JACKSONVILLE, OR – With the pioneer spirits and ghosts that linger in this old gold mining town becoming increasingly restless as we approach November 1, the Day of the Dead, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will be attempting to placate them with two October nights of Jacksonville Haunted History walking tours to share their stories of woe, sorrow, and regret!
On Friday, October 12, a walk than includes the historic courthouse and jail features brothels, epidemics, and hangings. On Saturday, October 13, a walk up Britt Hill shares tales of arson, saloons, and Oregon’s first Chinatown. Both tours include several haunted houses. Tours are offered five times each night at 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45, and 7:00 pm.
These approximately one-hour walks, which leave from the Jacksonville Visitors Center at the corner of North Oregon and C streets, have limited space. Reservations are strongly encouraged. “Walk ups” will be accommodated based on space available. The cost is $5 per person (cash or check), with profits going to historic preservation efforts.
“Here in Jacksonville we take our history seriously,” notes Carolyn Kingsnorth, President of Historic Jacksonville, Inc. “We respect the legacy the pioneers left us. But we’ve also learned that some of these pioneers were reluctant to leave and are still with us in the form of spirits and ghosts. There are those who have never repented of their misdeeds; children who were victims of the town’s many epidemics; individuals bound by love of place or object; Chinese whose bodies were never returned to their homeland to be buried in native soil; and more!
“These tours are not your typical ‘ghost tours’ with special effects. They are history tours about real hauntings resulting from past events. The stories—some scary, some benign—come from multiple sources, from people who have experienced these lingering spirits. These tours are our attempt to recognize and honor these restless souls.”
The two routes are completely different. “They give participants the opportunity to come back for more and give us the opportunity to share more of Jacksonville’s storied history,” Carolyn notes. “Historic Jacksonville’s mission is to bring history to life…although I’m not sure how ‘lively’ we want these lingering spirits to be!”
These are the last public Jacksonville Haunted History tours of 2018. It may be possible to arrange for private tours for groups of 10 or more for $10 per person.
On October 20 and 21, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. offers Beekman House Museum “Victorian Mourning Customs” as part of a month-long celebration of the “spirits of Jacksonville.”
For Jacksonville Haunted History reservations, contact info@historicjacksonville.org or phone 541-245-3650. For additional information, visit www.historicjacksonville.org.