A Litchville Ghost Story! Valley City Times Record August 27, 1903 Reported by Telephone from Litchville A so-called haunted house, or rather barn, has been the principal topic of conversation at Litchville this week, and it is reported that on dark nights when the electric light plant is not running, the citizens generally forego both business and pleasure and remain at home. It will be remembered that during the winter Olivus Anderson, a farmer living a few miles out of Litchville, was suffocated by coal gas, since which time his residence has been occupied only temporarily. A tenant rented the farm this spring and after occupying the premises a few days is said to have moved away rather precipitately. It is claimed that every morning he would find his horses lathering with sweat and that he concluded to go where his teams could get some rest at night. Neighbors claim to have seen lights moving about the house at night, and altogether it is rather an uncanny story which is told. A party from Litchville, headed by Editor Wells, is said to have driven out to the place one night recently for the purpose of investigating, but it is claimed that all the spirits they found were brought with them. Valley City Times Record September 4, 1903 The ghost at the Olaus Anderson farm continues to haunt the minds of those who wish to be haunted. Carl Hansen went up the other evening to see the manifestations of the ghost and saw the lights all right. He followed it up and saw that it came from a lantern held by Farmer Amundson, who always takes a lantern with him to see the dog star before retiring at night. It is a little odd bit it is asserted that all the farmers up that way meander outdoors just before going to bed and that they usually carry lanterns. At first the ghost stories were supposed to have been originated to depress the value of real estate in that neighborhood, but real estate continues as firm as the belief of some in the spiritual manifestations from another world. The weeds along the highway are worn threadbare in places where sightseers have roosted to gaze at the mysterious lights. Boys and girls getting home at late hours, sternly interrogated by infuriated papas and mamas, reply to the questions of where they have meandered, by the information that they have been up to “see the ghost.” In fashionable Litchville-society it is customary for ghost parties to wander northward and stay out in the chilly breezes until they catch colds and get red noses. Husbands getting home unsteadily in the wee small hours of the morning appease their wives by something better than the old lodge excuse. “Been up to see the ghost,” usually placates an impatient and angry spouse. Marion and Valley City parties have used the Litchville ghost as an excuse for a frolic and altogether the fame of the thing has spread state wide and it is even asserted that Governor White can scarcely attend to public business because of an excited Bismarck public that crowd the executive chambers asking if he has seen the ghost. It isn’t every little city that can add to its list of attractions a real ghost, but Litchville has this attraction to offer and people looking for a delightful place to live and add spice of adventure to an otherwise quiet life, are invited to move to Litchville and see the ghost and enjoy life.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:51:32 +0000
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