Ghost Tour Kicks Off Halloween Season
“If you see me, a red cloaked figure riding past in the dark, don’t be afraid. I’m only surveying my land. I’m only visiting you, my neighbors.”
These were the words of an actor portraying a ghost in the annual Ghost in the Mist Walking Tour presented by the Beacon Historical Society in Beacon, N.Y.
Visitors gathered under the light of a full moon at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 666, located at 413 Main St., on Oct. 12 and 13 to hear stories from actors depicting historical figures relevant to the area.
“It’s such a joy to share history with the people that grew up here,” said Robin Lucas, Vice President of the Beacon Historical Society. “And the people who visit here are so impressed with the history that we have.”
Groups were guided by lantern light around the city as they listened to several scary stories, the sounds of crickets and other insects chirping in the backdrop.
“It’s a full moon, it’s almost Halloween, I love Beacon and I wanted to get festive for Halloween,” said Hopewell resident Jo-Ann Mosca, who attended the event with her family.
Stops on the tour included the VFW, which was dedicated to Pvt. William B. Wilson, the first Beacon resident to die in World War I, the Madam Brett Homestead, and the Howland Cultural Center.
Each year the Beacon Historical Society rotates accounts of historical figures prominent in the city’s history. Society members, professional actors, and even volunteers from local high schools led tours and performed monologues about these individuals.
“Another joyful part [of this event] is bringing together the artistic world of acting with history,” said Lucas, who also acts as co-head of the tours committee. “Art doesn’t have to be in a gallery, it can be on the streets. This goes with the artistic movement of Beacon.”
The duration of the tour lasted a little over an hour and spanned a half mile radius of walking.
2019 marks the third year that the historical society has hosted this event.
Lucas explained the idea to arrange a ghost tour began when she was trying to find more information on her house with the historical society. While doing her research, she found a diary that belonged to Abiel LaForge, a man who lived in Beacon in the 1800s, with documentations of paranormal activity. Soon an investigation was launched to find more chilling tales respective to the city.
“They did a great job,” said Mosca once the tour concluded. “I’m going to go to the Historical Society just to check it out because now I want to learn even more.”
The tours will be held once again on Oct. 25 and 26, the weekend before Halloween. Tickets are sold in advance online, but may also be purchased at the event.
General admission costs $15, while admission for children under 18 years of age costs $10. Proceeds from the event benefit the Beacon Historical Society.
“[The ghost tour] introduces history in exciting way that brings it all to life,” said Lucas. “It shows the public that it doesn’t have to be boring to know history. We hope they join [their] local historical society to preserve and to keep education going.”
