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Haunted Kansas
Who's that? Is someone there? A whisper of air brushes your cheek. Then all is still. Maybe it was just the wind. Or maybe it wasn't. . . .
Maybe you've just been visited by the late Ida Day lurking in the basement of Hutchinson's public library or the widow Tarot staring forlornly from an upstairs window at Fort Scott, or the phantom Earl floating behind the scenes in Concordia's Brown Grand Theater. And maybe the horrific Albino Woman truly does haunt Topeka, turning romantic nights into nightmares. . . . maybe.
Pursuing the stories behind these and other spectral manifestations, Lisa Hefner Heitz has traveled the state in search of its ghostly folklore. What she has unearthed is a fascinating blend of oral histories, contemporary eye-witness accounts, and local legends. Creepy and chilling, sometimes humorous, and always engaging, her book features tales about ghosts, poltergeists, spook lights, and a host of other restless spirits that haunt Kansas.
Heitz's spine-tingling collection of stories raps and taps and moans and groans through a wealth of descriptions of infamous Kansas phantoms, as well as disconcerting personal experiences related by former skeptics. Many of these ghosts, she shows, are notoriously linked to specific structures or locations, whether it is an eighteenth-century mansion in Atchison or a deep—some have claimed bottomless—pool near Ashland.
The evanescent apparitions of these tales have frightened and at times amused Kansans throughout the state's long history. Yet this is the first book to capture for posterity the lively antics of the state's ghostly denizens. Besides preserving a colorful and imaginative, if intangible, side of the state's popular heritage, Heitz supplies ghost-storytellers with ample hair-raising material for, well, eternity. Maybe that person breathing softly behind you has another such story to share. Oh, no one's there? Perhaps it really was just the breeze off the prairie.
Maybe you've just been visited by the late Ida Day lurking in the basement of Hutchinson's public library or the widow Tarot staring forlornly from an upstairs window at Fort Scott, or the phantom Earl floating behind the scenes in Concordia's Brown Grand Theater. And maybe the horrific Albino Woman truly does haunt Topeka, turning romantic nights into nightmares. . . . maybe.
Pursuing the stories behind these and other spectral manifestations, Lisa Hefner Heitz has traveled the state in search of its ghostly folklore. What she has unearthed is a fascinating blend of oral histories, contemporary eye-witness accounts, and local legends. Creepy and chilling, sometimes humorous, and always engaging, her book features tales about ghosts, poltergeists, spook lights, and a host of other restless spirits that haunt Kansas.
Heitz's spine-tingling collection of stories raps and taps and moans and groans through a wealth of descriptions of infamous Kansas phantoms, as well as disconcerting personal experiences related by former skeptics. Many of these ghosts, she shows, are notoriously linked to specific structures or locations, whether it is an eighteenth-century mansion in Atchison or a deep—some have claimed bottomless—pool near Ashland.
The evanescent apparitions of these tales have frightened and at times amused Kansans throughout the state's long history. Yet this is the first book to capture for posterity the lively antics of the state's ghostly denizens. Besides preserving a colorful and imaginative, if intangible, side of the state's popular heritage, Heitz supplies ghost-storytellers with ample hair-raising material for, well, eternity. Maybe that person breathing softly behind you has another such story to share. Oh, no one's there? Perhaps it really was just the breeze off the prairie.
232 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 31, 2023
I have probably read this book close to a hundred times since I was a kid, but I think this is probably the first time I've read it straight through. This was published in the late 90s, and I have vivid memories of reading the stories in it over and over and scaring the bejesus out of myself. Revisiting it as an adult was a pleasant experience.
I should probably caution you and say that I'm not sure this would be particularly interesting to anybody who either isn't from Kansas or doesn't have a fascination with Kansas history. Because that's mostly what this book is. A lot of what makes this book cool is learning about the dozens of different historical locations around the state, like the Brown Grand Theatre in Concordia or St. Jacob's Well. Contrary to the stereotype, there's a lot of interesting history in Kansas, and this book is a showcase of that.
