Post by Chad Lewis on Sept 9, 2003 7:37:47 GMT -6
WEIRD TALE OF HAUNTED HOUSE
FORMER OWNER DRIVES IN AND GOES THROUGH ACT OF UNHITCHING. PHANTOMS THRILL THIRD WARD HOUSE HOLDER-GREAT INTEREST IN MYSTERY
-The Third ward has a haunted house-story! A weird tale this, that sends thrills chasing up and down the spinal column, and causes each separate hair to stand on end like the quills of that much quoted and avirent porcupine. According to neighborhood gossip the haunted house is that very handsome residence erected not long ago by Mrs. Oramel Walker, at the corner of Barstow and Emery streets, and now inhabited by Ex-Alderman Louis Schmidt, a gentleman known far and wide for his gentle disposition and kindly nature. No better or more thought of citizen ever trod the streets of Eau Claire than the late Oramel Walker. In the early days, when Barstow street was still a shambling lane, Oramel Walker erected a pleasant home-for those days a palatial home-and commodious barns for his stock. That region, now known as the aristocratic Third, was fine farming country in those days. Mr. Walker saw a prosperous city grow up about him. His rolling acres were cut up into town lots and lanes were succeeded by well laid oat streets and avenues. Homes sprung up like magic. His pleasant farmhouse became a city dwelling and his splendid barns found themselves on the corner of Barstow and Emery streets and ameniable to road and property tax in the nobile Third ward. Years rolled on, as years have a habit of doing. Oramel Walker, and his house, and his barns, grew old together. They became landmarks in the midst of a thriving, progressive, and aggressive city. Fine homes were built and old ones were rebuilt around him. As the story goes, Mrs. Walker importuned, for architects and contractors, but Mr. Walker, old associations being dearer to him than grandeur, did not want his home or barns changed from their original design. The grim reaper came and Mr. Walker was no more. After the lapse of time the widow carried out her long cherished plans of remodeling. She sold the old homestead to the Methodists. They rebuilt the house, making it into a model parsonage. The barns adjoining them were then demolished, and a handsome home arose in their place, most of the well-seasoned and perfectly sound timber being used in the reconstruction. For a time Mrs. Walker lived there herself. According to the story, she became desirous of selling. Louis Schmidt became the purchaser. Stories of ghosts spread through the neighborhood. Uncanny tales are told. Tales of strange rappings and unaccountable noises. One story is that the shade of the late Mr. Walker drives his famous coal black team-now phantom horses-through the side of the house, and unharnesses them in the dining room. There is stamping of horses’ feet and commands of: “Whoa!” “Get over there!” are heard-much to the distress of the material occupants. Some of the neighbors don’t believe in ghosts, some of them do. All of them are awed and the Leader tells the story as it has been told to it by several.
- Eau Claire Leader January 7 , 1906
FORMER OWNER DRIVES IN AND GOES THROUGH ACT OF UNHITCHING. PHANTOMS THRILL THIRD WARD HOUSE HOLDER-GREAT INTEREST IN MYSTERY
-The Third ward has a haunted house-story! A weird tale this, that sends thrills chasing up and down the spinal column, and causes each separate hair to stand on end like the quills of that much quoted and avirent porcupine. According to neighborhood gossip the haunted house is that very handsome residence erected not long ago by Mrs. Oramel Walker, at the corner of Barstow and Emery streets, and now inhabited by Ex-Alderman Louis Schmidt, a gentleman known far and wide for his gentle disposition and kindly nature. No better or more thought of citizen ever trod the streets of Eau Claire than the late Oramel Walker. In the early days, when Barstow street was still a shambling lane, Oramel Walker erected a pleasant home-for those days a palatial home-and commodious barns for his stock. That region, now known as the aristocratic Third, was fine farming country in those days. Mr. Walker saw a prosperous city grow up about him. His rolling acres were cut up into town lots and lanes were succeeded by well laid oat streets and avenues. Homes sprung up like magic. His pleasant farmhouse became a city dwelling and his splendid barns found themselves on the corner of Barstow and Emery streets and ameniable to road and property tax in the nobile Third ward. Years rolled on, as years have a habit of doing. Oramel Walker, and his house, and his barns, grew old together. They became landmarks in the midst of a thriving, progressive, and aggressive city. Fine homes were built and old ones were rebuilt around him. As the story goes, Mrs. Walker importuned, for architects and contractors, but Mr. Walker, old associations being dearer to him than grandeur, did not want his home or barns changed from their original design. The grim reaper came and Mr. Walker was no more. After the lapse of time the widow carried out her long cherished plans of remodeling. She sold the old homestead to the Methodists. They rebuilt the house, making it into a model parsonage. The barns adjoining them were then demolished, and a handsome home arose in their place, most of the well-seasoned and perfectly sound timber being used in the reconstruction. For a time Mrs. Walker lived there herself. According to the story, she became desirous of selling. Louis Schmidt became the purchaser. Stories of ghosts spread through the neighborhood. Uncanny tales are told. Tales of strange rappings and unaccountable noises. One story is that the shade of the late Mr. Walker drives his famous coal black team-now phantom horses-through the side of the house, and unharnesses them in the dining room. There is stamping of horses’ feet and commands of: “Whoa!” “Get over there!” are heard-much to the distress of the material occupants. Some of the neighbors don’t believe in ghosts, some of them do. All of them are awed and the Leader tells the story as it has been told to it by several.
- Eau Claire Leader January 7 , 1906
