"Most Haunted Town in Kansas"

Most Haunted Town in Kansas
by Steven Walsh

Atchison, one of Kansas's oldest and most picturesque cities, is a unique blend of history and paranormal activity. It is not just a charming town with Victorian houses, but also the childhood home of the famous aviator, Amelia Earhart. Many may not realize that the town has a rich history of paranormal activity, which visitors can experience, especially during this season when the spooky ambiance is at its height. Much of this ghostly lore is rooted in historical buildings that often witnessed traumatic deaths.

The most famous of these houses is the Sallie House. While it's not the oldest, it has received the most publicity, with professionals and amateurs alike appearing on national television or their own personal YouTube channels. The spirits that still linger there are said to stem from the house's origins, built around the turn of the 20th century and once home to a local doctor, Charles Finney. One night, a mother brought her young daughter, Sallie, to the house, visibly distressed, informing the doctor that Sallie had abdominal pain and exhibited all the signs of a burst appendix. The doctor did not delay treating the young girl and started her surgery even before anesthesia began working. She unfortunately died in the examination room, which is now the kitchen. The house was a residence until 1993, when a series of events, like scratches and unexplained fires, forced the occupants to leave. The house is now used as one of the main haunted attractions in Atchison. You can spend the night there and have your own encounter with Sallie or her friends and experience the eerie atmosphere of the kitchen where Sallie passed away.

Across the street from the Sallie house is the Glick-Orr Mansion, which was once part of the Kansas Legislature and home to the 9th Governor of Kansas, George Washington Glick. The house took a long time to be fully completed, and its style even changed when George gave residence to his daughter, Jennie, and her husband, James Orr. Today, the house functions as a bed and breakfast, but guests can still hear unexplained stomping and doors opening and closing on their own. 

Another Victorian-style house with a haunting past is the McInteer Villa, built by Irish immigrant John McInteer between 1889 and 1890. He and his wife Alice lived there for only a year because, shortly after the house's construction began, Alice fell seriously ill and remained ill for a year before passing away in 1891. John later remarried a woman named Anna, who had three children from a previous marriage. One of these children was Charles Donovan, who met an untimely death by his own hand at only thirty-four years old. Another spirit believed to haunt the house is an eccentric woman of many careers who reportedly died while seated in a rocking chair that now moves on its own.

Atchison, with its appealing small-town vibe and rich history, offers one-of-a-kind attractions for both history enthusiasts and paranormal investigators. Even the old Santa Fe Railway Station, now the Atchison Historical Society headquarters and museum, is a great place to learn about the hauntings around town. Still, it also has its own spirits that linger long after the train has left the station. As Halloween approaches, the town transforms into a must-visit destination for those seeking a spooky adventure.

 

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