ThisWeek CW 10/1/2015
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/09/28/history-recounted-through-annual-ghost-tour.html
The ghosts of the city’s past will again wander the streets of Canal Winchester this October while enlightening guests as part of the 10th annual Historic Ghost Tour.
The Canal Winchester Area Historical Society will host the tour, a fundraiser for the organization, Oct. 9 and 10. Participants will walk to six different historic locations where they will be greeted by famous “ghosts” of Canal Winchester who will provide anecdotes and historically accurate information about themselves and the town.
Tours will depart from Faith United Methodist Church, 15 W. Columbus St., each night starting at 7 p.m. with the last one leaving at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the church.
Tickets cost $10 per adult and $5 per student; there is no charge for children age 5 and younger. All proceeds will be used to support the historical society’s core programs and preservation projects.
This year’s stops will include the Town Hall building where current Mayor Michael Ebert will portray former mayor K.L. “Mike” Miller.
According to event organizer Elaine Thomas, Ebert won’t just be playing the role based on history books, because Miller was the mayor of Canal Winchester when Ebert was a boy.
“When I talked to Mayor Ebert about taking this on, I asked if he remembered how Mayor Miller dressed and carried himself,” Thomas said. “The mayor said he remembered it well and so I said, ‘great, you’ve got the part, now just find yourself an outfit like what you remember Mike Miller wearing.’ ”
The first stop on this year’s tour will be the Municipal Building, followed by the Frances Steube Community Center to meet Frances Steube and hear more about the life of one of the city’s most accomplished women. Steube was the city’s first female council member and was a founding member of the historical society.
Other stops include Dr. Williard Gayman’s former office along Waterloo Street. Gayman was one of the first Canal Winchester residents to own an automobile. Gilbert Guiler will greet guests at the park bearing his name to explain his role in the city’s history; Jedson Wynkoop, a veterinarian and educator, rounds out the evening.
Thomas said every stop will have re-enactors who will help tell the story of the place, the person and the broader city history to participants.
“I think our guests will really enjoy learning the history of Canal Winchester this way and with so many new people moving here each year, I’m sure many of them don’t even know about all of things that have been a part of our city’s history,” Thomas said.
“We’re much more than just what’s on Gender Road. Just coming down to walk through downtown and to take in the old buildings and the styles of buildings, you get a sense of how much history is here,” she said.
The last tour at 7:30 p.m. will be accompanied by the Human Services Senior Transport Van that allows those unable to walk the tour route to take part.