http://www.amnews.com/stories/2010/07/01/loc.997527.stoGhost tours start this weekend in historic Perryville
By DAVID BROCK
dbrock@amnews.com
July 1, 2010
PERRYVILLE — A town with Perryville’s history is bound to have its share of things that go bump in the night. Starting Friday, people can try to get in touch with the spooky side of the little city on the Chaplin River.
Terry Goode is starting Haunted Perryville, a tour that combines history with ghost stories about a town that has plenty of both.
“I have had this in mind for a great while and have really been thinking hard about it for the last two years,” Goode said. “It didn’t seem possible until I just decided to go ahead and do it. I want to give people a lot of stories in the most entertaining way possible.”
Goode, whose wife Vicki is director of the Perryville Main Street Program, has lived in Perryville since 1983. He said there have long been tales of paranormal encounters at the battlefield, but accounts of what goes on around Merchants Row and the town’s center are worthy of telling.
The walking tours will begin in front of Perryville city hall on Merchants Row, go south up the street to the cave behind the Carrick-Parks House and wind back down the opposite side of the street. Goode will lead the tours decked out in what he refers to as “early American” garb.
Goode has researched the history of Perryville extensively and wants to blend that information with stories of paranormal activity. In many cases, the two have a strong link.
“Just talking to people who have lived here for many years, a lot of them have the same things to tell,” Goode said. “Even without seeing the ghosts, I have known people with blood-stained floors from soldiers and handwriting on the walls.”
The Civil War is the source of many tales Goode will relate during the walks, but he said the town center is teeming with spectral stories.
Ghostly encounters
One of the most famous happened at a Battle of Perryville commemoration during the 1970s when two local men apparently spotted what they thought to be two Confederate re-enactors. The soldiers asked where to find water and then vanished into a cave.
Goode said his new endeavor is not a cynical one and he counts himself among the believers.
“I know there are a lot of people who are skeptical,” Goode said. “But there are many, many more people who believe than you would realize.”
Goode said he and some of his family and friends can confirm one of the most often told tales about a Confederate soldier hanging around the south end of Merchants Row. Goode said a car full of people he was with all saw the cavalry officer, holding a carpet bag and wearing a sword several years ago.
The tours will run every Friday and Saturday until the weather gets too cold, probably in December. There will be special midnight tours by reservation only on each full moon.
Goode said he has seen ghost tours in St. Augustine, Fla., and knows there are many places that have them. He said Perryville’s unique background should draw people from all over the region.
“This is something to keep me busy and something that will hopefully help Perryville,” Goode said. “This town needs to get recognized for its place in history.”
IF YOU GO
Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 8:30 p.m. Tours are $12 for adults and $8 for children. Meet in front of Perryville city hall.
Copyright: AMNews.com 2010This is only about 10 miles from me, I'll probably go with my little brother at some point. He loves this stuff too. I've never been to the battlefield yet, it's out in the middle of nowhere so I'm hoping that there will be little contamination from outside sources.
