Haunting at Old Andalusia College

I'm sure you can tell by now this is one of those months that I love searching for ghost, witches and goblins of years past. This one reminds me of some of the haunted homes on Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

Printed  Sunday the 26th of December 1886 in the Kansas City Time out of Kansas City, Missouri

DR. CHAPMAN’S GHOST.

A Remarkable Apparition to Two Frightened

Philadelphians

[Philadelphia Times.]

There are two men in this city who are willing to take oath that the building at Andalusia known as “Old Andalusia college” is haunted. One of them is H. W. Eshaback, a member of the Philadelphia bar, and the other is Frank Tygh, a cigar manufacturer. A short time ago these two gentlemen passed the night with a friend, John Endiectt, in the old college, and since that time they have been starting their acquaintances with frightful stories of a ghost seen there. As a proof of his statement Mr. Eshback exhibits a bad looking upper lip, which he says was swollen up by coming in contact with the bonafide ghost. Their stories have gained considerable credence at Andalusia, where the affair is said to have taken place, and the citizens look upon the old college buildings with more than ordinary suspicion. Old Andalusia college is a three-story wooden building with a mansard roof, and is nearly fifty years old. It is situated at the junction of two roads about ten minutes’ walk form the Pennsylvania railroad station. The structure presents a ghostly appearance, and being surrounded by large, tall cedar trees, is not a place where any citizen would like to pass a dark night alone. It has been said or many years that the house was haunted.

When the college was in a flourishing condition under Dr. Chapman, twenty years ago, Mrs. Chapman and a young man named Minor become enamored of each other. Feeling that the doctor was an obstruction to the free enjoyment of their love, they accomplished his death by the aid of arsenic. In trying to obliterate traces of the crime some of the arsenic was thrown into the yard, where some of the ducks ate it and died. The death of the ducks in such a manner led to an investigation, resulting in the arrest of both Mrs. Chapman and young Minor. Minor was hanged. Mrs. Chapman escaped the law. Since that time the house has had the reputation of being haunted. Persons in that neighborhood say they saw lights in the house for years, and few of them would pass it after dark. After the murder the college proved a failure, and no one could be found willing to occupy it. The owner of the premises had a portion of the building torn down, and the remainder fitted up as a boarding house, but the unsavory reports concerning it prevented him from getting a tenant. Mr. Endicott finally offered to occupy the place, and has now been living there for some months.

Horace W. Eshback said yesterday; “A friend of mine, John F. Endicott, resides in the old Andalusia college, and the other day he invited me over to pay him a visit. Of course I accepted the invitation, taking with me Frank Tygh, a cigar dealer of this city. The weather was none of the best in the morning, and by afternoon a rain and snow storm arose which lasted until early the next morning. We had intended to return to the city on one of the late afternoon trains, but, as the storm raged without promise of early abatement, we decided to remain over. It must have been near midnight when we went to bed. We were shown to the spare room. This apartment was very large, with three deep windows, two doors and a fireplace. The old college has about twenty rooms, the larger number of which are unoccupied, and Tygh, who is a short, fleshy man and much given to the subject of spooks, shuddered as we walked down the hall, and muttered something about its being an elegant night for ghosts to play football. We entered the room, and Tygh thought someone was yelling but he grew more composed when I told him it was only the wind. The wind was really howling as if the very imps of iniquity were frenzied in the delights of a free night. With the wind whistling through the tall cedar trees it was almost impossible to sleep. Anyhow I could not sleep, and lay listening to the noises outside and to the snoring of my roommate.

Suddenly a light spread through the room, a light like that produced by a candle. In the surprise or rather astonishment of the moment I turned and sat up in the bed. I tell you what I saw made me feel sick and wish I was almost anywhere else.  Before me was what appeared to be the bust of a man, perhaps 45 years of age, the shoulders covered with a mantle. The face had a perfectly natural appearance, only it lacked mobility, and the whole seemed to be resting on a cloud of snow. The terrible apparition was moving about the room and I thought it might be a robber, but I noticed that there were no lower limbs, but that it gilded around like a balloon. Now, I am not a believer in spirits, but I was frightened. “What do you want?” I asked, hardly aware of what I was saying. The sound of my voice awakened Tygh. He sat bolt upright in bed, gave one glance and tumbled over onto the floor and began to pray. Tygh is not a religious man. The answer I received from the ghost was in the form of a severe blow to the mouth, cutting my lips badly and stretching me at full length on the bed.

