Historical Society’s Ghost Walk returns
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
Every other year, for the past decade or so, the East Troy Area Historical Society invites the public to learn about some of the “haunted” houses in the village with its Spirits of East Troy Ghost Walk.
One of the Historical Society’s biggest fundraisers, event coordinators are expecting a large turnout this year with people from all over coming for the thrills and chills.
Organizers say the 2014 Ghost Walk had about 200 people show up for the fun.
Walkers will gather at the East Troy Area Historical Museum on the village square starting at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, to make their donation and receive a wristband. Tour groups will head out one by one, beginning at about 7 p.m. with the last tour leaving at about 9:30 p.m.
Each group will have two tour guides, dressed in the 1900s era clothing, carrying lanterns to fit the part of days gone by.
The tour groups will make the circuit around the haunted homes in the village, ending up at the East Troy House for the final stop and a look at it’s rather checkered past.
Maureen “Rennie” and David Allen, who own the East Troy House and Ivan’s on the Square, say the old hotel once housed a brothel.
In a previous interview, Rennie said there have been numerous ghost hunters investigating the East Troy House over the years, sometimes setting up equipment to try to measure disturbances on Halloween and other times.
One time, during a previous Ghost Walk, people who were on the tour and taking photos discovered ghostlike images in the photographs when they looked at them later, David said.
People have also noticed apparitions in the upstairs window of the room that is said to have been the bedroom of the brothel’s “madam” the Allens said.
The Pickwick Inn is another one of the houses on the tour. However, owners Jane and Dave Moyer don’t agree on whether or not there are spirits wandering the house.
“There’s an older lady who really likes kids and a bunch of kids that play around,” Jane said in an interview earlier this year. “A couple of times we’ve caught the kids playing with our grandkids.”
“I’ve never seen anything,” Dave said with a laugh. “We have a difference of opinion on this.”
“You haven’t, but I have,” she countered with a smile.
Jane said there have been guest who have asked if the inn has a “permanent guest” because of strange things happening. Including one who said someone (or something) turned on his new smartphone in the middle of the night. She said the people who have “felt” the ghost over the years have said it’s a “warm” presence and “very soothing.”
Dave, on the other hand, said he suspects any “sightings” may have been the result of a few too many alcoholic beverages.
East Troy accountant Eric Kramer, who owns the Sewall Smith House, said he has had a few run ins with the ghost that haunts his home and business. Kramer has been a tour guide during the Ghost Walk in the past.
He said they have named their ghost “Davey” and find him playful
Kramer said they don’t know for sure who their ghost is, but over the years there’s been quite a few incidents with them making their presence known.
“Whoever he/she is, they’ve got a great sense of humor,” he said.
While people are waiting to tour the haunted houses, there will be refreshments on the village square and the museum will be showing scary movies on its big screen.
The East Troy Area Historical Kubicki Museum and Heritage Center, 2106 Church St., is open on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum is also open by appointment on Sundays, from May through November, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit etahs.org.
