Walking with ghosts
Ghost tours haunt town
Jennifer D. Seay
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Life
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Lewisburg, W.Va., has hosted ghost tours of the town annually October through November for the last 14 years.
John Luckton and his son Bradley guide these tours through the historic district of Lewisburg.
There are two separate tours - the Mansions Tour at 7:30 p.m. and the Cemetery Tour at 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday evenings, John said. Tours begin at the General Lewis Inn, which John said has a history of haunting as well.
Lee Bias, machinist and Huntington resident, said John told a couple of ghost stories about the General Lewis Inn during the Mansions Tour last Saturday night.
From there, the group walked down the street to a few supposedly haunted mansions where they were told stories of the almost century-old homes, Bias said.
After a short break, John said those who dare to go on the Cemetery Tour are taken through the town to the Old Stone Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
"The first tour whets your appetite for the second tour," he said.
The Old Stone Presbyterian Church was erected in 1796 and is one of the first establishments in Lewisburg.
One ghost tale in particular stood out to tour-goers last Saturday night, Bias said.
While tour guide John was telling a ghost story that originated in Carnegie Hall across the street from the cemetery, members of the tour shrieked at what they saw.
"A girl started screaming out the most awful thing you've ever heard," Bias said.
He said that drew the other members' attention to a window on the top floor of Carnegie Hall.
Bias said they all saw what they thought was an apparition, a dark figure standing in the window.
"I tried to walk around the corner to see what it was, but I got called back because my girlfriend was scared out of her wits and wouldn't let me go," Bias said.
As the group stared on, John said he had one more story to tell, but knew no one would listen.
"I knew I couldn't top that," John said, referring to the shadowy figure in the window.
John Luckton and his son Bradley guide these tours through the historic district of Lewisburg.
There are two separate tours - the Mansions Tour at 7:30 p.m. and the Cemetery Tour at 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday evenings, John said. Tours begin at the General Lewis Inn, which John said has a history of haunting as well.
Lee Bias, machinist and Huntington resident, said John told a couple of ghost stories about the General Lewis Inn during the Mansions Tour last Saturday night.
From there, the group walked down the street to a few supposedly haunted mansions where they were told stories of the almost century-old homes, Bias said.
After a short break, John said those who dare to go on the Cemetery Tour are taken through the town to the Old Stone Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
"The first tour whets your appetite for the second tour," he said.
The Old Stone Presbyterian Church was erected in 1796 and is one of the first establishments in Lewisburg.
One ghost tale in particular stood out to tour-goers last Saturday night, Bias said.
While tour guide John was telling a ghost story that originated in Carnegie Hall across the street from the cemetery, members of the tour shrieked at what they saw.
"A girl started screaming out the most awful thing you've ever heard," Bias said.
He said that drew the other members' attention to a window on the top floor of Carnegie Hall.
Bias said they all saw what they thought was an apparition, a dark figure standing in the window.
"I tried to walk around the corner to see what it was, but I got called back because my girlfriend was scared out of her wits and wouldn't let me go," Bias said.
As the group stared on, John said he had one more story to tell, but knew no one would listen.
"I knew I couldn't top that," John said, referring to the shadowy figure in the window.
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