Tulsa's Haunted Memories

Teri French

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780738583877
• eBook ISBN: 9781439640999
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Welcome to a window into the past. Tulsas Haunted Memories explores the forgotten history and lost folklore of Americas Most Beautiful City. Tulsas haunting history will captivate the reader with the secrets it holds from its intriguing past. Mystery and mystique follow Tulsas urban legends and prove that truth can be stranger than fiction. Once known as the oil capital of the world, its streets were not only lined in Black Gold, but also tales of a time when ruthlessness and lawlessness ruled the city. Discover these places and stories that have left their ghostly impressions on Tulsa.

Ten

HAUNTED GREEN COUNTRY

Green Country is the entire northeast corner of the state from I-40 North to I-35 East. Tulsa lies within the Green Country boundary, and this area has some freaky history and the urban legends that accompany it. Most of the places mentioned are but a short drive from Tulsa, and the stories have haunted the area for years.

New Prue / Old Prue

Located in Osage County in the Tulsa metropolitan area is a little stretch of land no longer than a mile that is known as the town of New Prue. The reason for the “New” in its name is because the old town is now under water. When construction began on the Keystone Dam in 1964, the town of Prue moved permanently, and the old town was covered with water. This body of water is called Lake Keystone, a very popular hangout during the blistering Tulsa summer months. Visitors to the lake claim they can sometimes see lights coming on in buildings underneath the water. Reports of flashing and moving lights have been witnessed as well as ghostly figures and shadowy apparitions seen along the shore. The strange underwater anomalies keep the visitors to the lake wondering what is happening in Old Prue.

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Shawnee is a small bedroom community that was not officially settled until after the Civil War. When Indians were moved to Oklahoma by the government, Shawnee started to come to life. Soon schools, railroads, commercial buildings, and missions were a part of the community. With the pressure of commerce, Shawnee would soon see white settlers move in. Known for its agricultural business with cotton and peaches, this southern Oklahoma town saw its main street lined up with mule sellers, peanut vendors, and peach growers from nearby cities. Like many Oklahoma communities, it benefited from the oil boom of the 1920s and saw significant growth. While the history of Shawnee is rather benign, its ghostly specters are not. Could it be because so many of the buildings on Main Street are original and untouched? Walking into a business on the street or simply driving down it is almost like stepping back in time. The charm and nostalgia of Shawnee is still alive and well.... as are its specters.

St. Gregory’s University

Founded in October of 1875 by two French monks who were wandering across Indian Territory, St. Gregory’s University was created to minister to and educate early settlers about the Roman Catholic doctrine and practices. The monks started their mission in a little town called Konawa and established a church, convent, school, boys’ home, and three-story monastery on Bald Hill. They continued to build the mission for the next 25 years, adding the renowned St. Gregory’s College. They were growing their vision of higher education and Catholic values.

In a devastating fire in 1901, the buildings were destroyed. While some were rebuilt, others were not, and so the school was moved permanently to Shawnee. All that remains are empty building foundations, abandoned memories of a time when the cradle of Oklahoma Catholicism was active. What do remain are three different Sacred Heart cemeteries that are the final resting place of monks, Indians, and early settlers. People brave enough to go inside have reported the cemeteries to be extremely haunted.

The St. Gregory’s building was constructed in Shawnee in the late 1940s, and nothing tragic has ever been associated with it, but with so much left behind at the old site at Sacred Heart, many believe the spirits have followed the mission for that purpose. Alumni of the school say the monks are very open and willing to discuss the odd happenings that some of the students were experiencing. The Roman Catholic faith is one of the only Christian denominations that acknowledges and accepts the possibility of paranormal and ghostly activity. It was even said the monks were amused by the stories they were told.

Known as the “King of Bank Robbers,” Henry Starr and his posse successfully robbed two banks in one day. This robbery was the first of its kind accomplished by a band of outlaws in the United States. The picture above was taken just minutes after Starr was shot by Paul Quarry on March 27, 1915, in Stroud, Oklahoma.

One legend tells of a student who fell asleep in the library one evening while doing a research paper. He was awakened by a monk who very kindheartedly helped him find books that he would need to complete his paper. The monk then helped the student out of the library and back to his dorm. When the student returned the books to the library, it was found out the monk who had helped him that evening had died over 10 years earlier.

It is no secret around St. Gregory’s University that the ghosts of the past still roam the college and grounds. Another story from a dorm mother said that one summer she was helping the brothers and other university staff paint the girls’ rooms. As everyone was leaving, the matron was on the first floor gathering her belongings to leave when she heard the slamming of doors from the third floor. The slamming continued, one after another, with a very loud slam of each door one at a time. After the noise reached the second floor, whatever it was began to slam the doors in succession all the way to the first floor and next to the room where the matron was standing. Needless to say, the intense experience sent the dorm mother quickly exiting the building.