“Almost simultaneously with the blow the figure noiselessly exploded and seemed to go straight up through the wall. The light did not go out for some time, but gradually died away, leaving us in darkness. I jumped up and lighted a lamp and found Tygh doubled up in a heap on the floor, almost insensible. I looked around the room and found the windows closed, the doors locked, and everything in the condition it was when we retired. I will admit that I was frightened and the quickness with which I dressed myself and hauled Tygh down stairs was something wonderful it is perhaps unnecessary to say that we spent the remainder of the night before a glowing fire in the sitting room. When Endicott saw me in the morning he laughed and wanted to know where I got my thick lips. I did not cate to tell him the truth, so I replied that I had struck it on the bed post in getting into bed. Now, as I said before I do not believe in ghosts or anything of the sort, but I’m going to investigate that matter and capture whatever it is, that is, providing it is anything human.”

Mr. Tygh swears that he saw the whole business and relates to a story similar to that of Mr. Eshback. He says he knows there is a ghost in the old building and money could not hire him to pass another night there.

Dead Man Walking

Don’t let the title of the article lead you in the wrong direction. I of course thought the title would lead to another perfect article from GenealgoyBank.com for the Halloween season. This one appeared in the Kansas City Star paper out of Kansas City, Missouri in November of 1918. I’m sure some of us have been told or told someone else they have twin walking around. Well this unknown twin had some amazing similarities. 

SAW “DEAD MAN” WALKING

DAUGHTER AND WIFE OF “CORPSE”

WERE TAKING BURIAL CLOTHES.

A Man Who Committed Suicide Had

Been Identified As Absent Member

of Family When Relatives Saw Him on Street.

An unidentified man committed suicide last Sunday at 214 Missouri Avenue by taking poison. Efforts to identify him failed. The body was sent to the John J. Sheehan undertaking rooms, Thirty-first and Campbell streets, and a small news item was carried in the newspapers the day following.

And then ensued an amazing recital that was vouched for by Mr. Sheehan.

A woman who had seen the newspaper notice called to see the body Wednesday. She said she had separated from her husband and he had threatened to end his life. She took one look at the man lying on the undertaker’s slab.

WOMAN IDENTIFIES THE BODY

“It’s my husband,” she said.

Then she decided to make sure. The dead man had a stubby iron gray mustache, had worn a blue serge suit, had carried a brown cane, and there was an Odd Fellow’s pin in the lapel of his coat. He was 6 feet and weighted slightly more than two hundred pounds, the undertaker estimated. His age was about 70 years. Every point tallied with the woman’s description of her husband.

“Let me look at his forehead,” the woman said.

Just below the forelock she counted eight small scars. Her husband had exactly the same marks on the forehead, she said.

HAD SAME PHYSICAL DEFECTS

“My husband’s right leg was broken between the knee and the ankle and the leg was two inches shorter than the other,” she said.

An examination of the dad man showed he had the same physical imperfection.

Positive in her identification, the woman asked her daughter to view the body. The daughter arrived, took one look at the dead man and fainted.

The woman’s son and son-in-law came to assist in the funeral arrangements. They, too, were certain of the dead man’s identity. The relatives left. The husband and father was to be given a fitting burial.

FAINT WHEN THEY SEE A MAN

The members of the family obtained burial clothing and returned to the undertaker’s in a motor car. Near their destination one of the women, looking from the motor car, saw a man walking on the sidewalk. She screamed and fainted. Then the other woman looked at the man and she fainted.

The car was stopped. A man dressed in a blue serge suit, walking with a limp, carrying a brown cane, wearing an Odd Fellow’s pin and with eight small scars on his forehead entered it. The women revived expressed joy and chagrin. The party proceeded to the undertaker’s.

THE UNDERTAKER GASPED

The returning “mourners” were met at the front door by the Undertaker Sheehan. When the “corpse” himself stepping in the undertaker gasped, then recovered sufficiently to invite the stranger to the rear room to meet his double.

So an unidentified man who committed suicide last Sunday at 214 Missouri Avenue, will be buried tomorrow morning, unmourned and unattended. His resting place will be in the potter’s field of the Highland Park Cemetery. Kansas side, and Jackson County will pay the funeral expenses. 

Is it Really Witches?

While continuing to look for interesting articles, Genealogybank.com, which fit in with the upcoming holiday of Halloween this one, caught my eye. It appeared in the Kansas City Times out of Kansas City, MO in December of 1888. Obviously witches in the title caught my eye but then after reading it I wasn’t sure the reporter was really referring to witches.  I wonder if he was finding a creative way of reporting on the meeting of gossiping women in the community. I don’t know judge for yourself and let me know what your think.

When Witches Should Appear.

(New York Mail and Express.)

Guests at 5 o’clock tea must fancy themselves now and then participating in the ceremonies round a witches’ cauldron. The shades are drawn, but gas is tabooed, and the candles do not burn very high. In the semi-obscurity on tiptoes from group to group, waiting for the mysterious revels to begin. The logs in the fireplace throw out a fitful blaze, casting all manner of strange lights and shadows. By and by they burn down and only a handful of red coals is left. Then voices drop almost to whispers, and the only light seems to be shed by the blue flame of alcohol in the tea stand over which my lady’s kettle hangs simmering. It is weird, almost ghostly, and the curious thing is that nobody seems to know what it is for. Somebody says that somebody else came home from the country with a bruise on her forehead from a fall received while riding, and refused to light up until her face was well. Society caught the gloomy infection, and it is time some impetus was given the other way. 

