Not political but...

[xmas74]

just wanted an opinion. I live in West Central Missouri, not all that far from KC. I've done a bit of reading about my county's history and have found it quite interesting-lots of fun old stories and such.

Anyway, I've thought about doing a walking ghost (paranormal) tour in the fall. I know I'll probably need a permit from the city (I'd do the walking so that I don't have to worry about additional licenses to drive, heavy insurance amounts, etc). I have a preliminary route plotted, I've got the stories for the homes/businesses/spots on the route, (all have been found in books, in records, in stories online or have been relayed to me by former coworkers whom have lived in this county for most of their lives). I've got the ideas and I even have a friend who wants to help out. She also wants us to write the stories down and submit them, along with other ghost stories in neighboring counties.

What I really want to know is if everyone thinks this is silly or a fun idea. I have both the history of each spot and the ghost story to throw together. My friend and I did a tour ourselves, walking slowly and looking over the index cards at each spot. We figure the tour would last about 45 minutes-well worth a few dollars. Right now I'm just sounding others out, besides my family (who hate the idea) and my friends (who love the idea).

Is it a silly idea?

[jbm]

1. I think it's a great idea..

and if you keep us updated, I'd love to come and take your tour.

I have a friend who did something similiar several few years ago. Sedalia used to have a notorious red light district, and if you know what you're looking at you can still find evidence of the brothels in the old buildings and alleyways on mainstreet. Mainstreet was also home to the Maple Leaf Club, so my friend scheduled her walking tours during the Scott Joplin festival and did fairly well. I remember she charged five dollars a person, but I don't know how much money she took in.

It sounds like big fun to me!

[xmas74]

2. I'm still looking into it.

And Sedalia has a great one over there, with that old party road out there(forgotten the name but B___ might remember-we used to party out there as college students and the tale was that supposedly the Devil himself would wander that road late at night). The historic downtown is a good place for a tour there too and that train station has some interesting memories. And Sedalia has the Asylum cam there too.

Our old train depot was a Civil War training ground (this is Warrensburg)-the North practiced on one side of the tracks while the South practiced on the other. Pine Street was full of breweries and brothels-and the home of the Magnolia Opera House. Supposedly a few lost their lives up there. There is a very old house not far off of downtown that supposedly housed influenza patients. The old hospital is right there downtown and it's quite creepy at night (I worked there.) And then you have UCM (formerly known as CMSU). There are a number of old ghost stories there!

I also discussed with my friend about offering a map for sale for a couple of dollars for after the tour. The map would be of the entire county instead of just the city and would give out the "hot spots" for additional visits. There's the site of a nasty multiple murder, the street in a small town that has a hermit who appears with his lantern during storms, the site where a girl still appears years after she died in an accident, the small cemetery with the glowing headstone-even the best place in the county to spot lights that might be from a UFO and the area where MO-MO has also been sighted. (MO-MO is known in Benton Co but has been spotted supposedly in Henry and Johnson. He's Missouri's equivalent of Bigfoot.)

[jbm]

3. Now I'm going to be disappointed if you don't do it....

because I'm thinking it sounds like big fun!

I'm familiar with most of the stories you mentioned, but I had never heard about an asylum cam. Our elected officials are almost all republican..did they install a webcam in the courthouse or something? :)

[xmas74]

4. The site is called asylum cam

but it's a house in Sedalia that is supposedly haunted. The owners have webcams set up in the living room and the hallway, where most of the activity occurs. The cams can be viewed at any time online for free.

http://www.asylumcam.com/Default.asp

A former coworker believes she knows exactly which house it is. She graduated from Smith-Cotton and she claims that there is a house that is supposedly quite well known for being haunted. The owners of the site will not release the actual address or show any outside shots that might identify but they have stated repeatedly that the house is in Sedalia.

