Haunted Happenings pairs paranormal experiences into architectural nostalgia

Calling all spirit-hunters, thrill-lovers, and ghost-callers, The Grand’s Haunted Happenings has awakened from the deep sleep of the night. Fitted out with nightly tours and haunted history, this experience aims to make any non-believer change their views. The old opera house originally opened in 1883 and has since come to be considered the most haunted place in Oshkosh. 

The 30-minute-long tours ran throughout the month of October. Each tour includes a basic architectural history of the building and a rundown of the four main ghosts residing inside. They also offer the opportunity to enter the basement, the stage, the dressing rooms, the old lobby, and the lounge. 

Tour organizer Amber Hammond has been at The Grand for years and was inspired by its history to start the ‘Haunted Happenings’ experiences.

“I started this tour because a lot of people are interested in this building’s history, architecture, and paranormal features,” she said. “This is a fun and interactive way to appeal to them.”

For tour attendee James Horgan, the event provided an engaging combination that he appreciates and finds enjoyable.

 “I love learning about historical architecture, so I thought it would be fun to get tickets and explore the Grand,” he said.

The building itself was designed by William Waters, a local architect who had previously designed over 100 buildings, including the public library and the museum. 

The Grand location has had many different owners. In 1918, it was purchased by W.G. Maxcy and W.D. Cummings, and then it was moved to the widow of the first owner in the late 1920s. In 1948, it was sold to Sol Winoker and the name was changed to Civic Theater. It was tossed around another four times before it would settle under the ownership of the City of Oshkosh today. The building also had various closings, reopenings, and restorations to reach its current state.

The heart of each tour consists of a history of the four main ghosts that reside in the building.  The first, called the Victorian Lady, has many unknown aspects of her history. 

“She’s always seen in the same seat,” the tour guide said. “Not much is known about her, like how she died or why she’s here. She’s mostly seen in her seat when shows are being set up. It’s almost as if she’s waiting for the shows to start.”

The next ghost, simply referred to as Little Boy, has a more interesting yet unfortunate history. 

“He died in the coal room where he was crushed to death,” the guide said. “He’s known for giggling, screaming for help, and even for touching women in inappropriate areas.”

For Hammond, this was her first ghastly experience. 

“I actually saw the little boy appear recently,” she said. “This is the first time that I’ve physically seen a spirit here, as well. It’s chilling.”

The last two spirits come as a pair and are known as the Stage Manager and his dog. The stage manager is consistently seen in a few spots like the dressing room, his seat on stage, the balcony by his apartment, and more. The stage manager's dog has also been seen several times on the actual stage.

 “The stage manager, named Percy Keen, died at the Grand and has been seen roaming around or just sitting on the stage or in the dressing rooms,” local paranormal team, Ghostly Players, said. “He also had a dog who died there and never left.”

Organized in 2016, the paranormal team of three have all been stagehands at The Grand, and have come together through their shared ghostly experiences. The team had a unique, bone-chilling encounter with the dog, specifically. 

“I was a stagehand for Jesus Christ Superstar, and one of the actors wouldn't go on stage because she claimed that there was a dog sitting on stage in her spot,” one member said.

Along with participating in the tours themselves, the team’s main purpose is educating the surrounding community about spirits.

 “We started the team because we wanted to educate and help people understand the paranormal activities they were experiencing,” they said. 

For Horgan, his first visit definitely will not be his last.

“Overall, the tour was really interesting, it was very informative, enjoyable,” he said. “I look forward to going to more tours like these in the future!”

By Kora Boese and Tenna Ruetten

Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue II

October 31 2022