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Cultural Musings on Chatham-Kent
CHATHAM'S GHOSTLY SITES
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The wind whistles around deserted buildings, there's a bit of a bite in the air and shadowy shapes appear and disappear in river parks and half-deserted streets.The atmosphere conspires, the cool night air beckons and you are ready to once again to explore the haunted side of Chatham's past in its hidden highways and baffling byways.
This year we will be once again offering not only our usual fare of Ghost Walks but also, for the very first time, Ghost Bus Tours will be offered within the former City of Chatham to eerie sites previously not available by foot.
On Friday October 13th and Saturday October 14th (as part of this year's Harvestfest Celebrations) we will be offering our first ever in- town Haunted Bus Tours.
These in town bus tours will visit sites where strange apparitions, mysterious happenings and ghostly visits have occurred with such regularity and with so much supporting evidence from first hand reports that we cannot ignore nor dismiss their existence.
On this in town bus tour we will visit sites where the ghosts of children, a heroic fire fighter, a conscientious doctor, a despondent older lady and a mischievous young lady have made their presence known in a variety of ways and means.
We will also take you to a spot on Chatham's south side where a rather frightening "dark presence" has made itself known to a number of residents on a number of occasions over the years. It's a story that is bound to result in more than one sleepless night.
Plans are also underway to have step-on visits at various spots by people who have had personal experiences with the unknown as well as a few surprise visits. All in town bus tours leave from the Central Library parking lot on Cross Street at 7:00 P.M., 8:00 P.M., and 9:00 P.M. and ticket prices are $15.00 Adult and Child .
On Friday October 20th and Saturday October 21st we will be once again offering our traditional Ghost Walks that have been so popular over the last number of years. This year's Ghost Walking Tour takes in some of the most haunted spots in Downtown Chatham and in the area near Tecumseh Park.
It will be approximately one hour of easy walking and short distances. It will take in some of the most popular spots that we have visited on all of our previous Ghost Walking Tours. It will be a sort of "Best of the Haunted Sites" in Chatham's downtown area. Surprise visits updated stories and new twists await those who dare to take to the eerie streets of old Chatham with us one more time.
All Ghost Walks will leave from the Centennial Clock area outside the Downtown Chatham Center at 7:00 P.M., 7:30 P.M., 8:00 P.M. and 8:30 P.M on both nights of the Walk. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children under twelve.
Tickets for both of these tours (in town bus tours and walking tours)
Will be available in the Downtown Chatham Mall (look for our "Ghost Walk Sign" and our version of "Casper" clinging to it) during regular mall hours on Friday October 13th, Saturday October 14th as well as Friday October 20th and Saturday October 21st or you can reserve tickets for both of these ghostly forays by phoning 360-7638, 351-2958 or 351-2058.
Bring your camera on both of these tours and snap away. Previous participants have captured some interesting images, orbs and unexplained phenomena. It might be interesting to have a picture of a mysterious orb in your wallet right along with your favourite grand child and challenge your friends and relatives to correctly identify which is which!
Jim and Lisa Gilbert are local, national and international award winning educators and historians.
