The University of Washington's mascot, Harry the Husky, is an integral part of the university's culture and tradition. Harry embodies the spirit and values of the university, and has become a beloved figure among students, alumni, and fans of the university's sports teams. The role of a university mascot is to represent the school's identity and foster a sense of community and school spirit. Harry the Husky does just that for the University of Washington. The husky was chosen as the mascot for its qualities of strength, loyalty, and determination, which align with the characteristics the university hopes to instill in its students. Harry first made his appearance as the university's official mascot in 1922, and has since evolved into a symbol of pride and unity for the University of Washington community.
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She whipped, tortured and put to death anyone who disobeyed her orders and was said to have refurbished the basement of the house to support her predilection for savagery. Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful and this is still in our DNA today.
Harry first made his appearance as the university's official mascot in 1922, and has since evolved into a symbol of pride and unity for the University of Washington community. The current version of Harry is portrayed as a friendly and energetic husky dog, known for his playful personality and outgoing nature. One of the most notable traditions associated with Harry the Husky is his role during football games.
'How Annie Palmer became known as the White Witch of Rose Hall.' by Stacy Ann Gordon.
There is a story, a legend really, often told by the Jamaican people to their children and to anyone who will listen. A story of intrigue, murder, romance and even betrayal. This is the story of Annie Palmer, the infamous owner of the Rose Hall estate. The folklore of Annie Palmer has been told and retold countless times, but in this blog I seek to give a clear picture about this lady: who she was, her motivation and how she became known to Jamaicans as the White Witch of Rose Hall.
Annie Palmer was born Annie Mae Patterson, the daughter of an English mother and an Irish father1, who decided to move to Haiti (then called St. Domingue), during the peak of its economic prosperity (1754 to the 1780s).2 The Pattersons seeking economic gain, fled to the island during a time when there was political upheaval in Europe (The Seven Year's War, 1754-1763)3 but social and economic opulence in the colony.4 St. Domingue was known as the 'Pearl of the Antilles'.5 It was a prolific exporter of sugar, coffee, indigo and cotton, notably it was the largest exporter of raw and refined sugar to Europe.6 Its only competitive rival was Jamaica.7 Annie was just ten years old when she arrived in St. Domingue, but she was a precocious child and quickly settled into her new life in the French colony.8 There she became fascinated with all aspects of her new home and befriended her Haitian nanny, who taught her the art of Voodoo.9 You see Annie wanted control of her surroundings and she sought it. She was still young when her parents died and left her in a hostile environment. As Annie grew up St. Domingue experienced two slave rebellions (1791-1804).10 There was uncertainty and peril every where. The slaves at this time freely roamed the streets, and with their hearts filled with revenge, would not have a second thought about hurting or killing a white woman.11 It is possible that this may have been the origin of the disdain Annie felt for the slaves on the Rose Hall plantation. Her only guide was a mulatto woman who taught Annie how to become a master of all the dark arts including seduction.12 Annie was a very beautiful young woman with a delicate, petite frame;13 long flowing hair, penetrating brown eyes and creamy white skin.14 Her nanny who was alleged to be a Voodoo queen taught her how to use her beauty and wit to get what she wanted. We know that Annie was an avid pupil!
After her surrogate mother's death she came to Jamaica looking to make her fortune here.15 Jamaica, as a British colony, like St. Domingue, was the jewel in its colonial master's cap,16 and Annie also wanted to cash in on its wealth. No sooner had she arrived, she met John Palmer, the sole heir to the Rose Hall Estate.17 Completely smitten by her beauty and charm, he proposed marriage to her which she accepted. It would have been wonderful if Annie's story had ended here: as a fairy tale. For Annie was happy and for awhile it seemed she was getting all she ever wanted. She along with her husband, managed an estate with over two thousand slaves, a marvelous house worth Ł 30,000,18 and 7, 000 acres of prime sugar plantation land.19 She loved riding across the estate and viewing the operations of the plantation. At times she could be seen standing on her balcony monitoring the slaves and their daily chores.20 Yes, she was happy. for awhile. It was only a couple months after their wedding that Annie became bored with her husband, and the life of a little house wife. She sought other amusement, taking male slaves for romps in her bedroom. More and more her lust for the slave men grew until it could no longer be hidden: her husband caught her in the act of adultery and whipped her with a riding crop.21 Enraged by this embarrassment, Annie vowed she would take her revenge, and never again would any man have any control over her! At the right moment she slipped poison into his coffee and killed him then she moved swiftly to take over the operations of the estate.22
Now she was free! She could do whatever she wanted, with whomever pleased her. Annie married twice afterwards, but they could not satisfy her lecherous desires; she quickly killed them and inherited their wealth. It is said all three husbands' bodies were buried somewhere on the Rose Hall estate.23 Meanwhile her bed was never empty, for she often enticed many slaves to her bed. She was a jealous lover. If she felt her lovers looked at a slave girl they were severely punished, even killed. In fact, Annie could be heard shouting orders to her slaves from her balcony and would order the torture and death of any who crossed her.24 Obsessed with retaining power it is alleged that she performed rituals using the bones of babies she murdered.25 The rumours were that she often used her potions and magic charms to woo lovers to her bed and control the slaves.26 She ruled with fear; her control otherworldy, she was called the White Witch of Rose Hall.
