Friday, October 11, 2013

Haunted Towns of the Midwest - St Charles, Missouri





Walking Haunted St Charles Missouri with St Charles Ghost Tours

Once again, the month of October is upon us…. a time for hauntings, Halloween - and all things spooky.  This month, A Grave Interest will travel around the Midwest, taking ghost tours and getting a look at some ‘lively’ places, and, maybe, the spirits who make them so…
I decided early on that it would be smart to get some guides for these haunted jaunts. And who better to seek out than the local experts on all things paranormal in their towns.


On this warm and breezy October night there are about 20 of us that are ready to travel the brick streets of St Charles with Michael Henry, owner of St Charles Ghost Tours in St Charles, Missouri.

Michael Henry
Henry, an author and paranormal investigator, intersperses history and humor into his ghostly tours. He also utilizes modern technology in the form of EMF (electromagnetic field) detectors, digital cameras, video cameras, and digital recorders in his quest for documenting the goings-on on the “other side.”



St Charles Ghost Tour
Henry’s tours last from 90 minutes to 2 hours, and are the result of stories and evidence he has corroborated. He works closely with the St Charles County Historical Society, researching the local history and tying up loose ends to legends and tales that have passed down in this river front community for well over 300 years.


The first permanent pioneer settlements here were built in the early 1700s. The original town was founded in 1765 and called Les Petites Côtes, "The Little Hills. The town of St Charles was founded here 1812.


Lewis & Clark
Located just north of St Louis, St Charles has played a significant role in the westward expansion of America. It was here, in 1804, that Lewis and Clark made their final stop in “civilization” before heading out into the unknown western frontier. In 1867 about a third of the town was destroyed by a tornado. Many of the buildings had to be rebuilt, usually on the same foundation as the original.




Former City Hall
Former I.O.O.F. Building
The tour began at the City Hall building, which now houses the St Charles Historical Society. Located next door is the former home of the International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) The Odd Fellows began in Manchester England in the early 1700’s and crossed the ocean to America in the 1750s. This three-story brick building was built in 1870 and has been the location of several mysterious occurrences over the years. The first floor was originally used as a bank, the second story was a vaudeville theatre, and the third floor was where the Odd Fellows held their secret meetings.

Green Room at Left
It was on the second floor where the vaudeville theatre’s Green Room was located, a room that protruded out over the sidewalk. It is in this room that four “suicides” have occurred. When this was a vaudeville theatre at the turn of the century, it is said that four actors, 2 men and 2 women, each took their own life here, though the reasons are not known. But did they? At that time acting was not a noble profession, equated the same status as prostitution. So did each actor enter this room with the intention of ending his or her life?  Or was it just easier for the sheriff to call each death a suicide so that local resources weren’t “wasted” on investigating the deaths of mere actors?


Regardless, restless spirits still walk the boards, opening and closing doors, and taking the time to make sure that they latch! There are also nights, around 9 p.m., when a ghostly figure peeks out from the stage wings, checking to see how big the evening’s audience is just before the show begins - again…



3-Story Restaurant
In what is now Lewis and Clark's Restaurant, a spectral couple from the 1890’s can still be seen. At one time this was their residence, a gorgeous three-story home with balconies reminiscent of New Orleans. 



Haunted Stairway
The Bar
Today, employees who work the bar have reported that when it is very busy, they may notice a man and woman standing on the landing of the stairs leading up to the second floor. The man is dressed in clothing from another century and is sporting a handlebar moustache. The woman’s face remains unseen, but she is wearing a red dress and has long, dark hair. The two will then turn and disappear into a wall that once held a doorway. They apparently do not care much for televised sporting events. Customers and employees both report that on extremely busy nights when sports is being broadcast on the television and the crowd is cheering loudly, the TV will suddenly go off. No reason has yet been found for the occurrences.


Where Sheriff Curtis Died
Dark Alley
Next we stop in front of a long, dark alley that narrowly separates a two-story building from its neighbor. Here is where Sheriff Ebenezer Curtis lived, and where it is rumored he committed suicide after assisting with two hangings where the accused may not have been guilty. Curtis managed to drag himself down the stairs from the second floor, dying just outside the entrance to the alley.



EMF Detectors Go Off
Blood Under UV Light
And it is here that all of the EMF meters go off loudly! Henry replies that this is usually a great place to pick up readings and orbs. He believes that the sheriff is still here, trying to repent for those final executions. When Henry shines an UV light on the alley’s brick wall, we see a glowing, dripping stain – blood, he tells us, from some past altercation that took place in this alley of darkness.



Borromeo Church
French Vertical Style
We walk farther along the darkened street and turn up a cobblestoned path that leads to a log church, and the lost graveyard. Constructed in the French vertical style, this reproduction was built in 2006 and modeled after the first church that stood here in 1791.