The stories in this book range from devilishly entertaining to kind of anecdotal and boring. Some of the stories, like the Albino Woman and Sallie the Man-hater have stuck with me ever since I read them when I was a kid. Here are (some of) my favorites:
"The Ghost of Ida Day"
"The Ghostly Trumpeter of Paola High School"
"The Albino Woman"
"The Blue-eyed Monster of Clearwater Cemetery"
"The Hamburger Man"
Most of the locations written about in this book are reportedly no longer haunted, which I think is by design. I don't think the author wanted to encourage people to go poking around private property and get blasted by local residents. This makes some of the stories kind of a let down, though; because they're so interesting that you really want to drop by and have a peek, but then you find out that the location was turned into a parking lot or a Taco Bell fifty years ago. But, I guess that's the nature of the beast. It's tragic to discover that so many cool and interesting parts of our country have been demolished in favor of stupid and banal businesses that ultimately end up becoming vape shops.
Anyway, Heitz keeps a light-hearted and academic tone throughout the book. Some of the jokes and references are a bit dated now, but nothing sticks out as terrible. Some of the prose is less than amazing, but for the most part, it was fine. To be completely honest with you, I've read this book so many times that I really couldn't tell you if it's good or bad. It's just been absorbed into my brain at this point. Maybe that speaks to it's quality, I don't know.
Haunted Kansas is a lot of fun if you live in Kansas, (or if for some reason you're interested in it,) and you like ghost stories. You don't necessarily have to believe in them, (I certainly don't,) to have a good time reading them. Real or not, some of them are certainly spooky.
I should probably caution you and say that I'm not sure this would be particularly interesting to anybody who either isn't from Kansas or doesn't have a fascination with Kansas history. Because that's mostly what this book is. A lot of what makes this book cool is learning about the dozens of different historical locations around the state, like the Brown Grand Theatre in Concordia or St. Jacob's Well. Contrary to the stereotype, there's a lot of interesting history in Kansas, and this book is a showcase of that.
The stories in this book range from devilishly entertaining to kind of anecdotal and boring. Some of the stories, like the Albino Woman and Sallie the Man-hater have stuck with me ever since I read them when I was a kid. Here are (some of) my favorites:
"The Ghost of Ida Day"
"The Ghostly Trumpeter of Paola High School"
"The Albino Woman"
"The Blue-eyed Monster of Clearwater Cemetery"
"The Hamburger Man"
Most of the locations written about in this book are reportedly no longer haunted, which I think is by design. I don't think the author wanted to encourage people to go poking around private property and get blasted by local residents. This makes some of the stories kind of a let down, though; because they're so interesting that you really want to drop by and have a peek, but then you find out that the location was turned into a parking lot or a Taco Bell fifty years ago. But, I guess that's the nature of the beast. It's tragic to discover that so many cool and interesting parts of our country have been demolished in favor of stupid and banal businesses that ultimately end up becoming vape shops.
Anyway, Heitz keeps a light-hearted and academic tone throughout the book. Some of the jokes and references are a bit dated now, but nothing sticks out as terrible. Some of the prose is less than amazing, but for the most part, it was fine. To be completely honest with you, I've read this book so many times that I really couldn't tell you if it's good or bad. It's just been absorbed into my brain at this point. Maybe that speaks to it's quality, I don't know.
Haunted Kansas is a lot of fun if you live in Kansas, (or if for some reason you're interested in it,) and you like ghost stories. You don't necessarily have to believe in them, (I certainly don't,) to have a good time reading them. Real or not, some of them are certainly spooky.
October 1, 2008
I just happened to find this book while wandering aimlessly at a Barnes and Noble a few years ago. It is the coolest, scariest book because it's either true stories or spooky stories based on local legends! I read it cover to cover in about 2 hours... and then I went out into my town (I lived in Emporia, KS at the time) and found the spooky places that were talked about in the book. If you live in KS, read this book and go get spooked!
December 26, 2024
You enjoyment of this book is going to depend largely on what you hope to get out of it.
