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Rumors of a ghost at Ascot House in Queensland, Australia, have been circulating as far back as the 1890s. It wasn’t until some one hundred years later, that the ghost could finally be put to rest. Ascot House was built for wealthy businessman and politician, Frederick Holberton, in 1876, and was originally named ‘Tor’. Situated in Newtown, a suburb of Toowoomba, it once stood on 13ha (32 acres) of land. It eventually changed hands, and the new owner renamed it Ascot House and undertook numerous renovations. Ascot House contained a gothic tower, sweeping staircase, and large high-ceilinged rooms. Many years later, the house would fall into a state of disrepair. During the 1940s, flats had been added, which housed people looking for cheap accommodation. It was not until the 1980s that the house was sold to a successful renovator, who proceeded to bring the house back to its former glory. No sooner had the new owner moved into Ascot House, that she would hear footsteps walking down the hallway at night but see no-one. Once, during the early hours of the morning, she felt fingertips brush her shoulders. One warm evening, she leaned against a wall where the surface was icy cold. The cold patch lasted for months and defied explanation. There have been numerous eye-witness accounts, including one man who saw the apparition of a young woman that looked as if her neck was broken. It had been rumored that a young servant girl had hung herself within the house. After many years of searching, the owner identified the young woman as Maggie Hume, who had worked at Ascot House as a housemaid under the employ of the original owner, Frederick Holberton. At 23 years of age, she committed suicide, not by hanging, but by taking strychnine. According to the police reports, it was believed she suicided after learning she was pregnant. At the inquest, a couple of male staff members confessed to having ‘connections’ with her. As a single woman committing suicide, Maggie was buried in an unmarked grave. Now, a headstone has been placed at the site, giving her the sympathy she never received in life. Source: debbie-johansson.com/2021/09/29/the-ghost-of-ascot-house/

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New York Times of Jan 2, 1916 indicates that Dietz, then fooball coach at Washington State, was known as the "Beau Brummel of the western coaches" and often arrived to coach in a frock coat and silk hat, and porting a stick.

Thank you swanq for your research on Dietz. What a character! The photographs of him are interesting montages as well. We'll add some of the information to the record the next time we update.

Well Eamonn dear Valera for Starters.....

I know nothing about this photo, but it seems de Valera and the Countess Markievicz were very fond of each other. Were they 'romantically involved'? See also - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000643807 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000641550

Cathal Brugha to the right of Dev. (a man small of stature)

Harry Boland died in Aug` 1922 and Countess Markizvicz died in 1927. Looks like The Mansion House.

Martin Hession Martin it is unusual to see De Valera without glasses.