Inside Church
Bodies Still Buried Here
Dedicated to St Charles Borromeo, the church was called Borromeo Church and was located at the edge of the community’s original cemetery. The burial grounds were started here in 1750 and used until 1863 when the town decided to move the cemetery elsewhere. A total of 320 people had been buried in the 9 square block area. Most were dug up and moved to the new location, but some were left behind. There was really no effort made to move those buried in the poor section of the cemetery near the church. It is estimated that between 30 and 50 remains are still here. Over the years, some remains and tombstones have been accidently been dug up and others have been exposed due to soil erosion.


Walkway Where She's Seen
It is also here, usually in the autumn that a young woman in white can be seen standing upon the cobblestone walk, her head sadly bowed. It isn’t known who she is but Hiram Berry wrote about her and her funeral in a letter to a friend, dated September 11, 1822, just after he had left St Charles.  According to Berry, she was a 23-year-old married woman who had just had a baby a few days before. She had succumbed to illness and was buried in the best dress she owned, her white wedding dress trimmed with green lace. Berry goes on to write "She looked beautiful with her head turned to one side and a smile on her face." Berry left town a few days after her funeral and never returned. It is not known why he wrote to a friend about the woman’s death, but it has been speculated that maybe he was the baby’s father.


Former Location of Eckert's Tavern
Lived Down This Walk
And what ghost tour would be complete without a spectrachild? It was here that the first tavern in the Midwest, Eckert’s Tavern, was built in 1780. In fact, this spot has always housed a tavern, restaurant or bar. In 1949, the tavern located here burned down, but in that fire a 9-yeer-old girl died of smoke inhalation by the front door. It is not known why she was there – she actually lived just a few doors down.


Where She Died
EMF Reading
Customers and employees report that the child is still here, and on this night, maybe she is. EMF meters went off in this location. Henry seemed surprised, saying that this was a rare occurrence that happens only two or three times a year. The little girl has been known to tug on a person’s sleeve to get their attention and to swipe food from customers’ plates, but tonight she only set EMF detectors buzzing. But more than a few of us cast glances behind as we moved on down the street.


St Charles Ghost Tour Group
There are an abundance of ghosts in St Charles, and Henry is a wealth of paranormal and historical information. Tours are given year round on Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and if you’re lucky, sometimes at midnight. Tours are suitable for adults and children over 14. Wear comfortable walking shoes and remember, tours go – regardless of the weather.

For reservations phone (314) 374-6102 or visit the web page at http://www.stcharlesghosts.com Tours begin at the corner of Jefferson and South Main Streets.


I have lots of spectral things coming up next week. On Monday, I’ll be a guest on The Shadows Radio http://theshadowsradio.com, talking about the different ghost tours I’ve covered, and spirits I’ve encountered in cemeteries. Show starts at 9 p.m. Eastern time.


Haunted Winery
Join me next Wednesday on Joy’s JOY of Wine http://joysjoyofwine.blogspot.com for a look at a haunted winery located in the rolling hills of Missouri.




And next Friday, we’ll take a walk on the spooky side of Westfield, Indiana where I photographed "snow" on a balmy September night...

~ Joy






Friday, October 4, 2013

Haunted Towns in the Midwest - Miamitown, Ohio


Walking Haunted Miamitown Ohio with the Miamitown Ghost Tours


Once again, the month of October is upon us…. a time for hauntings, Halloween - and all things spooky.  This month, A Grave Interest will travel around the Midwest, taking ghost tours and getting a look at some ‘lively’ places, and, maybe, the spirits who make them so…

I decided early on that it would be smart to get some guides for these haunted jaunts. And who better to seek out than the local experts on all things paranormal in their town.

Matt Hopkins & Garett Merk
On this cloudy night I met with Garett Merk and Matt Hopkins for a private preseason tour. Both men are ghost hunters by trade and more skeptical of sightings and stories than you would expect. Garett is an author of several haunted books and the founder of the Tri-State Paranormal and Oddities Observation Practitioners. Matt is the lead investigator for Cincinnati Area Paranormal Existence Research.


Miamitown Historical Society
The stories told on the 90-minute tour have come from first-hand accounts. History is a passion for this group and it shows. They research the stories and information they are told using newspapers, the local historical society, and by holding their own investigations.
Map of Miamitown, OH

Miamitown is a river town with a rich history. Located on the banks of the Great Miami River, just southwest of Cincinnati, the land was once sacred Shawnee hunting grounds. Then settlers began arriving in the early 1800’s, pushing the Indians westward. Miamitown was incorporated in 1834.





Once the Miamitown Methodist Church
Our tour began at what was once the first church in town, the Miamitown Methodist Church. Founded in 1834, this was the only church in the village for years and it became the heart of the community.

Marker About Event
Tragedy struck on New Year’s Eve morning 1939. On this Sunday fire swept through the church. The children's Sunday school class in the basement did not escape.


