Ghosts, goblins and things that go ‘bump’ in the night

 

Terry Rollins is a storyteller extraordinaire and his tour of downtown Washington brings local history alive.

Or does it?

Actually Rollins’ Washington Haunts tour focuses on otherworldly visitors from the grave. The ghost stories shared by Rollins shine a different light on the story of Washington.

The 90-minute tour, which averages a lucky 13 stops along the way, includes such diverse tales as those of a child who died in a tragic accident and an accused murderer who decided that the judge and jury would not have the final say regarding his fate.

The original script of the tour was researched and written by author and former Washington resident Rhonda Donald. Rollins puts his own unique spin on the stories.

“I am a storyteller and I like to talk, so I have to push myself to keep it to 90 minutes,” Rollins said with a smile.

The most colorful tale shared during the tour is that of George Washington Carawan, a Baptist minister from Hyde County who was accused of killing his wife’s lover back in the 1850s. Carawan went on trial in the old Beaufort County courthouse, which serves today as headquarters of the Beaufort-Hyde-Martin library system. Carawan was found guilty and when the jury’s verdict was announced, he pulled out a gun and began firing, wounding the prosecutor. He saved a bullet for himself, committing suicide as a stunned crowd, including his wife and children, looked on.

It is Carawan’s ghost that supposedly haunts the second floor of the old courthouse. Rollins is convinced the story has merit.

“I’ve always believed in ghosts, but with no real reason … I never had any experiences as a child,” he said. “I’ve never felt threatened on the tour, but I have sensed an angry presence at the old courthouse.”

That isn’t Rollins only brush with the great beyond.

“I have had people take my picture on the ghost walk, and they’ve shown me orbs and strange lights,” he said.

Such orbs have appeared in photos taken in the cemetery at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church. There lies buried a young child who haunts not the graveyard but a site outside of town where she met her death.

“Three year old Carrie Foreman was playing at her grandparents’ store when she slipped off a high railing and died of internal injuries,” Rollins shared. “She was buried in a pale yellow dress, and people have reported seeing a young child dressed in pale yellow at the site where her grandparents’ store once stood.”

Other spooky stories unfold during the tour, including that of a ghostly specter seen hanging under the Highway 17 bridge. Several downtown businesses have reported ghostly activity, as well. And, of course, there’s the tale of a projectionist who killed himself in the Turnage Theater … and let’s not forget the ghost in the old Hyatt House along Water Street.

But let’s not spoil the surprise. Experience the Washington Haunts tour for yourself. The next tour is scheduled for Sept. 6 beginning at 8 p.m. Rounding out the schedule are outings slated for Oct. 4, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; those tours will begin at 7 p.m.

All tours depart from Harding Square on the Washington waterfront. Cost is $10 per person (cash only). For more information, contact Rollins at 252-402-8595.