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In
1868, the Episcopal congregation held services in a small church in 1868.
Soon, the congregation of cattle barons and ranchers outgrew the little
church and plans were made to build a larger church. The winter of 1886-87
proved to be a terrible one of blizzards and severe cold which killed many of
the cattle. Since they lacked the prosperity of the ranchers, it took two
more years before they could hold services in the new building. Even after
they opened for services, the bell tower was still not completed so they just
capped it off. In fact, the tower wouldn’t be completed until 1924.
Two
Swedish masons were hired to finish the tower. When it reached 40 feet tall,
the two mason vanished without a trace. The new workers they hired began to
complain of hearing strange tapping noises, hammering and the sounds of
whispering coming from the walls of the tower.
Some
years later, a man came forward to say one of the original masons slipped and
fell to his death. The other mason was afraid he would be discovered and
deported so he panicked and put the man’s remains in the wall of the tower.
The
church used to hold public tours of the tower during Halloween. Once, a
psychic who came to take the tour reported sensing two spirits trapped in the
tower, a white-haired man who walked with a cane and another that seemed very
upset. It is thought that one of the spirits was the mason who fell to his
death, and the other, was Father Rafter who had hired the men.
It
has even been reported by many that they have heard the church pipe organ
that was once located in the tower. The pipe organ had been removed from the
tower long ago. Some have claimed to hear church bells ringing when no one
was there. And still, to this day, people say they can still hear whispers
within the church.
St.
Mark’s Episcopal Church is located at 1908 Central Avenue in Cheyenne,
Wyoming. Sadly, they no longer have the Halloween tour.
The Plains
Hotel
The City of Cheyenne was known as “The Magic
City of the Plains.” As far as hotels were concerned, there was only a dingy
old hotel that had become more like an old watering hole. So, in 1911, the
Plains Hotel was built with all the luxury the day allowed. A grand opening
was held in which men cattle barons and other men of importance dressed in
their finest attire, military gentlemen showed up in full dress and elegant
ladies who attended wore magnificent evening gowns. The party lasted until
the wee hours of the morning with music and dancing.
The
hotel cost $250,000 including furnishings which was a fortune in that day.
The building stood five stories tall, boasting 100 guest rooms and 3
elevators. The lobby was lit by a magnificent mission art skylight panel with
a floor composed of tile and mahogany and the grand staircase of marble and
steel gave the lobby a feeling of grandeur.
Oil tycoons and cattle barons were among the elite who were attracted
to the Plains Hotel for its superior amenities and services, but for one
couple, the hotel would lead to tragedy.
As
the legend goes, a bride named Rosie and her groom checked into the hotel for
their honeymoon. One evening, her groom went down to the bar to have a drink
and began a conversation with a prostitute. When Rosie noticed his prolonged
absence, she went down to the lobby in search of him and found him leaving
the bar with the prostitute. Rosie followed them to the fourth floor to the
woman’s room and, hurt and enraged with jealousy, she shot them both.
Since
the tragedy, people have reported seeing all three spirits roaming the hotel.
The groom has been seen in many different places wearing black, formal long
tails, black boots and a white shirt with a silver top button. Most often he
is seen either on the fourth floor or in the basement.
The “other woman” is most often seen on the
second floor wear a short red dress with white lace. On one occasion, the
hotel was decorated for Halloween and two mannequins dressed in wedding
attire were placed in the lobby. Just as one of the employees spotted the
“other woman”, the mannequin of the bride toppled over. The vision of the
“other woman” immediately vanished.
The
Plains Hotel continues to thrive today with 130 renovated rooms and amenities
to suite its modern day guests.
The Alamo, San
Antonio, Texas
259 Texans and the nearly 1500 Mexican Army
troops lost their lives at the Alamo. So, it makes you wonder if just maybe
some ghosts still there. Many locals living in San Antonio, Texas they will
tell you that spirits, ghosts of those doomed men, still walk the grounds of
old mission. The Alamo is considered by many to be one of the most haunted
sites in the nation.
Many
of you already know that in 1836 Texas was part of Mexico ruled by the
dictator General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, ( also known as the 'Napoleon of
the West.' Many citizens of the United States had come to Texas years earlier
their rights as foreign-born landowners guaranteed by the Mexican
constitution. When Santa Anna decided to nullify the constitution, Texans were
incensed and a revolt ensued.
The
bombardment of the Alamo by cannon fire went on for thirteen days and nights
as the approximately 200 defenders sat inside, surrounded by an army of
5,000. In the end all but the women and children were killed.
