Irvington is one of the most haunted neighborhoods in the Midwest. Named after Washington Irving, author of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the twisting tree-lined streets has built a reputation for ghost sightings and mysterious activities. It has also attracted some truly scary people who did terrible things. For 24 years, Alan Hunter has been telling those tales for hundreds of people on The Irvington Ghost Tours.
A former history teacher, Alan loved telling the stories of the east side neighborhood, and the weeks around Halloween seemed like the best time to share his research with others. 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. He’s a great storyteller, and has contributed to the Weekly View since the beginning in 2009. He’s also researched and written books, including Osborn H. Oldroyd: Keeper of the Lincoln Flame, and Thursdays with Doc. Recollections on Springfield & Lincoln.
Even if you’ve been on the tour before, you’ll learn something new. Alan revises the tour every year, taking the group on a slightly different journey. The stories about John Dillinger, H.H. Holmes, the Guardian Home, D.C. Stephens and brave Madge Oberholtzer whose deathbed testimony destroyed him and the KKK in Indiana, are fascinating and sometimes devastating as you stand where history happened.
This year, the Irvington Ghost Tour begins Friday, Oct. 2 and will be held every Friday and Saturday throughout October, except for Halloween, which is the day of the 80th Annual Historic Irvington Halloween Street Fair. Tours begin at 7 p.m. at the corner of Johnson Ave. and East Washington St. Tickets are $20 (cash only) per person — get there at least 20 minutes before the tour starts. 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.
Tour goers are encouraged to explore the shops and restaurants in historic Irvington before or after the tour.
