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Ghost
walk explores buildings of McKinney's Chestnut Square - 20081103
By
CHRIS COATS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Cindy
Johnson has heard her share of ghost stories around town but
never anything that she could relate to.
That changed
last summer when Cyndy Long, owner of Alice's Tea Shoppe,
mentioned meeting Ms. Johnson's cat at McKinney's Chestnut
Square.
"She
described our cat even to the point of its distinct meow,"
Ms. Johnson said. "Our cat had died two weeks before
and was buried right next to where she saw it."
More Halloween
news
That's
when Ms. Johnson, executive director of Chestnut Square, unearthed
an idea – an October ghost tour of McKinney.
"It's
sharing McKinney's history with stories that people tie to
the history of the buildings," she said. "If it
takes scaring people silly to share our past, then we'll do
it."
The Legends
of McKinney Ghost Walk, set for Saturday, is a self-guided
tour of paranormal hot spots in downtown: Chestnut Square,
the Old Collin County Prison, the Collin County Courthouse,
the Londoner pub and the North Texas History Center.
A storyteller
will be at each location sharing the stories of the ghoul
old days.
"It's
all about bringing people into McKinney and learning through
the old craft of storytelling," said Nancy Cowlishaw,
a McKinney school district employee who will be stationed
at the old prison.
Stories
like seeing the shadow of a hanging man at the prison's courtyard
area, which was a site for legal hangings until 1921. Or of
a ghostly figure in white who roams the old courthouse.
The Dulaney
Museum and Cottage, once homes to the McKinney family in the
late 1800s and early 1900s, is another hot spot.
"I'm
sure the Dulaneys are happy that we keep sharing their story
even if it is through ghost tales," said Chestnut Square
camp director Heather Boykin, who has also heard her share
of things go bump in the night.
Heather
Harper of Plano and Wendy Harkrider of Wylie were downtown
creeping around the old prison on a recent night. They liked
the idea of a ghost tour.
"I'd
go on it," Ms. Harkrider said. "It's an entertaining
way of learning history."
Martin
Timmerstein, 13, isn't thrilled with the idea. He helps his
mom with events at Chestnut Square and sometimes has to lock
up at night.
"I
hear sounds, and I get really scared," he said. "I
know all of the nooks and crannies of where the ghosts could
be. I'd be good at giving a ghost tour but I won't do it."
Ms. Long
is getting into the spirit of the tour by hosting a Haunted
Tea at Alice's that evening. She and her mother, Judy Canterbury,
have had sightings of an elderly woman at the tea room, and
the feeling of a finger going down spines.
"Many
shop owners have ghosts but won't say because they're afraid
that it will scare off business," Ms. Long said.
"We
definitely have a positive presence here," Ms. Canterbury
said. "Ours mean no harm and are polite. Whenever they
open a door, they always remember to shut it."
GO &
DO: LEGENDS OF McKINNEY GHOST WALK
What: Legends of McKinney Ghost Walk
When:
6 to 10 p.m. Saturday; group tours are available after Saturday
Cost:
$10 admits one, $15 for two; ages 18 and younger are free
with accompanying adult.
Benefits:
North Texas History Center and Chestnut Square Historic Village
Contact:
972-562-8790 or chestnutsquare.org
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