Here
is a person account by a man who experienced the haunted Alamo first hand:
"I'll
never go back in the Alamo again," swears Jorge, a native of San
Antonio. "It was closing time and the guard was locking up. I looked
over to where the case is that displays Bowie's knife and I noticed a man
standing there gazing into the display case. I figured he must have been an
enthusiastic docent because he was all dressed in old fashion clothing."
"Then
I realized I was looking at a ghost. I know it sounds crazy, but I realized I
could see right through him," Jorge explains.
(I
have been to the Alamo and I have stood in that very spot. It gives me chills
to think of it now.)
There
are many ghost stories about the Alamo even to the days right after its fall.
The bodies of the defeated Texas defenders were stacked up and burned, never
receiving a Christian burial. Now you probably know that’s going to have some
consequences right there.
When
Mexican soldiers were ordered to return to the mission and completely destroy
it they were met by a giant ghostly figure standing atop the mission
brandishing a ball of fire. Terrified they retreated. The ghost appeared
again when the commander went to get the job done, and he fled in fear as
well.
Another
frequent ghostly visitor is that of a little girl dressed in white who
appears in the top window of the building that is now the gift shop. From the
outside of the building she seems to appear looking out the second story
window…but that there is no second story and the window is twenty feet above
the floor, a bit high for a child to peer out.
I
find it hard to believe in ghosts, but I’ve been to the Alamo and it
certainly has a haunted air to it. With all those men who lost their lives on
that ground it’s no wonder if their spirits still linger there.
By
the way, if you’re interested, they do tours of the ghosts that haunt San
Antonio.
Knight Hall,
Forest Grove, Oregon
Knight
Hall Forest Grove, Oregon was once a private three-story home, but now houses
the music department of the University. After the home was converted for the
university, a ghost that has been named Vera would move through the halls,
singing, and playing the piano. Allegedly, the stories were confirmed in 1979
by a group of young reporters. One of the reporters began to play the piano
and Vera repeatedly said, “Please stop.” The reporters left and returned the
next night with more friends. When they once again started to play the piano,
Vera is said to have released a loud sigh.
Well,
maybe Vera had a reason to sigh depending on the musical ability of the
reporters. Still, I would be creeped out.
I
hope all of you have a safe and fun
Halloween. I’m at a Halloween party tonight and, when I return, I’ll reply to
anyone who comes by and leaves a comment…if you’re not too scared.
If you are looking for a ghostly read HARMONICA JOE'S RELUCTANT BRIDE is just the book for you. It's a time travel western with a ghostly encounter.
A
haunted house, a trunk and a date with destiny.
Lola Barton discovers a warp in time in an
old trunk when she falls into 1910. She finds herself married to Joseph Wilding,
a stranger shadowed by secrets. Mistaken for Callie McGraw,
a thief and a woman of ill repute, Lola
finds her life is threatened by a scoundrel. Joe
stands between her and certain death. With danger threatening all around and
secrets keeping them apart, can Joe
and Lola find their destiny together?
Or will time and circumstance forever divide them?
EXCERPT:
Harmonica
music floated down from the attic—the last place in this tumble down wreck of a
house Lola Barton wanted to go. Had someone or something taken up residence there? Lola
made her way up the darkened attic stairs measuring each step as the ancient
boards creaked in protest under her feet.
Her flashlight beamed a narrow circle of light illuminating the
cobweb-covered door at the top of the landing.
Her heart raced and pulsed in her ears.
Hands trembled with the surge of adrenaline as she pressed forward. She ignored her inner voice that warned,
“Don’t go!”
Her
cynical mind told her the rumors that Misty
Oaks Plantation had ghosts weren’t true.
The tales of murder and betrayal had to be the overactive imagination of
the local townspeople. A homeless
vagrant had to be the most logical explanation for the disturbance.
Once
she gained the landing, she blew the cobwebs from the door and leaned her ear
against it to listen for any movement on the other side. Wisps of harmonica music lifted in the
air. Perhaps someone left a harmonica
lying around and the wind blew hard enough through the cracks in the walls to
make it sound as though someone played the instrument. Just the wind. No ghost.
With
her courage bolstered by her logical conclusion, she grabbed the doorknob and
turned it.
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During our recent trip to Montana and Wyoming, I discovered
Cody, Wyoming. I had never been there, but always wanted to, partly because I
always like the name. My youngest son is named Cody. 
Rheumatism set in during his aging years in the 1890’s and he
found relief in the hot springs near Cody, Wyoming. The winter of 1899 his
health failed and he was sent to the old soldier’s home in California, where he
died in January of 1900. 
