Chillicothe held its annual ghost walk this weekend. I go for the history stories and for a glimpse inside areas of buildings not ordinarily accessible to the public. Some visitors though are deeply into the ghost story aspect of the tour.
This year’s tour featured four locations.
Guests got to go backstage, onstage and upstairs to an abandoned ballroom at the Majestic Theater. This is America’s longest continuously operating theater and a fun place to see a show. It was used as a makeshift morgue during the 1918 Spanish Influenza, creating a certain sense of intrigue around the spaces where bodies were stored and processed during that crisis.
The tour also went into the former Odd Fellows Lodge which was on the second and third stories of a stained glass shop. This building has many cool features that are remnants of the fraternal organization that once met there. That group did a lot of good for the community but the tour guides seemed ill informed, some even suggesting that something inappropriate might have gone on in their meetings. Still, I enjoyed seeing inside the building.
The Chamber of Commerce was another stop. This nicely remodeled building is a hub for much good in the county and has been on the city’s Main Street for a long while. The thing I loved best about this stop was the new mural on their building. Click here to see it!
The fourth stop this year was the Franklin House which is a beautiful old home operated by the historical society. I really enjoyed our visit here and would like to go back someday for a more in-depth tour. The home features mostly original furnishings, gorgeous stained glass windows, and some truly lovely architectural features.
This is an annual event so mark your calendar far for next September. It includes a different variety of locations every year so you have a different experience every time.
