Along Algonkian: Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts

Walter Gavenda loves to tell tales about the ghosts of Civil War soldiers and slaves, and he’ll be at the Cascades Library on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m., to share his unique combination of history and haunting. You will have the opportunity to listen to recordings made at numerous Civil War sites, and to ponder the question of whether ghosts do roam the local Civil War battlefields on which they perished.

Gavenda has written "A Field Guide to Haunted West Virginia" along with coauthor Michael T. Shoemaker. This book is available through Amazon.com, and reviewers have given it a five-star rating for its interesting stories and clear, concise writing style. I borrowed the book from the Cascades Library this week, and I agree. It is interesting to look at an area so close to home in a new light. For more information on Walter Gavenda and "A Field Guide to Haunted West Virginia," visit www.hauntedwestvirginia.com.

The following evening at 6:30 p.m., Claude Moore Park will host a Ghost Story Campfire for folks ages five and up. This is a great opportunity to sit among the tall trees lit by the glow of the campfire and listen to chilling tales that will get you in the Halloween spirit. The park will provide marshmallows for toasting and hot apple cider to warm you up. Bring a toasting stick and a blanket. The fee is just $5 per person, and children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information about the Ghost Story Campfire, call 571-258-3700.

Finally, on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 12:30 p.m., join three-time Emmy award winner and Parents’ Choice honoree Bobby Norfolk at the Cascades Library for Spooky Tales. This is a spine tingly performance of family-friendly ghost stories and classic tales of mystery and suspense that is appropriate for all ages. Norfolk is a master of the "jump story" -- a tale which ends with such a surprise that the entire audience actually jumps.

Lately I have been thinking of joining the paranormal entertainment industry and leading my own ghost tour of Cascades, but I just didn’t get my act together in time for this year’s season. The area in which I live is actually referred to as Historic Cascades—we have homes that are over 15 years old! I am also considering establishing an interactive dinner theatre to solve “The Mystery of Potomac Lakes.” Where were these lakes, and what happened to them?