Old Satan Himself

While conducting research I often visit Genealogy Bank.com and search their historical  newspapers. While doing some research for a family in Missouri I came across this article from the October 23, 1920 Kansas City Star newspaper out of Kansas City, Missouri.  I couldn't help but find it perfect to share with all of you especially with Halloween right around the corner.

HALLOWEEN IS ON SUNDAY.

October 31 Is Date of Witches’ and

Goblins’ Annual Frelie

Sunday is a poor day for devils

and hobgoblins, but their one day

on earth this year will be Sunday.

October 31, the eve of All Saints

Day – Hallowe’en. It may be that

the good fairies and the good

ghosts that surely will be out Sun-

day, will frighten away the devils

and witches, but there is no his-

torical foundation for the state-

ment, Hallowe’en is Hallowe’en,

history shows, and has been for

thirteen hundred years, regardless

of whether it fell on Sunday, Fri-

day or any other day.

     _______________________

   Pumpkin devils with fiery eyes, cats

as black as midnight, and cone-hatted

witches astride broomsticks will be as

numerous in Kansas City this year as in

years gone by, dealers in Hallowe’en goods

declare. Black cates with green eyes and

white whiskers can be seen peeking out

from behind big red devils with ugly black

horns, in the stores downtown. Near

them are little white pumpkin devils with

red noses, medium sized pumpkinheads

with big blue eyes, and large, yellow

pumpkins with big, scary eyes. And there

are the wide-eyed bats, the wise old owls

and the image of old Satan himself. There

are hats and masks for would be witches, and

masks and robes for the ghosts of witches’

night. There are rattlers, squawkers,

whistles and horns for noise; marshmal-

llows for toasting, pumpkins for pies, ap-

ples to bob for.

   Even the florists are entering into the

spirit, and while they know of no par-

ticular flower for Hallowe’en, big, yel-

low chrysanthemums’ and the newer

reddish-brown tritomas are being pre-

pared for use in decorations. There are

new designs in invitations, place cards,

menu and dance folders, but they all con-

tain black cats and witches.

   Books of Hallowe’en games give new

amusements and forfeits. The old

Games, too, are detailed. We will have

almost the same Hallowe’en our great-

grandfathers had, and the same our

great-grandchildren will enjoy. 

A Look Back at Ancestry Day in Kansas City

  I've been spending the past few days here in the Kansas City area enjoying the Ancestry Day event sponsored by the Midwest Genealogy Center. I'm one of the lucky ones who were invited by close and dear friends that not only welcomed me into their home but is also feeding and entertaining me. Thank you Kathleen and John, I must not forget Sheba who is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever had the pleasure of licking my plate clean.

     For those of you who were not aware this event let me recap on come of the specifics. Independence, Missouri’s own Midwest Genealogy Center is hosting this wonderful event for Ancestory.com, hence the name Ancestry Day. It is supposed to be a wonderful four day event starting on the 14th of March lasting thru the 17th of March.   

     They had a wide verity of speakers during this conference starting on Thursday with Ellen Miller, Angela McComas, Kathleen Brandt (who is taught two classes), and Beth Foulk. I attended all of the classes and assisted in the two classes taught by Kathleen.  I’m happy to say that I at least learned something new in each class and had a fun time interacting with those who attended.

     Friday came around and there were only two classes which were fine because some of us had some research to do on our own.  Jolene Clark and Beth Foulk were the presenters on Friday and both of their classes appeared to be full.

     So far I've attended two days of events and I've found there to be some useful information for all levels of genealogist and family historians.  On Saturday I sat in on the Ancestry Day event that I must say was quite large with 1,000+ attendees. The guest speakers were Anne Mitchell, Lou Szucs and Janice Schultz from Ancestry.com. They not only shared different techniques on using their web site but also shared some personal experience of their own on the road to discovering their family’s history. I recommend that you take time to play with the site if you currently have it and find all the interesting search tools, there are many,  if you don't have access to it at home then take a trip to your local library.

     Then came the final day, and all good things must come to an end.  It ended back at the Midwest Genealogy Center on Sunday.  The final presenters for the Ancestry Day event were   Beth Foulk, Cynthia Shiverly and Angela McComas.

     Now as I’m sitting here in the KCI airport piecing together my post on this event there are a couple of things that keep coming to my attention. For those who asked the question, “I don’t even know what that means?” they were able to receive an answer, which is always nice.  Attending genealogy conferences are always helpful in some way, you might get the answers to some nagging questions, meet others who have the same passion in genealogy as you and you always have the chance to make new acquaintances and friends. I’m glad to say that I’ve accomplished all.