It seemed as if nothing could stop her, but one day she went too far. She became infatuated with a young English
bookkeeper, who only had eyes for young girl named Millicent, the granddaughter of Takoo, the local obeahman.27
Jealous and unable to win him for herself, Annie put a curse on Millicent which caused her to painfully wither and die.28 Takoo wanted vengence, so he along with a group of slaves stormed the great house, attacked her in her bedroom and strangled her to death.29 She was quickly buried in a very deep grave and ritual performed to prevent her spirit from rising.30 The slaves however claimed it was not done correctly. For every night they could here the voice of Annie Palmer along the corridors, and her spirit walking the rooms of the great house.31 Thus begins the legend of Annie Palmer's ghost, who persons to this day claim to have seen roaming the property. It was claimed that her ghost is responsible for their sudden and mysterious deaths of the proprietors who immediately took over the property.32 Employees of the newly refurbished Rose Hall great house say they feel her presence and eyewitnesses claim she has been spotted riding her black horse across the estate.33
What do you think: Is Annie still seeking to be in control? Would you like to see her ghost too? Why not take the Rose Hall Haunted House Night Tour hosted by El Sol Vida. As part of their fun tour package you will get access to the great house and see where Annie stood on her balcony. You'll get to see the great house as it was when Annie was alive.
Go see for yourself, maybe you'll catch a glimpse of her!
Included in Tours
- All Admission Fees
- English Tour Guide at The Rose Hall Great House
- Hotel Pick up and Drop off (Montego Bay Hotels)
Excluded from Tours
- Meals and Drinks
- Gratuity (Optional)
- Pick up from Falmouth Hotels & The Grand Palladium Hotel (Available as an optional add on)
Additional Information
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- A Minimum of 2 Adults required per reservation.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Dress code is smart casual
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Harry, alongside the cheerleaders and the marching band, works to pump up the crowd and create an atmosphere of excitement and support for the university's teams. He can be found running along the sidelines, engaging with the crowd, and cheering on the players. In addition to his appearances at sporting events, Harry is also involved in various university activities and events throughout the year. He can often be seen at orientation programs, graduation ceremonies, and community outreach events. His presence serves to enhance the overall university experience and create lasting memories for students and alumni alike. As a symbol of school pride, Harry the Husky has also inspired a range of merchandise and memorabilia. From t-shirts and hats to stuffed animals and keychains, fans of the university can show their support and allegiance by owning a piece of Harry the Husky memorabilia. Overall, Harry the Husky plays an important role in the University of Washington community. He embodies the spirit, energy, and values of the university, and helps foster a sense of pride and unity among students, alumni, and fans alike. Whether running along the sidelines at football games or interacting with the community, Harry continues to be a cherished symbol of the university's tradition and legacy..
Reviews for "A Day in the Life of Harry the Husky: Behind the Scenes of a Mascot's Routine"
1. Mike - 2/5 stars - As a die-hard fan of the University of Washington, I have to say I was incredibly disappointed with Harry the Husky, the university's mascot. First of all, the costume is poorly designed and looks more like a generic dog rather than the fierce and ferocious husky that represents our school. Secondly, Harry's performance during games lacks energy and enthusiasm. It feels like he's just going through the motions rather than actively engaging with the crowd and rallying the fans. Overall, I believe the university needs to seriously consider reevaluating their choice of mascot and finding someone who can truly embody the spirit and pride of our beloved institution.
2. Lisa - 3/5 stars - While I appreciate the effort put into the creation of the University of Washington's mascot, Harry the Husky, I can't help but feel underwhelmed. The costume is bulky and lacks attention to detail, making it difficult to depict the iconic husky features. Additionally, Harry often seems distant and unengaged during games, failing to truly connect with the audience and garner support for the team. Despite this, I do acknowledge the importance of having a mascot and the role it plays in fostering school spirit. I hope that the university can invest more time and resources into improving Harry's appearance and performance to better represent our school.
3. Ryan - 1/5 stars - I'm sorry, but Harry the Husky is possibly the worst mascot I have ever seen. From afar, he looks more like a cartoonish version of a wolf rather than a fierce husky. The costume design is laughable and lacks any authenticity. Moreover, Harry's disinterested and lackluster performance during games only adds insult to injury. It's embarrassing to see such a subpar representation of our university on the field. The university needs to seriously reconsider their choice of mascot and invest in something that truly embodies the spirit and pride of the institution.