Twenty three years ago, Alan Hunter, a former history teacher, hosted his first Haunted Irvington Ghost Tour. Blending his love of history with a passion for things that go bump in the night, the tours on October weekends grew in size. One of the most haunted neighborhood in the Midwest, Irvington has been the home base for a lot of interesting characters — along with some truly scary people who did some pretty awful things — since it was established in 1870. He also loved telling the stories of the east side neighborhood, and the weeks around Halloween seemed like the best time to do it. Over the years, the crowds have gotten bigger, and volunteers have been added to keep everything running smoothly. When the weather is good, Irvingtonians can expect to see over 200 people walking through the streets, listening to the tales where they happened.
This year, the Irvington Ghost Tour begins Friday, Oct. 3 and will be held every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Tours begin at 7 p.m. at the corner of Johnson Ave. and East Washington St. Tickets are $20 (cash only) per person. Proceeds from the tour are donated back into the Irvington community. Advance ticket sales are available at the Magick Candle, 6125 E. Washington St. Call 317-357-1101 for more information.
According to Al, there are a few changes this ghost season. “We’ve been asked to come out to Greenfield for a special ghost talk. It will be at the Hancock County Library in Greenfield on Wednesday, Oct. 1st, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Admission is free. We are adding a special tour in Greenfield this season. We used to do them regularly years ago, but we suspended them due to time constraints. Irvington keeps us pretty busy in October. So many people have asked us over the past few years if we would ever do one again. This year, we are hosting a special tour on Sunday, Oct. 12th at 7:00, with the proceeds benefiting skin cancer/melanoma awareness. Tours will meet in front of the James Whitcomb Riley House at 250 West Main Street in Greenfield. Having co-authored two books on the Historic Indiana National Road, this was always a favorite tour for me, and it has a couple of my kids’ favorite stories on it, so it should be fun. We have arranged for a special guest speaker for this tour, Brigette Jones, Executive Director of Hancock County Tourism, and I plan on presenting her with a cherished Riley relic object from my personal collection, revealing it for the first time in public that night.”
The Irvington tour is about a mile and half long over sidewalks that are sometimes broken or uneven. Please be prepared for weather, as the tours are rain or shine. There are no refunds. Expect about two hours of walking in the dark, so bring a flashlight.
The Irvington Ghost Tour is about 90 percent history and 10 percent ghost stories. No one will leap out from the bushes to frighten you, but some of the stories will definitely give you the chills. Irvington has been home to artists, writers, and leaders, but it is also where serial killer H.H. Holmes committed one of his last murders, where the Grand Dragon of the Indiana KKK wielded power (and lost it), and where a young punk named John Dillinger practiced his robbery skills.
Al is excited about this year’s ghost tours. “As for Irvington, the tours will be every Friday and Saturday at 7:00, except for Halloween night, which is for the children. As usual, we’ll meet in front of the Irving Theatre. The tours will take a new, shorter route. I will add a couple of new stories, one that I’ve never told on a tour before, and add some new details to the old favorites.”