Legend says that old monks from long ago still roam the buildings, corridors, and grounds of the prestigious university. Animals making odd noises and appearing in and disappearing into thin air have been reported. A statue of a woman that stands in front of the church was said to be heard crying and moaning. Other rumors say that a mist has been seen roaming across the cemeteries and that an old lady has been seen walking with a panther. It seems the claims of Sacred Heart are plenty and even include Civil War soldiers and sightings of a flame next to a witch who was burned at the stake. Whoever takes up ghostly residence with the staff and faculty are not shy in making sure that the curriculum is followed, that students get the help they need, and that visitors do not wear out their welcome.

Walls Bargain Center

While it is true that shoppers can get a bargain at Walls Bargain Center, they can also get more than they bargained for! It seems that there is a ghost who wanders the aisles of the store, and many employees will declare that the store is downright creepy at times.

Employees have long told of how they would arrive to open in the mornings and find the store in disarray. They would discover merchandise strewn across the floor when no one had been inside the building to cause it. They would also complain of strange noises they would hear in the back storage room that resembled the flapping sound from the double doors, but the problem was that no one was back there. Unable to explain the phenomena, they could only chalk it up to that strange fellow several employees have seen randomly around the place.

Several workers have witnessed an apparition of a man dressed in gray wandering the store and then disappearing. They have given him the nickname Charlie, and they believe he is the culprit behind the strange and unusual things that happen inside the store when it is locked up for the night.

While Charlie is still somewhat of a mystery, there is a legend from long ago of a man who was shot and broke into the store to hide. He went to the second story, where he collapsed and bled to death. No one knows who Charlie is or where he has come from, but one thing is for sure: the mysterious man is one who likes to make sure the employees have plenty of work.

The Search House

The Search House is a striking mansion built in 1901. The land where the house was constructed was from the original Beard land grant and owned by a rich banker. The property was later donated to the railroad in an attempt to bring more business to the city of Shawnee. The home has been rumored to have once been used as a boardinghouse. It still has as much charm today as it did back then, with original stained glass windows, hardware, spacious rooms, and tall ceilings. The 3,300-square-foot home has five very large bedrooms and two full bathrooms. It has a formal parlor, dining room, and living room, as well as a breakfast nook. The basement was converted into a one-bedroom apartment and has its own kitchen and bathroom as well as a private outside entrance. In addition, there is a one-bedroom cottage behind the house that is said to have been the servant quarters at one time.

While the history of the house is rather mild, the ghostly activity is not. The Search House is rumored to be the home of several ghosts—from an older gentleman to a pair of small children. Closet doors open by themselves, and knobs have been seen to jiggle as if someone were trying to open the door. Footsteps have been heard on the stairwell and in the upstairs hallways, and bare footprints of a child were found on the wet paint of a bedroom door that was lying on the floor to dry. Giggling and the sound of small feet running through the house have startled guests, owners, and visitors to the Search House.

One ghost is referred to as Mr. George and has been seen throughout the mansion quite often. Some believe it to be a former owner, and others believe he is a relative of a former owner. Whatever the case, the apparitions that have been seen at this old house lead some to claim it is extremely haunted.

Guthrie, Oklahoma

The small town along I-35 and just north of Oklahoma City known as Guthrie was originally Oklahoma’s capital. The sound of a cannon and the pounding of horse hooves in 1889 found 10,000 people clamoring to settle in Guthrie. In only a few months, the city’s population had surpassed that of some of the more sophisticated and established cities on the east coast. Guthrie soon had running water, electricity, and underground garages for carriages as well as brick and stone buildings boasting a modern way of life. The city also developed a transit system and was booming with notoriety.

It was named Oklahoma’s state capital in 1907, just after statehood, but a political scandal and commotion moved the state seat to Oklahoma City in 1910. Oklahoma City becoming the seat of state government took commerce with it, causing the town of Guthrie to go into an economic hibernation for nearly 70 years. Guthrie is a quiet, sleepy little town that has some amazing restored buildings that reflect the grandeur that once made it a viable candidate to be the state capital. It also has some rather unusual places among its neighborhoods that only add to its character.

The Stone Lion Inn

The old Victorian mansion in Guthrie known as the Stone Lion Inn was built in 1907. It served as a private residence to the F. E. Houghton family. Having a rather large family with 10 children, Houghton built the 8,000-square-foot, four-story home. The final cost was $11,900, a small price to pay for the welfare and comfort of his family, even back then. Two stone lions flank the steps leading to its front door as a symbol of protection and elegance.

