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Downtown Lincoln transformed into a
stage of history and hauntings on Saturday, October 18, as CAPCIL’s
Small Business Coalition hosted its Haunted Historic Walking Tour.
The event, equal parts eerie and educational, invited guests to
experience the city’s storied past through live performances,
historical anecdotes, and a few ghostly surprises.
The afternoon began at Flossie & Delzena’s, where attendees gathered
for sweet treats and chips before embarking on the two-hour tour.
Organizer Janell Woolard, a local public relations professional and
lifelong Halloween enthusiast, introduced the event as “a way to
blend Lincoln’s rich architectural history with the fun and mystery
of the Halloween season.”
“This is my baby,” Woolard said. “I
love architectural history, and Lincoln is so full of stories. I
knew we could bring them to life in a way that’s both spooky and
meaningful.”
Ticket proceeds went toward CAPCIL’s Community Action programs and
the Lincoln Heritage Museum, both organizations dedicated to
education and empowerment. “It’s a great way to support causes that
make a difference,” Woolard explained. “CAPCIL is something that is
near and dear to my heart for the work that they do.”
The walking tour, led by Woolard
and a cast of spirited “ghosts,” stopped at key landmarks across
downtown Lincoln. Laughter often broke through the autumn air as the
actors slipped between humor and history, embodying figures from the
past while sharing tales of scandal, heartbreak, and intrigue.
The first stop after Flossie &
Delzena’s was Lincoln City Hall, where guests were directed to look
up at the telephone booth perched high atop the building. From
there, the group moved to the Lincoln Public Library, a genuine
Carnegie library built while Andrew Carnegie was still alive. One
“ghost,” claiming to be Carnegie’s illegitimate son, told a chilling
tale of betrayal and burial beneath the library’s foundation.
“People walk over my body every day,” he lamented, “never knowing
I’m still here.”
The tour continued to the Lincoln Watermelon Monument, commemorating
the spot where Abraham Lincoln christened the town with a
watermelon. “We’re the only town named after him while he was still
alive,” Woolard informed the crowd. The lighthearted tone returned
as participants posed for photos and joked about Lincoln’s
“ghost-free” reputation.
A short stop at Guest House Coffee
and Small Town Creations offered guests a break — and a chance to
browse local goods — before continuing to The Bee, where one of the
more emotional performances took place. There, a young woman’s ghost
wept over her betrayal by “Coon Hound Johnny” during the Prohibition
era. This stop informed guests on how the building used to be a spot
for smuggling alcohol in its basement.
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From there, the tour took a
darker and more dramatic turn at a downtown monument
commemorating the birth of the U.S. Secret Service — a story
most visitors didn’t realize began in Lincoln.
A ghost detective burst onto the scene as an undercover
detective, warning the crowd of a grave conspiracy. “They’re
trying to steal Lincoln’s body!” he shouted, reenacting the 1876
plot by counterfeiters who attempted to kidnap Abraham Lincoln’s
remains from his tomb. The plan, he explained, was to ransom the
President’s body for $200,000 and the release of one of their
imprisoned gang members, Benjamin Boyd.
Woolard stepped forward to explain that the story told by the
ghost was true. “That detective really did blow their cover,”
she said. She paused, letting the crowd absorb the gravity of it
before adding, “So they had to put people in place at Abraham
Lincoln's tomb to guard it, and then that became a regular
thing. Then the Secret Service then came into play about that
time to start protecting our presidents. And it really did
happen right here.”
The group then visited the Lincoln Theater, where tales of Nancy
Reagan’s early acting days merged with local lore. According to
the guide, Reagan still visits her beloved theater in spirit.
Next came Prairie Threads, once known as Bushels Tavern, where
the crowd met a friendly ghost who portrayed a fast-talking
prostitute from the Prohibition era. She strutted out of the
shadows, winking at the audience as she promised to sneak them
into the speakeasy through her “connections.”
Inside, she quarreled with the
barkeep — a sharp-tongued spirit who declared that “no women were
allowed” — and the crowd erupted in laughter at her bold comebacks.
“Don’t forget,” she snapped at him, “you wouldn’t know a high-class
woman if you saw one” The scene balanced humor and history,
illustrating both the grit and gender politics of Lincoln’s past
while keeping the energy light and playful.
The evening concluded at Spirited Republic and Limerick Brewing
Company, where guests were treated to pizza from Guzzardo’s Italian
Villa, drinks of their choice, and a live music performance by Gary
Lohrenz and Sydney Worth.
Among those attending was Ron
Keller, director of the Lincoln Heritage Museum. “It was amazing,”
Keller said. “There were stories tonight I’d never heard before. It
builds community pride — it reminds us how much history this small
town really holds.”
As the evening wound down and music filled the air, guests and
ghosts alike lingered in the warm light of Spirited Republic, some
swapping their own ghost stories. Whether they believed in spirits
or not, everyone seemed to agree — for one October night, Lincoln’s
past was very much alive.
[Sophia Larimore]
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