
Kohl Mansion was given to Freddie’s mistress Marion Louderback Lord, who sold it later to the
Sisters of Mercy in 1924. The young nuns reported unexplainable occurrences including
visions, eerie sounds, and an empty elevator going up and down and the sound of a limping
figure in the locked billiard room.
Priests were summoned to exorcise Freddie’s ghost, though unsuccessfully as Freddie is
reputed to still haunt this building. People have reported seeing the ghost of Mr. Kohl in the
parlor as well as on the stairs.
C Frederick Kohl and Bessie Elizabeth Godey were married 7 Oct 1903 in Washington
DC married at brides mothers house in cleveland park(Washington Times Oct 7 1903
Wed)
may 10 1909 issue of Washington Herald, Bessie was a alumnae graduate of the
Academy of the Visitation convent in georgetown
Daughter of Edward Godey and Catherine W (LNU) Edward was the son of William H
Godey and Mary Elizabeth Cartwright. For more information on Godey/Carwright
contact me at
mcartwright1@cox.net
Accoding to records in the Historical Society Archives, this is the story of Bessie:
1904 - Kohl and Bessie marry
After problems in their marriage, she divides her time between New York and Paris
1916 - Bessie heads to France to sing to the troops and volunteered for the Red Cross. In
Paris, Bessie got herself a donkey and cart with a hurdy gurdy attached to the rear and
drove from hospital to hospital singing for the wounded. She established "Le Maison de
Tout Petits", a hospital in Paris
1925 - Bessie married Count Pierre de Lambertye.
1929 - Bessie married Count de Thine and lived in Rue Barbret, Paris
1949 - Bessie died in Monte Carlo
Other ‘stuff’ from a message board:
The librarians at either the Burlingame or San Mateo public libraries could probably
further direct you with your research efforts, but here are a few articles you can look up
to get started:
"The Stalking of Charles Frederick Kohl," by Michael Svanevik and Shirley Burgett,
Peninsula, December 1991;
"Fred Kohl Shot by Woman Believed to be Deranged," San Francisco Chronicle, June 9,
1911;
"Kohl's Condition Looks Favorable," San Mateo Times, June 10, 1911;
""Mrs. William Kohl is Called by Death," San Mateo Times, March 2, 1912;
"Suicide of C. Fred Kohl, Millionaire, An Enigma," San Francisco Chronicle, November
24, 1921;
"Does Freddie Still Inhabit the Kohl Mansion?" The San Mateo Daily Journal, April 25,
2005;
"The Ghost of Freddie Kohl," San Mateo Times, September 30, 1982.