• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Saturday, April 1, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

Moments in Time: The Spirit of The Vintage

by Capo Dispatch
October 30, 2015 1:51PM
in LIVING, SJC Living
Jan Siegel

Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Paranormal team searches for the ghost of Modesta Avila in allegedly haunted restaurant

Moments in Time By Jan Siegel
Moments in Time By Jan Siegel

By Jan Siegel

O-o-o-o … Did you feel that bump in the night?

Ghost stories abound in San Juan Capistrano. The newest addition to our ghost lore comes from The Vintage Steakhouse. The fact that the restaurant sits in what was once a train compartment is a significant part of this tale. Some of the employees and guests of The Vintage say they have been “haunted” by the ghost of Modesta Avila.

Modesta Avila lived in the Combs House—next to the railroad tracks and now the Hummingbird Café—from 1880 to 1890. According to local legend, she was upset when the railroad came to town because the noise of the trains kept her chickens from laying eggs. To let the railroad know that she was upset, she hung her laundry over the tracks as a sign of protest. Modesta, a young Mexican girl, did not know that it was a federal offense to put anything over the railroad tracks. According to the facts, the station master advised her to take down the laundry before a train came—which she did—so there really was no crime.

The Vintage Steakhouse. Photo: Allison Jarrell
The Vintage Steakhouse. Photo: Allison Jarrell

However, this was 1889, the start of Orange County, and there was a new district attorney for the new county. He lost his first case, which he should have won, and was anxious to prove his power. So he filed charges against Modesta. The first case ended in a hung jury, but he was not content, so he filed against her again. This time, he indicated that this young, unmarried Mexican girl was pregnant—a definite no-no in 1890. The second time around, he got his conviction. Modesta Avila was sent to San Quentin prison, and after two years she died in jail. There never was a baby.

And history stopped being concerned with Modesta … until now.

Recently, the patrons and employees of The Vintage have had several eerie episodes attributed to the ghost of Modesta Avila. Two women were in the restroom when one felt a startling bump; she was so frightened she fainted. The other woman felt the bump so strongly, that she went back to her table and told her husband she would wait for him outside—she was never going inside the restaurant again.

Employees have seen flickering lights, a vision of a young girl in the wine cabinet, creaking floors and light images on the walls. An area in the dining car section of the restaurant has experienced cold drafts for no apparent reason.

The Vintage Steakhouse. Photo: Allison Jarrell
The Vintage Steakhouse. Photo: Allison Jarrell

With the above incidents in mind, Orange County Ghosts and Legends, a group that explores the possibility of apparitions, decided to check out the potential existence of Modesta Avila’s ghost in the restaurant. Before visiting a site, the team first does research to determine whether the occurrence of a ghost is likely. In this case, the story of Modesta Avila definitely raised the level of possibility.

Ghosts and Legends came to the restaurant equipped with an array of ghost hunting gear—an Ovilus, Ksticks and electromagnetic equipment. Late at night, members of the group sat in the dark asking questions in both English and Spanish, hoping to get a response. I sat in with them and during the hour that I was there, we heard and saw nothing.

However, after I left, they experienced a chair falling over. The chair in question had arms and was moved close to the table so that the arms were underneath the table. The only way for the chair to fall backward was for “someone” to have moved it away from the table. All sounds were recorded and then analyzed.

The Vintage Steakhouse. Photo: Allison Jarrell
The Vintage Steakhouse. Photo: Allison Jarrell

When the members of Ghosts and Legends reviewed the recording of their evening at The Vintage, they heard a voice respond to their question, “What is your name?” with “I don’t like trains.” At the time, a freight train was going by. Remember, it was the train that got Modesta in trouble in the first place.

I confess, I heard the statement “I don’t like trains” very clearly on their tape.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you can spend a “Moment in Time” on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, by taking the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society’s Ghost Walk and learning more about our folklore, our legends and things that go bump in the night.

Reservations are a must and can be made online by visiting sjcghosttour2015@evenbrite.com or calling the historical society at 949.843.8444.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: ghost walkghostsGuest ColumnGuest OpinionJan SiegelModesta AvilaMoments in TimeOrange CountyOrange County Ghosts and LegendsSan Juan CapistranoSouth Orange CountyThe VintageThe Vintage Steakhouse
ShareTweetPin

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

River Street Marketplace Announces Slate of Food, Retail Tenants

River Street Marketplace Announces Slate of Food, Retail Tenants

March 31, 2023
Net Energy Metering Program to Change April 14

Net Energy Metering Program to Change April 14

March 31, 2023
Adoptable Pet of the Week: Matcha

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Matcha

March 31, 2023
At the Movies: ‘A Good Person’ Isn’t Necessarily a Good Movie

At the Movies: ‘A Good Person’ Isn’t Necessarily a Good Movie

March 31, 2023
Next Post
South County Officials, Community Celebrate Completion of Interchange

South County Officials, Community Celebrate Completion of Interchange

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.