'WHITE WOMAN' GHOST

Some tales are merely that - tales.  They have no true paranormal aspect to them, other than the ability to live forever as each new generation comes of age and the tale is retold.  One of the most prevalent themes in all of paranormal reseach is the 'lady in white', 'the woman in white', and other similar descriptors.

Wilkie Collins in 1859 published what is considered to the the first mystery novel, The Woman in White.  Other tales and reported sightings could fall into the category of the classic woman in white tale; a women wronged or harmed who restlessly wanders around in perpetual grief or remorse.

He no doubt drew inspiration from tales through out the British Isles of such women dating from medieval times.  The Irish Banshee may be a version that dates further back and reflect an older tradition still.

Hispanic cultures may reflect the motif in their weeping mother or similar tales associated with the violation of innocense.

The famed "resurrection Mary' version from Chicago, and its many locale variants, may be inspired by ancient tales, Collins ,or be a manifestation of some ofter process at work in society.  The resurrection Mary story emerged at a time when young ladies were first gaining freedom to go out without chaperones and in wild automobiles to dance to hot music and drink cold liquer.  There may be a tinge of a morality tale created to keep them 'down on the farm'.

One local version in Oklahoma is set near Conners College, near Warner, Oklahoma.    There is supposedly (I  have not verified any of this in the tradition of sharing a good story....) a College road that runs past the institution and passes a cemetery.  There, a 'white woman' has been seen by generations of people....

The informant told me the story "has been told for many years."

Marilyn A. Hudson, Historian and Storyteller....

IMPRECISION

It very important in any type of research to be as accurate as possible. For example, in an interview with a person from SE Oklahoma there was mention made of the 'Bug Tussle cemetery."  Yet, in reflection and researching most sources will say the nearest cemetery to that community, located on a spur into Lake Eufala, is really Oak Hill cemetery in nearby McAlester.  Someone trying to verify the location of such a spot would be greatly confused without specifics as to just where this location was to be found.

The person had a good story - said to be well known in the region - that a witch 'hag' comes out of one graves in that cemetery and then goes into another.   Without better location information it is impossible to verify the event or to debunk it as mere local legend.

IT LOOKS HAUNTED SO IT SHOULD BE!!

Scan the pages of any Internet site and you will find phrases such as "it looks haunted!" or "it is a creepy place - I bet there are ghosts there!" The truth of the matter is that a haunting can -and often do occur - in very prosaic places. Modern suburban houses filled with bric-a-brac and office buildings in strip malls. How something looks is no gauge of its value or merit or haunted-ness. There are, however, some places that sensitives can identify (and sometimes others) as having a "feel" or a "mood". Sometimes there is a sense that "something lingers on." There can also be places "tainted" by emotions, actions, or negative spirits. So - despite what all the horror novels and movies have enjoyed telling us for decades - if it looks spooky - it probably is not.

LEGENDS AND LOCALES

In northeast Oklahoma is the tale of the Labadie Mansion.  The legend goes (with some disputing them of course) that a man killed his wife and another man, Enos Parsons, in 1935. The facts are that the remains of stone house of some size is found outside of Copan. A gravestone for a Frank Labadie (1860-1935) and a Samantha Labadie (1857-1935) have been found. There is a Frank Labadie listed on the 1920 census as being 19 and born in Arkansas - but none are listed on Heritage Quest census database for 1930 and no Enos Parsons either!

In addition, the Oklahoma City papers did not carry any news of such a crime or event and it is supposed that as it is an unusually bad news it would have traveled. The facts are that numerous people have admitted to using the place as a spot to scare girls, party, or do other recreational activities. So - given the fact that older citizens have said that the couple died peacefully from smoke in a fire - this is probably another sample of what folklorist call "contemporary legends" (i.e., urban myths).

What is needed: Census or official records stating the people were alive in the area in the time period; some official record (newspaper, funeral records, etc.) of the cause of the death of the man and the woman, some record of the existance of Enos Parsons, and some type of proof of haunitng activity via photos, audio, or other evidence.

Here are some sites that repeat the "story":

http://www.angelfire.com/scary/labadie0/

Labadie – Copan, OK

http://spiritchat2217.proboards34.com/index.cgi?action=recent

http://spiritchat2217.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=PENISE&action=print&thread=53

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-USz6DL87f7Qg6NmBd6gk5A--?cq=1&p=42

ANATOMY OF AN URBAN LEGEND

Sometimes local legends are merely that.  The product of fevered imaginations with too much time on their hands? In the early 1990's accounts of a "Hatchet House" with accompanying awful murder and porch painted red to hide "all the blood", began to appear in local OKC newspapers. Soon tales of swings moving in the moonlight.....and ghostly voices of children playing..... began to flesh out the vague and lurid premise. Now, every Halloween local haunters flock to the historic district of the Gatewood Neighborhood to find the notorious house with hatchet cutouts...or the red painted porch....or the driveway where 'they found the body.' This seemed like an easy find....track down the dastardly crime....solve the mystery...provide some background for this legend. So far...however, no such crime has come to light. The area only dates back to the 1920's when it boomed along with various other areas of the city. Its classic hometown feel and its historic homes kept it a special place for many decades. There was tragedy as children, go to and coming from the local elementary school (Gatewood Elementary) were struck by automobiles...a few random crimes....and some natural deaths. Findng a grim and ghastly crime worthy of such a horrific legend....has so far drawn a blank. It is similar to the tale in the Don Knotts comedy, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" with its tale of murder, blood stained organ keys ("and they used Bon-Ami!"), and generally bad reputation. Unless, and until, something definite is discovered this is no doubt another OKC Urban Legend. So, drive through the area and enjoy the neighborhood that is on the national history registry.....but give the folks there a rest because there is really nothing else to see there.

IMPROVING YOUR RESEARCH

It is very important to learn as much as possible about the history of a location as it is to gather data of a scientific nature. It will be necessary to verify legends, rumors, and commonly held "truths" about a location and the reasons for a possible haunting. Remember, despite common mythology, not everything is on the Internet - some old school research is required to do top quality work.

Keep a notebook for your research trips, record where you found the information (name of the library and location) and the general bibliographic information (author, title, publisher, date, and call number - in case you need to re-check it). The notebook can be a simple spiral bound school notebook or a laptop.

Libraries will generally have information related to local history (old newspapers, local history books, etc.). Some libraries now offer, with a library card, access to genealogical databases to search census records, deeds, newspapers (to a limit). This link lists all Oklahoma Public Libraries. Library cards are usually free in the location to area residents since they are funded by tax dollars (property or other tax bases). Visitors from out of town or state may need to pay to access local databases, but use of other materials is usually free to visitors. Special collections (archives) may have limitations as to use or access. In Oklahoma, students and staff of universities can apply (via their school library) for the OKShareCard. This is honored by member libraries at other institutions. It allows limited checkout of books - but often does not allow access to databases.

Courthouses & City or County Clerks offices can provide information related to ownership of land, previous occupations of an area, and other pertinent information. The link lists state courthouses and their addresses.

Local museums can also sometimes provide some information about local legends or history. The lists all museums in Oklahoma. Some are staffed by volunteers and be prepared to leave bags or cases with an attendant, sign papers to use, etc. They may not be sympathetic with a paranormal investigation, but then sometimes the people staffing these places aren't sympathetic to any researcher! So be polite, friendly, and have a plan as to what you want to find out. You might discover they want to help.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

Census records (Free - not complete but a help) ; http://www.censusfinder.com/ ;

http://www.census-online.com/links/ ; a subscription service Ancestry.com allows access to census films and many other local history resources online ($100 to $300 a year) but many larger libraries offer access to this in their libraries via their computers.

County Clerk Public Records-OK

http://okcountyrecords.com/index.php

Good General Introduction to using Court House Records

http://www.arkansasresearch.com/g-court.html

 

Census Bureau Flyer on Availability of Census Records for an Individual / US Privacy Act,etc.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2/gen/cff/cff-9702.pdf

remember:

Expect misspelled names, hard to read writing, and changes in street names and housing developments.

Expect history books to cover only the well-known, wealthy, or notorious people or events of any community.

Think of alternative ways of learning information. If a book on the town makes no mention of the haunted house....look at biographies of local people....or family genealogies, etc. Somebody may mention legends or places in passing.

--MH Research, 2007