Spirit Tailings: Ghost Tales from Virginia City, Butte and Helena

by Ellen Baumler

If ghosts are the restless spirits of those who died violently or in a state of unreadiness, then Montana's violent frontier history explains the richness and depth of these haunting stories. This wonderful collection--based on oral testimony, diaries, journals, and newspaper accounts--presents an eerie history of the state's legendary mining towns. In addition to their ghoulish intrigue, these stories combine to provide new perspectives and a greater appreciation for Montana¿s past.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Ellen Baumler is an award-winning author and the Montana Historical Society's interpretive historian. A master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. She lives in Helena in a century-old house with her husband, Mark, and its resident spirits.

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for 2023 book challenge- Anthology or Collection. This book was interesting, great for quick reads as they are short stories. Spooky and historical. Fun read for the most part.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the stories in this book. Some of the tales gave me shivers but what I liked most was the history of places in Virginia City, Butte and Helena. I'm looking forward to reading the second book of stories.

[BowbytheBay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it more than i thought. I am not a fan of short stories and have no particular interest in ghost stories. What finally hooked me was in a couple of stories the author found out what was really happening and it explained whatever strange occurrence was happening.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good - it's not fluffy "bump in the night" type stories, it's more about Montana's history. The past isn't even past - it's not even dead yet. Ha.

[Knowaczark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should you visit the locales detailed in Baumler's book, you will enjoy this trip down memory lane through the old haunts. Enjoy...