My best friend lives in Marshall and she has said that if we can't get the permits for the 'Burg then maybe we could try Marshall-between the courthouse and Arrow we'd have a good 30 minutes right there. (There are documented hangings for the courthouse and I know of at least 2 houses on Arrow w/ histories-one a friend in high school lived in and swore to a number of things, the other a now deceased professor at MVC lived in and swore that there was activity. (Oh, and he was a reverend, fwiw.)



With either town it's just a matter of being allowed by the city. Oh, and if you have any good stories about the area pm me-we really are working on a decent collection. We might just go for mid Missouri, if we have enough.

[jbm]

5. thanks for that link!!

I'd never heard of anything like that before, but I e-mailed it to a friend of mine and we're going to go drive around and see if we can identify the house tomorrow.

I know a few stories, but there is lady who lives here who is a really neat person. She is VERY liberal, has a doctorate in history and has been an English professor at the college. She's brilliant and radical and drives the local powers that be nuts because she is constantly challenging them. The reason I'm telling you about her though is because her doctorate thesis was on the bordellos in this area. She has also written several historical articles about lynchings, and murders and unjust commitments to mental institutions. If I'm remembering correctly, at least one of her articles took place in the Warrensburg area. I could easily arrange a meeting if you ever have some free time.

Thanks again for the link, and I hope this works out for you!

[xmas74]

6. That would be great someday!

I really need to try to contact my best friend. She's a teacher and her masters is in history. (At least I think that's what she finally completed it in-she was back and forth between that and spec ed.) Anyway, if B_ really wants to push the stories we could meet her sometime in Sedalia, since that would be the halfway point for both of us. (She lives in Marshall, I live in the 'Burg.)

And even if we don't get the permits for the ghost walk: did you know that we do have a cemetery walk every year in town here? It's free to the public for one day only and run by the historical society. They have UCM theatre students dress up and do a monologue as the person who they are representing-someone buried in the cemetery. It's always on a Sunday afternoon in October-usually the second week. And our Halloween is fun here too-instead of the usual door-to-door most of our children trick-or-treat downtown. The fire dept feeds them supper and then each and every business downtown gives them candy, toys, gift certificates, etc. The business owners and the employees all dress up in costumes, the doors are wide open, Halloween-themed music is playing, there is a hayride, a costume parade, and two of the businesses even have free mini haunted businesses. Kids love it.

I really suspect that if I start the tours the weekend of the cemetery tour and go through Halloween night I could make some decent money, which is desperately needed right now. I'm laid off at this moment.

[jbm]

7. I'm sorry to hear you're laid off..

If your idea becomes a reality, maybe being laid off will turn out to have been your defining moment. I'll definitly try to make the cemetary walk, and hopefully take your tour then as well!

Let me know if it works out for you guys to meet in Sedalia, and I'll introduce you to my professor friend! (She is usually free on Wednesday afternoons for sure, but if that doesn't work I bet we could find some other time)

[xmas74]

8. I've tried to call Brandi all day today.

She might have finally left the house w/ the kids in tow. She missed teaching summer school because she had surgery and is probably going stir-crazy right about now. Hopefully I can soon contact her so we can get this show on the road!

As to being laid off: I've thought about going over to State Fair and completing a secretarial certification. It's quick and something I already know-just don't have the certificate. (I studied history and economics in college instead.) Around here they want the education for the job instead of the straight office experience. Only problem is the ongoing up and down of prices at the pumps. :(

I'm taking every free bit course online I can find and printing out the certificates for each one I complete, so I can add them to my resume. I've thought about taking secretarial courses at the local votech but don't know if I want to be stuck in a class full of giggling high school girls. Either way, I'll be spending my time doing something productive.

[ikojo]

9. There are ghost tours in Alton IL..you might want to

Go here for more information...

http://www.hauntedalton.com/

Rather than trying to invent the wheel yourself, they might be able to help you get your tour off the ground.

[xmas74]

10. I've been to a few before.

I know what the basics are but need to find out mainly the permits and such that are needed. They are different from town to town and, knowing my luck, will be hard to obtain in my area.

I've heard that they are quite expensive here.