- The Eerie Easton Walking Tour, featuring some of the spookiest true stories the city has to offer, is underway until the end of October
- Tour guides skip the jump scares in lieu of true horror tales backed up by thorough research
- Guests get to see some of the actual locations where these eerie anecdotes took place, making the experience all the more unnerving and real
EASTON, Pa. — If you’re looking for some spooky spectacles with a educational bent this season, the Eerie Easton Walking Tour has returned to spread tales of murder, mischief and misadventure throughout the downtown district.
Held by Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, the popular fall walking tour is a hallmark of the area for fans of historically based horrors.
As the society puts it, “from the time of its founding in 1752, Easton's history has been filled with dark tales of suspicious disappearances, strange coincidences, and disastrous journeys.”
Keep in mind, there are no jump scares here – no clowns in creepy face paint, nothing like that. But what is there could stick with you in a more unsettling way.
“One of the things that we really tried to emphasize is that you don't need to elaborate on history for it to be what it is — history is horrifying enough. And if history makes you comfortable, are you really studying history or are you studying a sanitized version of history?”NCHGS Community Engagement Coordinator Sarah White
“One of the things that we really tried to emphasize is that you don't need to elaborate on history for it to be what it is — history is horrifying enough," NCHGS Community Engagement Coordinator Sarah White said.
"And if history makes you comfortable, are you really studying history or are you studying a sanitized version of history?”
'Need to tell stories and solve mysteries'
Those interested in exploring the dark and disturbing history of good old Easton will step back in time to the colonial frontier village, ripe with foreboding woods and wilderness, where a small pond became a site for an act of revenge.
Hear the tale of Charles Getter, a man whose hanging in 1833 was disturbing enough to spur the governor to ban public executions.
Or, if you happen to be a true-crime fanatic, learn about the bizarre tale of Allen Laros, who poisoned his entire family by dosing their coffees with arsenic in 1876, and whose trial marked the first successful insanity plea in Pennsylvania trial history.
"Unlike typical 'haunted history' tours based solely on legend or rumor, the Eerie Easton Walking Tour uses historical evidence to explore oral histories and community stories."NCHGS Community Engagement Coordinator Sarah White
Take in the testimony of Alfred Thomas, a survivor of a devastating steamboat explosion that Thomas — and several local shipbuilders — suspected could have been caused by an incorrectly installed boiler.
Learn the true story of Elizabeth Morgan, the famous ghost of Easton Public Library. Or perhaps you’d like to puzzle out the tale of the “missingest man in America,” Judge Joseph Force Crater.
Or perhaps you would like to hear of Evelyn Francis McHale, a young woman engaged to a Lafayette College student who became infamous throughout macabre popular culture and history.
New tales have been added this year, in addition to the return of the six classic stories, all based on real history — as White said.
"Unlike typical 'haunted history' tours based solely on legend or rumor, the Eerie Easton Walking Tour uses historical evidence to explore oral histories and community stories," White said.
"As much as possible, we use primary source documents, such as trial transcripts, photographs and newspaper articles, to determine which facts are true and which truths may have been lost to time.
"These tales speak to our need to tell stories and solve mysteries."
'Supernatural, or maybe sinister, vibes'
And while White said it’s difficult for her to pin down a favorite tour tale — “It's like asking me to pick a favorite child,” she said — when pressed for an answer, one ghastly story in particular evokes some pretty intriguing, and dark, existential questions about humanity.
“So one of the things that I really tried to do with this tour is get as much actual concrete evidence that I could. And I think in terms of the things that I was really able to research and find was ... the execution of Charles Getter."
"The story itself is not really something you'd expect to hear in 1833, or something you’d expect to hear in 2003 or 2013. But some of the things that I love about all the stories, really, but especially that story, is that they weren't really concerned about the same things that we're concerned about today."NCHGS Community Engagement Coordinator Sarah White
White said she was able to find an original court document from 1833 regarding Getter. The scene was described as so vulgar that the governor of Pennsylvania outlawed public executions.
"But the story itself is not really something you'd expect to hear in 1833, or something you’d expect to hear in 2003 or 2013," White said.
"But some of the things that I love about all the stories, really, but especially that story, is that they weren't really concerned about the same things that we're concerned about today.
"And how do you handle such unusual cases like that? In a very small town? And what did that say about the politics and the culture, the society of small towns?”
Tour guide Nick Pope said he favors the strange story of Hexenkopf Rock, which once served a sacred spot for faith healing, only later to be associated with witches.
“It is the most remote one I can think of. It was just a really cool experience to get out there — you can really feel the kind of supernatural, or maybe sinister, type of vibes out there," Pope said.
''It’s so awesome.”
'Halloween ... or just local history'
During a recent tour, John and Rachel Foy said they were drawn to the tour to learn more about their city, and the potentially spook stories hidden among the storied buildings.
“We've actually been doing walks in the evening, and we've been checking out the architecture and figured this would be a fun way to kind of learn a little bit more about Easton,” Rachel Foy, sporting a witch’s hat, said.
“Maybe some of the buildings we've pointed out maybe had some stories.”
John Foy said he enjoyed Getter’s Island the most, whereas Rachel Foy preferred an eerie tale of a town taking ill-advised vigilante action against one of their own.
“Easton has a super-rich history, and whether or not you believe in the paranormal, there are a lot of really creepy stories."Tour guide Nick Pope
The tour route follows major roadways and crosses at designated intersections. Tours are on weekend evenings during September and October and run about 90 minutes.
Organizers advise the event is not recommended for those aged younger than 12.
Tickets are $15 per person, with pre-registration through Eventbrite require in advance. Each tour is limited to 20 people.
Pope said the tour is a perfect activity for just about anyone in the area, even if it’s not all about ghosts and ghouls.
“Easton has a super-rich history, and whether or not you believe in the paranormal, there are a lot of really creepy stories," he said.
"It is a really fun and interesting thing to do if you're into anything related to the Halloween season or if you are just into local history. Me, I like both."
