Haunted DeLand and the Ghosts of West Volusia County (Haunted America)

Author and Haunted DeLand tour guide Dusty Smith recounts a century of ghostly history in the bustling historic community of DeLand, the Athens of Florida. Specters include those of Jeannette Barnhill, whose ghost drove her real estate mogul widower mad by standing behind him to keep a constant watch on his accounting books, and of the guest killed in the 1917 Putnam Hotel fire who leaves the smell of burnt wood and flesh in the air. Forlorn lovers Ruby and Joshua, a freed slave and a plantation foreman, and Suzanna Brown, who jumped to her death with unrequited love for a Stetson professor, are included, as well as the ghostly horse-drawn hearse that has been seen parked alongside what was once the Old Casket Company. From steamboat captains to Spiritualist camp residents, DeLand's ghosts are sure to delight visitors and residents alike in this stirring account of the area's historic haunts. Introduction -- The Spirits Of Stetson University -- The Ghost Of Granny Quigley -- The Girl In The Lake -- Spirits On The Courthouse Steps -- Do Spirits Still Perform At The Athens Theater? -- The Spirit Of John Fisher-pharmacist In The Afterlife -- The Energetic Creature In The Masonic Temple Building -- Sarah-the Ghost Of The Old Casket Company -- Spirits Don't Check Out Of The Artisan Inn -- Footsteps And Spirits In The Fernery -- Roy Cook And The Kkk -- The Spirit Residents In The Cassadaga Hotel -- The Ghost Town Of St. Francis -- The Devil's Chair -- The Horrors At The Honey Processing Plant -- The Poltergeist At The Putnam Hotel. Dusty Smith. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [127]). Introduction The spirits of Stetson University The ghost of Granny Quigley The girl in the lake Spirits on the courthouse steps Do spirits still perform at the Athens Theater? The spirit of John Fisher, pharmacist even in the afterlife The energetic creature in the Masonic Temple building Sarah, the ghost of the Old Casket Company Spirits don't check out of the Artisan Inn Footsteps and spirits in the Fernery Roy Cook and the KKK Spirits in the Cassadaga Hotel The ghost town of St. Francis The devil's chair The horrors at the Honey Processing Plant The poltergeist at the Putnam Hotel. Tour guide Dusty Smith recounts a century of haunted history in the bustling community of DeLand. Specters include those of Jeannette Barnhill, whose ghost drove her real estate mogul widower mad by standing behind him to keep a constant watch on his accounting books, as well as forlorn lovers, steamboat captains and Spiritualist camp residents