Guest Blogger: Kim Smith

“It’s creepy and it’s kooky, mysterious and spooky

It’s all together ooky, the Haunted Lantern Tour”

(hum to the tune of ‘The Addams Family’ theme song)

Kids of all ages can enjoy Presque Isle Historical Society’s annual “Haunted Lantern Tours”. It’s a great way to “celebrate” Halloween without the calories! In addition, no one has to worry about being scared by someone leaping out or touching you – and you learn something new about downtown Presque Isle in the process. The Society’s Haunted Lantern Tours are known as the “slightly scary, kinda’ creepy true tales of historic downtown Presque Isle” with historical interpreters at 13 sites (after all, it is Halloween) around downtown.

The tours begin with a short walk through the Historic Fire Station and then head outdoors. Other sites include the Doble Block, the Bolton Block, the AM Smith building, Fred P. Stevens, the Braden, the Oak Hotel, St. John’s, James Phair’s house, and more. Hear about the only known lynching in New England, death by furnace, and other interesting but slightly darker history of the village.

The tours can be taken by walking or on board the Society’s popular Molly the Trolley. This year, the one-hour tours will be held on Friday, October 20 and again on Saturday, October 21. Walking tours begin at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. while the tours aboard the heated trolley begin at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 per person and may be purchased on the night of the tour. However, since seating aboard the trolley is limited, reservations for the trolley tours are suggested by contacting the Society at (207) 762-1151 or pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.