It is no secret that historic Port Townsend has a fascinating past and many tales of ghosts, spirits and the paranormal to tell. Ask around and tales will flow. Many of them will be told at the Haunted Histories and Mysteries of Port Townsend event, happening Saturday, Oct. 28, downtown Port Townsend, Manresa Castle and Fort Worden State Park.
The Leader building is among the spooky stories told by guides Joyce Hester and Dawn Reis during Haunted Walks Friday and Saturday. Built in 1874 from 3-foot-thick sandstone blocks quarried from Indian Island, the Fowler Building is the oldest two-story commercial stone building in the state. It is commonly known as The Leader building as the newspaper has occupied it since 1916 as the oldest continuously published publication in the state.
The edifice has a long and varied history, and therefore, lots of ghosts. It was the site of the original courthouse, chapel for sailors, general store, Masonic Temple and performance hall. When much respected and revered S'Klallam chief Chicmahan (Chetzmoka) died in June 1888, his body was laid in state in the main room for two days so the community could pay its respect. His funeral cortege to Laurel Grove Cemetery was escorted by 22 carriages and the Port of Entry Guards.
There are many stories of the supernatural in the building. One involves an employee working hard until very late one night in 2018. She was alone in the building. It was 2 a.m. and all was dark except for the light at her desk. There were partitions breaking up the workspace when suddenly, she heard someone walking through the first floor and felt a presence standing behind the partition nearest her desk. The darkened computer on the desk next to hers lit up, things popped up on the screen and she watched the mouse move on its own! She grabbed her things and left immediately!
The feeling of someone else in the building late at night has been reported more than once.
More stories and information about Haunted Histories and Mysteries of Port Townsend can be found on ptmainstreet.org
It is no secret that historic Port Townsend has a fascinating past and many tales of ghosts, spirits and the paranormal to tell. Ask around and tales will flow. Many of them will be told at the Haunted Histories and Mysteries of Port Townsend event, happening Saturday, Oct. 28, downtown Port Townsend, Manresa Castle and Fort Worden State Park.
The Leader building is among the spooky stories told by guides Joyce Hester and Dawn Reis during Haunted Walks Friday and Saturday. Built in 1874 from 3-foot-thick sandstone blocks quarried from Indian Island, the Fowler Building is the oldest two-story commercial stone building in the state. It is commonly known as The Leader building as the newspaper has occupied it since 1916 as the oldest continuously published publication in the state.
The edifice has a long and varied history, and therefore, lots of ghosts. It was the site of the original courthouse, chapel for sailors, general store, Masonic Temple and performance hall. When much respected and revered S'Klallam chief Chicmahan (Chetzmoka) died in June 1888, his body was laid in state in the main room for two days so the community could pay its respect. His funeral cortege to Laurel Grove Cemetery was escorted by 22 carriages and the Port of Entry Guards.
There are many stories of the supernatural in the building. One involves an employee working hard until very late one night in 2018. She was alone in the building. It was 2 a.m. and all was dark except for the light at her desk. There were partitions breaking up the workspace when suddenly, she heard someone walking through the first floor and felt a presence standing behind the partition nearest her desk. The darkened computer on the desk next to hers lit up, things popped up on the screen and she watched the mouse move on its own! She grabbed her things and left immediately!
The feeling of someone else in the building late at night has been reported more than once.
More stories and information about Haunted Histories and Mysteries of Port Townsend can be found on ptmainstreet.org
