Indiana Stonewall Democrats Present: Irvington Ghost Tours for The Committee to Elect John Barnes

Irvington, established in 1870 as the first suburb of Indianapolis, is considered the most haunted neighborhood in Indiana. The popular, chilling Irvington ghost tours offer a historic perspective on the neighborhood’s haunted homes, ghostly inhabitants, and notorious people the area boasts.

The two-hour walking tour of Irvington, facilitated by ghost-host Al Hunter, a historian and author of the book Irvington Haunts, includes a stop at the former home of D.C. Stephenson, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana and 22 other northern states during the early part of the 1920s. Stephenson was considered an influential leader, both within the KKK and within the political realm, until his trial and conviction in 1925 for the abduction, forced intoxication, and rape of Madge Oberholtzer, a fellow Irvington resident. Oberholtzer escaped from Stephenson and returned to her home on University Avenue—another stop on the tour—where she attempted suicide by poison and later died there from the attempt. Both the Stephenson mansion and the Oberholtzer homes are said to be haunted.

During the tour, learn about the country’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes, on which the book The Devil in the White City is based. In 1894, Holmes rented a cottage in Irvington in which he murdered ten-year-old Howard Pitezel. Pitezel, however, was only one of a few hundred of Holmes’ victims. The self-described “devil” built a “castle” in Chicago just prior to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. He lured Exposition attendees to the castle where he tortured most victims before murdering them. While the cottage where little Howard Pitezel was murdered no longer stands, the cottage that was thought to be built on the same property is haunted, and the owners, Pepper Partin and Wendi Garringer, believe the ten-year-old boy, among several others, haunts their home and property. As part of the John Barnes ghost tour fundraisers only, Pepper and Wendi will open their property for ghost tour attendees. They will share their chilling stories about their ghostly inhabitants and how they once fled their home in fear.

Also on the tour is the haunted Briggs home. Owners Don and Dawn Briggs have shared their house with otherworldly occupants for several decades. As a special treat for the John Barnes ghost tours, Dawn will welcome attendees onto her property and share her experiences, including a story about Joe, the little boy who died in the house and played with her son Gardner long before they knew that Joe had been a living, breathing soul who once occupied their home.

Specifically for the John Barnes ghost tour fundraisers, nationally renowned and respected empath and intuitive Marilene Isaacs will be on hand at the Briggs home and the Partin-Garringer home to talk about her experiences in both places. Marilene has worked on both properties, bringing insight to the homeowners’ ghostly occurrences.

The ghost tour also includes stories about the haunted coffee shop Lazy Daze, the Irving Theatre, the Bona Thompson center, the Guardian Home, Masonic Lodge 666, and the Lincoln Ghost Train.

Don’t miss the rare opportunity to tour Indiana’s most haunted neighborhood and chat with Marilene Isaacs and some of the homeowners who live with ghostly inhabitants.
Ghost tours often sell out quickly, so purchase your tickets for the special John Barnes fundraiser tours today!

Get a flyer here!

Friday, September 10th
Tour Times: 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Friday, September 17th
Tour Times: 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Tickets are $30. Ticket price includes the Irvington Haunts book by Al Hunter.

Purchase your tickets here, and your name will be added to a will-call list.
Tours begin at the Irvington Ghost Tours Soup & Spirits Curiosity Shop at 6 S. Johnson Ave., next door to Lazy Daze coffee house. Stop in and grab a coffee for the tour!

Tour attendees can park at CSL Plasma, 5550 E. Washington St., across from the Masonic Lodge.

Tours are conducted rain or shine. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, and be prepared for a spooktacular evening!

Proceeds from the John Barnes ghost tour fundraisers go to The Committee to Elect John Barnes.

Register at these links:

Friday September 10 - 7:30PM
Friday September 10 - 10:00PM
Friday September 17 - 7:30PM
Friday September 17 - 10:00PM