Church and Graveyard
Over the years the church has housed an antique store, and is currently home to an art studio. Several specters have been seen wandering the aisles of the antique store, but one seems very poignant. The owner reported it was usually little things like the bell above the entry door ringing, but no one had entered or left. Or items moving around from one place to another. Then one day, while in the basement, she was approached by a little girl dressed in white. When the owner asked if she needed help, the child replied that she was looking for her mother. The owner went upstairs to find the parent but instead discovered that there was no one in the store. When she returned to the basement, the little girl was gone. (But she has been seen from time to time darting among the tombstones late at night.)


Antique Shops on Main

The antique shops in the town are favorite haunts for the spirits of Miamitown. Several others have interesting stories connected to them.





Village Pump Antiques
Tombstone Walk
It’s no surprise that the Village Pump Antiques has had a resident ghost – it is located on what was once cemetery ground. The walkway up to the front porch is paved with old tombstones. In fact, most of the town is located on ground that at one time or another was used to bury their dead.

Stray Cat?
When the building was a private home three sisters lived there. But then one married and moved out and another moved away leaving the third sister, Margaret, content to remain in her family home with her cats.

The Upstairs of Margaret's House
Her home was sold after she died and odd occurrences began happening when the home became a store. A psychic told the owner that there was an older woman upstairs who used to live there. She was very friendly and would appreciate it if people would just say “Hi” to her. Soon everyone greeted Margaret when they entered the store. The psychic checked back about a year later, but Margaret had gone, apparently satisfied that her home was being visited by very friendly people.



Glass Creations
Side View
There is also a haunted glass shop where ghostly children laugh and play. During the Civil War it was home to a family with eight children. Three of them died there – and apparently never left.



Miamitown Elementary School
School Windows
And speaking of children, the local elementary school is said to be haunted by an early settler who has taken up residence in a utility closet. But again, it’s no wonder that spirits roam the hallways. When the town officials were preparing to build the school in the 1950’s they decided that the best location for it was the land that was Cemetery #2.


Matt Standing By Reburials
Miamitown Cemetery
Graves were dug up and the remains and stones moved across the highway to the current cemetery. But as workers began digging deeper they discovered another layer of bodies. These too were moved across the street and reburied near the front of the cemetery. But workers again discovered a third level of graves, probably remains from the cemetery site where the Village Pump Antiques is now located. These were also taken across the road and reburied in the cemetery, where, hopefully they will finally get to rest in peace.


Driving Toward Harrison Street Bridge
But some spirits continue to seek that chance to cross over. The Harrison Street Bridge has a sordid past. This bridge is the fourth structure to cross the Great Miami River here. The first was burned down in 1863 in order to stop Morgan’s Raiders from crossing it. A steel bridge was put up in 1894 and remained for many years, but several fatalities occurred on it. Then in 1989, a temporary bridge was built so that a new one could be constructed across the river.

It was a May day in 1989 when heavy flooding
Flooded Great Miami River
caused the river to swell and the foundation for the temporary bridge began to give way. The bridge was quickly closed, but unfortunately one car did not make it across to the other side before the bridge fell into the raging river. The two women in the car were killed. But those who witnessed the collapse said that there was also a pickup truck crossing behind the car, and it too had fallen into the churning waters.

Close Up of Harrison Street at Bridge
Although officials searched for months, no truck was ever found, nor were any other bodies. What did those on the riverbank see that day, following the car? No one knows for sure but a white appreciation has been seen starting across the bridge just as the car did, hurrying to get across, but it always vanishes before ever reaching the safety of the other side.




Garett and Matt
And there are so many more eerie stories that revolve around this quaint little town. The ghost walking tours lasts about 90 minutes and covers around ½ mile with 13 stops. Tours are suitable for adults and older children. Call (513) 846-0018 or visit their web page at http://www.miamitownghosttours.com, or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/miamitownghosttours
for more information. Tours are available throughout the year.


Horse Drawn Ghost Tours
And, this Saturday, October 5th will be the annual Miamitown ParaFest http://miamitownparafest.com from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This free event is family-friendly and includes well-known ghost hunters, paranormal authors, UFO researchers, psychics, and more. Over a dozen paranormal groups will be on hand to tell stories, answer questions and show off their ghost hunting gear. There’s also a Zombie Walk, horse drawn ghost tours, a ghost hunt for the kids, and you can register to win an opportunity to go on a ghost hunt at a Miamitown haunted site with the Tri-State Paranormal and Oddities Observation Practitioners.

And, did I mention, this event is FREE?!
 
Next Wednesday I’ll have more on a haunted lounge that serves spirits with their spirits on Joy’s JOY of Wine @ http://joysjoyofwine.blogspot.com



Michael Henry
And next Friday, a noted ghost author will take us on a spooky trip through another river town, searching for a missing grave yard, and a lost coven. This is a town which has more than its share of ghosts and spirits…

~ Joy

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* Had to share the very odd photo I took during this tour. This was in the cemetery - Any ideas?