One of the legends that accompany the house is about the Houghtons’ daughter Augusta. Inaccurate tales of her ghost haunting the inn were plentiful when it was rumored she died of whooping cough. It was said she was administered too much medicine from the maid and so she haunted the house in retribution. However, historical research has proved that Augusta was still alive, but another daughter who died of whooping cough under the same circumstances could be the child haunting the place. Whoever it is, the spirit has left no doubts in the minds of those who have spent time at the inn that something is there. Something is clearly lurking in the corners, halls, and rooms of the mysterious mansion. Visitors and staff alike will attest to the strange activity that happens at the century-old inn.

During the 1920s, the house was known as the Smith Funeral Home. Today the original embalming table is proudly displayed in the entryway as a table for cookies, flowers, and refreshments. For several years after the funeral home closed, the house remained abandoned and empty. The lonely house on Warner Avenue was a far cry from the days when children were laughing, running, and giggling through its halls. Its current owner purchased the dwelling in 1986, and renovations were carefully done to bring back the original grandeur. Since the purchase by the current owner, a record number of strange occurrences have been said to occur there.

A group of visitors came to the home because of their interest in the house’s history. They were given permission to explore and found themselves in the attic. The attic had a low ceiling, and while it felt enclosed, it was a rather large oblong room. Windows that lined the walls had small pocket seats in front of them. Two of the visitors sat in one of the window seats and admired some pictures that were leaning against the wall, apparently being stored there. The two visitors got up from their spot, and when they returned to finish examining the pictures, a dead blackbird was lying in the window seat where they had just been sitting. Two other people were with them and on the opposite side of the attic, giving no explanation as to how the dead bird got there as all windows were closed. The bird had very little odor but appeared to have been dead for a while and was lying right where one of the visitors had just been sitting.

Other strange phenomena have been reported from the house, such as odd noises, smells, and voices. One visitor to the home told of a time when she was locked in the foyer restroom and could not get out. The visitor said that when she tried to leave the door would not unlock. She tried several times to get out, even pounding on the door to get someone’s attention but to no avail. As frustration and panic began to set in, the door lock made a noise, moved, and seemingly unlocked itself. The visitor was finally free to leave the restroom, which she did with much haste.

Whatever or whoever is haunting the charming Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie, visitors to the Bed and Breakfast will have to take note of what is around them . . . especially where the foyer bathroom is located.

The Masonic Boys Home

Built in the 1920s, this old three-story house was used as a place for unfortunate orphaned children. Boys from all over the state were sent here to be cared for while waiting on adoption from a loving family.

One of the head matrons of the boy’s home was said to be an overly strict woman who would frequently punish the boys in the most disturbing ways. Rumor says that one night while punishing a six-year-old boy, she killed him, and in fear of being caught, buried him in the basement of the home. The matron did not want to be hanged, which was the punishment for such a crime in those days. For several months, she got away with her dirty deed. While under great suspicion, she maintained her story that the boy ran away while being punished. She then used the excuse of putting the boys in the basement when they misbehaved to keep them from running away. Over the course of several years, the woman became notorious for using the basement as a lockup for boys who needed discipline. The basement was an ideal place to punish the boys as no one could hear them scream for help as she administered her reprimand. Over the years, a few other boys mysteriously came up missing from the home and the matron would stand by her oath that they had run away. During routine maintenance of the house the matron would never allow access to the basement until there was a major plumbing problem that would force them to dig in the area. The night before, fearing what could be found out, the matron dug up the bones in the basement in an attempt to move them to another location. The janitor, who was extremely suspicious of her frequent visits to the basement, followed her and witnessed her digging up the bones and decayed corpses of the young boys. The janitor called the authorities, but the matron committed suicide before they arrived to avoid justice for her misdeeds. An investigation was initiated and concluded that the matron had indeed murdered five boys. The boy’s home was shut down sometime in the 1930s and remained vacant for many years. During the Depression, the Freemasons purchased the building, but nothing was done with the structure and it remained abandoned and lonely.

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Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• FOREWORD
• One - EARLY TULSA
• Two - TULSA HOMES AND MANSIONS
• Three - THEATERS AND MUSIC VENUES
• Four - COFFEE SHOPS AND BARS
• Five - HOTELS AND LODGING
• Six - TULSA’S HAUNTED SCHOOLS
• Seven - LOCAL TULSA CEMETERIES
• Eight - OTHER STRANGE PLACES IN TULSA
• Nine - TULSA’S GHOSTLY SUBURBS
• Ten - HAUNTED GREEN COUNTRY
• AFTERWORD