Market House Theatre River City Ghost Tours

From Stella Cohen to Devil Winston to the Morning Star Ghost. Paducah is crazy with the spirits of folks who just won’t move on to the other side. Meet ‘em all during the Market House Theatre River City Ghost Tours: Legends and Lore.

The spooky fun kicks off with the Market House Theatre River City Ghost Trolley Tour Gala, 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, with October-themed refreshments and cider on the Market House Theatre stage. Trolley tours leave at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Market House actors serve as guides, sharing ghost stories at several stops Downtown, in LowerTown and at the Fisher Mansion and the Hotel Metropolitan (left). $30. Purchase tix by calling 444.6828.

Rather walk? Then take advantage of the Market House Theatre River City Ghost Walking Tours the following Saturday nights, Oct. 10, 17 and 24. These 75-minute tours focus just on Downtown, leaving at 6, 6:45, 7:30, 8:15 and 9 p.m. The walking tours are $14 for adults and $6 for kids 6-12. Purchase tix online or by calling 444.6828.

Think the stories are all made up? Think again. A special committee of Cindy Miller, Heather Dorr, Jennifer Hughes, Sarah Bynum and Chip Bohle researched each ghost story thoroughly, with many of the accounts detailed in old issues of the Paducah Sun, by several local historians and by folks who happen to be well acquainted with some of the ghosts, even today. Market House Theatre performers will act as guides and tell the ghost stories associated with each stop along the way. Tour guides are Paducah residents Jody Smith, Phil Counts, Chris Black, Marsha Cash, Jim Roush, Kim Yocum and Michael Cochran.

Morning Star and MHT Ghosts
Take MHT Director Michael Cochran, for example. He’s acquainted with several, including Rayburn, the ghost who lives above the MHT box office.

“Our box office building used to be the Morning Star Saloon, built by Louie Lookofsky,” Michael says. “There was a man who rented one of the rooms on the second floor. He didn’t like people much and he didn’t like banks either. He’d sit in his window and just watch people walk by.

“One day, Louie went to collect the rent but couldn’t get him to answer the door. So he got some guys to help him push it open. There was a strong smoke smell — they walked up to the guy sitting in the chair, and he was dead. And all his money was gone. But the door was barred from inside. So it was a real mystery as to where the money went.

“And now, occasionally, we hear what sounds like creaking or walking noises, and MHT costumer Janice Peterson has several times suddenly noticed the strong smell of smoke, and then it suddenly vanishes, and nobody’s there. So we call him the Morning Star Ghost.”

Michael also hears ghosts in the theatre, itself. “I’ve spent many a late night in the theatre, and I’ve heard them many times,” he says. “Every time I go to see who it is, there’s never anybody around!”

Other tour highlights:

The Laughing Woman Ghost who lives in the old Marshall’s building next to Tribeca. She was one of Paducah’s more than 300 registered “hostesses” in the late 1800s. Late at night, you can still smell her perfume and hear her laughter.

Devil Winston, found guilty of chopping his girlfriend into little pieces. Paducah humorist Irvin Cobb was there for his hanging — he even had to assist — and documented every grisly detail in his Paducah Sun column.

The Witch Burning by the River — yes, in Paducah! It’s what happened afterward that will give you goosebumps!

The Maiden Alley Ghost and the mysterious circumstances of this man’s death at the corner of 2nd and Broadway, by what’s now Doe’s Eat Place.

And, of course, the tour features the famous Stella Cohen, who still makes CC Cohen her home, along with many more lively stories of the dearly departed who evidently love Paducah so much that they just won’t go away.

The Oct. 3 trolley tour features several ghosts we’ve highlighted on iList Paducah, including those shown below at Aphrodite Gallery, Molly Redhair Studio and the Fitzpatrick home.

A few notes about the event:

• Ticket purchases are non refundable and non exchangeable.
• Arrive 30 minutes before your tour — all tours leave on time.
• If you’re doing the walking tour, wear comfortable shoes. It’s not strenuous walking, but the pace will be lively.
• Although the stories are based on actual documented events, MHT can’t help but embellish a bit for entertainment purposes. While there may be a few “liberties” taken, the important facts are, indeed, accurate!

“Our goal is to raise funds to help children and adults perform on the Market House Stage and share the rich history of the city and the people of Paducah in a unique and theatrical way,” Michael says. “And, of course, we want everyone to have a fun and entertaining night.”