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 Trick or treat with Abe was held between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Saturday and was free of charge to guests. Everyone gathered into
their groups downstairs. A table was set up where kids could
decorate their treat bags with markers and stickers. There was also
an opportunity to visit the downstairs display area while they
awaited the time to go upstairs.
At the first station, guests heard the story of the Curse of Ann
Mitchell. Ann grew up in Sterling, Kentucky in the civil war era.
Ann was sweet on a man named John Bell Hood, and he loved her as
well. But her family was not accepting of Mr. Hood. Instead, they
forced Ann to marry a man named “Mr. Anderson” by kidnapping her
from an attempt to run away with Hood, and locking her in a room
until she married the man of their choosing.
After the birth of her son, Ann spoke only one last time in her
life. She spoke, delivering a curse on her family members who had
stolen her away from the man she loved, and forced her to marry a
man she did not.
On that very day, Ann and two members of her family who played a
large role in her marital bondage died in a horrific storm. In a
short time, others who were involved also died, some in terrible
ways, such as suicide.
It is said that yet today, Ann Mitchell Anderson haunts the gardens
of the Hood home in Kentucky. It is also said that her spirit is a
gentle one, bringing no fear or harm to any except those who wronged
her so seriously.
At the second station, guests heard from Duff Armstrong who was
tried for murder and found innocent, thanks to his defense attorney
Abraham Lincoln. Duff explained his plight, how he had gotten into a
fight with a man, then a few days later than same man was murdered
and Duff was accused.
Duff explained that because of the lack of judges, he spent six
months in jail awaiting his trial, but when that time finally came,
Lincoln defended him with the truth, putting witnesses on the spot
and showing that their testimony was not valid. Duff was found
innocent.
Duff also shared with guests that while in jail, he learned to read.
[to top of second column] |
Station three was hosted by Allan Pinkerton of the Pinkerton
Agency. He explained that his company was assigned to protect
the president after his election. He recounted a story about the
newly elected president traveling by train in 1861. When
approaching Baltimore, Maryland, Lincoln was taken off the train
by Pinkerton men and driven through the town in secret in the
back of a wagon to protect him from an assassination plot that
reportedly was to be carried out at the train station.
At the final station on the trick-or-treat tour, Mary Lincoln’s
sister, Miss Edwards, talked about the grieving widow and how
that after Abraham Lincoln’s death, she lost her mind. Miss
Edwards explained that Mary Lincoln finished her days on earth
living in her sister’s attic. Mary lived in the attic to escape
the bright light because she suffered from terrible headaches.
Miss Edwards said that area children were mean to Mary, knowing she
was in the attic. They would throw rocks to hit the upstairs window
and frighten her. Miss Edwards said many knew that Mary was not
stable, and as a result, all of the neighbors and friends stopped
coming to visit Miss Edwards, making her life as well very lonely.
She said that now that Mary was dead, she would like to have
visitors, but still no one comes because they believe her home is
now haunted by Mary. She then offered the children guests a bribe.
If they promised to come visit her in her home, she would give them
candy now.
All the children agreed and received the gift as promised.
Along the way of the tour, from time to time Mr. Lincoln would ask
if the children were willing to share their candy. He explained that
Mrs. Lincoln never allowed him to have candy, and he would surely
enjoy sneaking a secret piece or two. Several of the children
offered him his choice of pieces from their bags of treats.
[Nila Smith] |
