Harrowing haunts of Hutchinson

By Jayshaun Jones / Staff Writer

Who doesn’t love a good urban legend during the spooky season?

Urban legend is defined as a humorous or horrific story or piece of information circulated as though true, especially one purporting to involve someone vaguely related or known to the teller.

Most people have heard of an urban legend throughout their lifetime. Whether it’s Bloody Mary, the Illuminati, or the boogeyman most people have heard of these.

What about the urban legends in Kansas? Yes, there are some and here is a short laundry list of a few that you may or may not have heard of.

Hutchinson Public Library

Yes, our very own public library, located at 901 N Main St., has an urban legend attached to it.

Legend has it, Ida Day Holzapfel was the librarian in 1915 ,and some believe she may have never left. Ida left the Hutch library in 1954 to become a catalog librarian for the California Library. Only the thing is, she was killed in a car crash on her first day. Promptly after, her apparition was spotted at the library and has even been rumored to chat with workers in the basement of her old stomping grounds.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check with librarians before venturing in search of Holzapfel.

Fox Theater

Another Hutch location with a spooky story behind it.

Fascinating isn’t it? There have been reports of doors slamming late at night, and seats lift and lower as if somebody was actually sitting in them. Opening their doors at 9 a.m. and closing them at 5 p.m., this is one of those stories that you just have to go to the movies munch on some popcorn and just sit and wait. What better first date? Take your partner to the theater at 18 E 1st Ave. and you get a free added bonus of scariness and possibly being possessed

Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview

This legend takes place in Wichita, at 400 W Douglas Ave., in downtown.

The story is, the place is haunted. From lights flickering in all of the guestrooms and doors violently slamming shut throughout the night, and you can’t forget the furniture being completely rearranged within seconds of the guest leaving the room. Stay for a few nights and you get to fully reincarnate the poltergeist. I just hope the chairs are sturdy and the beds are comfortable.

Rivendell Book Store

Next, there’s have the Rivendell Bookstore. Located in at 212 N. Broadway St. in Abilene, there have been reports by previous store owners seeing shadowy figures, unexplained jingle bells around Christmas time and books being knocked off the shelves by unseen hands.

Dig this, apparently one of the books knocked off the shelf was called, “Living With Ghosts”.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enter at your own risk.

Reno County Museum

It’s only right that the final listing is another Hutch location right? Of course.

The building located sat 100 S. Walnut St. is more than 100 years old, so it’s had plenty of time to collect spirits as well as dust. There were several deaths reported throughout the years at the Rosemont Apartment Building, which eventually became part of the Reno County Museum. Former staff and visitors have reported hearing strange noises from the building as well as seeing an apparition of a little girl in a white dress. So not only do you get to learn about historical events, bring an Ouija board and get a first-hand lesson from spirits who actually lived during the times. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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