How I Spent Friday Night

Let's just say I had FUN.

After having taken the entire day off to attend a Christmas shopping event in the morning, I spent the evening with friends, sisters, Theresa and Veronica.  We went to the Fort Leavenworth Haunted House Tour, that is held to raise money for the Frontier Army Museum on post.  We had the best time, and the weather was perfect, cloudy with a chance of rain, but the moon peeking through from time to time.

First, we ate at the old Disciplinary Barracks.  This is the front portion of the old "Castle" prison, the home of the worst lawbreakers in the armed forces. Part of it has been turned into the "12th Brick Grille" (every twelfth brick had the USDB initials on it). 

We had great sandwiches and drinks.

The front of the building is forbidding, and I am sure it struck fear into the hearts of those men who had erred and were sent to it.

After we ate, we strolled around for a while. Theresa and Veronica had never been into the military installation very far, and were very interested in the beautiful old quarters in the oldest part of the post.

Tom Custer, brother of General George, died with him, their brother Boston, and two of their relatives at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  Many famous soldiers have lived on post, and they are commemorated in the older quarters with their names on brass plaques in the doorways.  During April there is usually a tour of the quarters to benefit the museum, and you can walk where the famous have slept.

Tom Custer is a two time Medal of Honor recipient, and lies in the National Cemetary at the post.

At dark, we gathered for check in at the park

Theresa (left) and Veronica (right) applied their wrist bands.

We began our tour along with 20 other souls.

At each stop, a volunteer told us ghost stories about the hauntings of that particular quarters.

At this one, we were allowed to go in, as it was unoccupied at the time.

The startled looks reflect a door that slammed as the docent was telling stories of what had happened in the quarters. You see the beautiful staircase behind us, the old quarters are stunning.

While we stood in front of this quarters, we noticed movement at the quarters directly to our right. The Rookery is the oldest lived-in quarters on post.  It is believed to be haunted, and many things have been seen and heard there.  The current occupants are getting ready to move, as the soldier is retiring. While we saw the basement, we did not get to go upstairs.  On the porch, something was moving, and red eyes were glowing.  We kept getting distracted while this docent told stories.  After she finished (and as it started to rain), we walked over to see what it had been.

I am telling you it MOVED.  It is an motion-activated pirate skeleton from Michael's (?) but while we stood next door, there was no one on the porch and IT MOVED AND THE EYES GLOWED RED.

I took a picture but it was so very dark, all you can see are two little red dots.  It was creepy!

This is how it looked from the house next door, you can barely see the eyes glowing red in the doorway.  I am TELLING YOU IT MOVED!!!!  No one was on the porch! 

(double-click on the picture to enlargen and see the EYES)

Our final stop was back at the Disciplinary Barracks, where this soldier told us about how life at the prison had been at the turn of the last century.  It was most interestingly done in an Irish accent, and we all enjoyed it. 

The rain started as we walked the two blocks to the cars... and I took one last shot as the moon began to go behind the clouds for good.

Happy October!