If you are looking for a entertaining light read about things going bump in the night, it might not be the best choice.
If you are looking for a well researched book about local folklore written in a borderline scholarly manner, this book is exactly what you're looking for.
The writing style, honestly, is a bit on the dry side for pure entertainment, but it's very clear from the very first page that the author knows her stuff when if comes to folklore studies and about Kansas folklore in particular. She seems more interested in preserving the culture of Kansas (there's quite a few stories from places that no longer exist because they were demolished and/or developed over). So this book may not be the greatest for people who want to go out and hunt down local ghosts, but, in the years to come, this book with be a useful resource in reconstruction Kansas history.
If that's the kinda book you're looking for, I recommend this one.
If you are looking for a entertaining light read about things going bump in the night, it might not be the best choice.
If you are looking for a well researched book about local folklore written in a borderline scholarly manner, this book is exactly what you're looking for.
The writing style, honestly, is a bit on the dry side for pure entertainment, but it's very clear from the very first page that the author knows her stuff when if comes to folklore studies and about Kansas folklore in particular. She seems more interested in preserving the culture of Kansas (there's quite a few stories from places that no longer exist because they were demolished and/or developed over). So this book may not be the greatest for people who want to go out and hunt down local ghosts, but, in the years to come, this book with be a useful resource in reconstruction Kansas history.
If that's the kinda book you're looking for, I recommend this one.
July 3, 2018
This little book of collected ghost stories was very good! I did not like the introduction because the author goes on to say how she neither believes or disbelieves in ghosts because nothing has happened to her personally. However, what put me off was all the evidence she used from others on how stories change over time into what they are now- something not real. I personally believe in ghost, I feel if you are going to write a book about local ghost stories, you should believe in what you write.
The collection of stories range from scary ghosts to weird cow lights and all of them are very interesting. The writing reminds me of telling stories around a campfire, which is to say anxiety inducing and creepy.
I hope that the author comes out with another book of the other stories that she had collected. I am glad I picked up this book while I was visiting Kansas City!
The collection of stories range from scary ghosts to weird cow lights and all of them are very interesting. The writing reminds me of telling stories around a campfire, which is to say anxiety inducing and creepy.
I hope that the author comes out with another book of the other stories that she had collected. I am glad I picked up this book while I was visiting Kansas City!
November 10, 2017
This is a very thoroughly researched and well written collection of stories. It makes for a good read but as the author herself admits, the stories fall into a characteristic set of patterns which become apparent and vary only in details and locations.
October 22, 2019
its has a lot of cool places
November 8, 2019
I loved reading about the stories. I did get a little annoyed by the disbelief. If you're going to write this type of book, have an open mind. Or at least be slightly less of a disbeliever.
August 31, 2022
Dubious sourcing, missing several ghost stories but overall interesting and filled what I needed
July 23, 2023
Parts of this book were very good, however I do think too much time was spent on certain stories that just didn't have more to tell. Also some of the writing made it hard to get through.
October 24, 2023
A fun little collection of spooky stories from Kansas- really entertaining if you know any of the areas. Not the scariest of writing, so it might be ok for younger readers.
November 12, 2015
A selection of eerie tales from around the State of Kansas from among the many that the author has collected. A number of these tales exist in several versions. How true are these stories? Well, to quote the author (page 3): "'Do you believe in ghosts?' I am often asked. I believe in ghost stories, I often respond." So it's up to the reader to decide with regards to any particular alleged haunting.
December 27, 2008
Looking forward to learning about the haunted places near us...Leavenworth and Atchkinson
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August 31, 2009K-133.1Hei
December 2, 2010
Lots of stories about kansas's hot spots for ghost sightings
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May 17, 2015I found this book in the airport book store in Wichita, KS. Being from Kansas I really enjoyed the stories.
Read
April 8, 2015Fantastic book! It is great to find a book about Kansas that celebrates and explores our folklore, scary places are just around the corner...
July 20, 2007
The best chapter's the one on Atchison.
November 13, 2008
It has lot of different stories I liked the story "George and the night nurse".
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews