Ghost stories and Kansas history will be the focus of author Paul Thomas’s presentation on Sunday, October 29, 3 p.m. at Neosho County Community College in Ottawa, Kansas.
Thomas has long been interested in Kansas folklore and the ghost stories of northeastern Kansas. As a student at the University of Kansas, he cofounded the Stephenson Hall Paranormal Investigation Team, which investigated purportedly haunted locations in and around the Lawrence area. His new book, Haunted Lawrence, looks at the ghosts of one of Kansas’ oldest towns. He explores the stories—and the history—behind the “permanent” guest at the Eldridge Hotel, the young woman at the Sigma Nu fraternity house (which was once the home of Kansas’ eighteenth governor), the “legend” of Stull Cemetery, and many other stories.
An Ottawa native, Thomas holds bachelor’s degrees in classics and anthropology from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in social science with an emphasis in anthropology from the University of Chicago. He currently serves as a library specialist at the University of Kansas.
Books will be available for sale and signing following Thomas’s presentation. This free event is open to the public and will be held at Neosho County Community College’s Ottawa Campus, 900 East Logan Street, Ottawa, Kansas. For more information, contact the Old Depot Museum at (785) 242-1250 or manager@olddepotmuseum.org.
Founded in 1937, the Franklin County Historical Society strives to preserve, present, and promote the history of Franklin County, Kansas. The Old Depot Museum is part of the Franklin County Historical Society. For more information, visit www.olddepotmuseum.org.
