8 the clackamas print
artSKruhi
Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009
Tour takes guests back to 180(
By Kayla Berge
Co-Editor\ in\Chief
Two noble lights flickered and danced
within lanterns on a cool crisp, October
afternoon, despite the fact that the 5
o’clock sun still sat lazily in the sky.
The man, William Bicker, outstretched
his long-nailed hand to usher his tour
group into the tunnel of the Oregon City
elevator. The second lantern was held
by a man named Rocky Smith Jr. These
two guides were ready to usher the city’s
intrigued visitors through the streets
haunted with history.
This was my first introduction to the
Northwest Ghost Tours which are walk­
ing tours featured in the town where our
college is located.
Smith walked behind us smiling kindly
as he listened to his friend Becker retell
stories of Oregon City’s past. We started
at the elevator where Becker painted viv­
idly a picture of the past where women
in hoop skirts once struggled with their
packages before the elevator had been
built. It was then he brought up the first
two ghosts out of a long list we would
be hearing: Sarah Chase and a little
redhead boy who we later learned to be
Carl Green. We strolled our way down
to Main Street while Becker repainted
the landscape before our eyes of the late
19th century to the early 20th century. A
time when the roads were dirt and trav­
eled on by the use of horsepower (pardon
my pun). The first building we looked
at was an old pharmacy ... or at least it
used to be. Now we would know it by
the name of Mi Famiglia, a restaurant
located on the comer of Main and 7th
Street. There the ghost “Jimmy” remains
fairly active.
Down Main Street, we passed several
places as Becker retold the stories he
ir
We traveled on as
a few street lamps
flickered before our
very eyes.
William Becker, the tour guide, tells how there was a graveyard and a Catholic church where the guests stand
vacant parking lot. When the church y/as moved, it’s possible few graves were left behind.
knew with the help of Smith. Becker
talked about George the projectionist
who used to work at the old Star Theater
... and still comes back. Becker also talk­
ed about a more malevolent ghost named
Dougie who has been recently cleansed
from the Living Room Pub.
Further on we walked, past rebuilt
buildings, car lots, across a cemetery
that’s now covered with cement, down
to where the Liberty Theater once stood
which we now know as the Liberty
Plaza. Once we sat down and settled in
on the cold cement Becker revealed the
story of Charity Lamb, the first female
murderer in Oregon. She was sent to Dr.
Hawthorne’s asylum until the end of her
life. Eventually, we found our way down
to where the peer used to be on 5th and
McLoughlin Boulevard. There, a lot of
mystery was still about. Becker talked
about a female ghost who dwelt here,
along with a shadow that looked to be
male, that had been spotted by previous
groups from above. Becker admitted that
this was one of the places he made sure
to bring a lit candle every time he visited
along. He also admitted that he talked
with the spirits as he would descend the
stairs to the river telling them why he
was there and that he was coming. As
he talked, the sun lowered itself past the
horizon and the town clock struck its
30 minute toll. We traveled on as a few
street lamps flickered before our very
eyes.
The second place Becker was sure to
bring a candle with him was next to the
tunnel that drivers use to enter downtown
Oregon City. This was a place possibly
haunted by five men who had
for a crime they had not
Smith retold his stories of
ences, I felt my own heart
There was a chilly realization
stories that Becker and Smith
telling were not made up. They
real deal.
I learned a lot on my tour of d
Oregon City along with three i
rules: 1) Always carry a lit cai
you; it protects you from evil s’
Be aware of the history in the t
live in. 3) The most importani
them all, be respectful of the de
For tour times and otherj
tion please visit www.nwglj
com. Tours require reservation
(503) 679-4464, call or e-mail
tions2009@nwghosttours.com.
SCREAM: Haunted house holds reputati
Continued from SCREAM, Page 1
Another change this year, other
than the building, is the way the entire
event is set up. In previous seasons,
each haunt was separate, creating
long lines. Guests were waiting for
upwards of three hours.
This year, the only line you wait
in is the one to get into the building.
All photos Brian Steele Clackamas Print
A cast member wears a scary mask to make the guests jump as
they enter the Gothenberg Estate.
Once inside, you’re given a group
number. Then each group goes in at
different intervals.
While you’re waiting for your
number to be called, there is a whole
Halloween Town of activities, includ­
ing; Halloween Portraits, Bizzaro’s
Hat shop, Captain Henry’s Pirate
Store, Miss Morbid’s Playhouse of
Horrors, and much more.
x
Outside the building the
nival rides and games, «I
a bit out of place in the
autumn, but nevertheless a
to enjoy the season.
Scream at the Beach
through Oct 31. For times,
contact information, as we
events and casting oppo
screamatthebeach.com.
Outside the Circuit City building, Scream at the Beach features carnival
games for the whole family to enjoy.