Stone Lion Inn - Guthrie, Oklahoma

The Houghton home was built in 1906 by T. E. Houghton, a successful merchant who wanted to build a larger home for his expanding family.  They lived in the house for approximately two decades with their eleven children.  They had twelve children, however, one of the children, young eight year old Augusta, came down with the whooping cough and died when she was given an overdose of cough medicine which back in the day, contained opium.  Even after all these years, it is thought that she still roams this house.

The Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie, Oklahoma is said to be haunted by family of it's original owners, the Houghton family.

The Houghton's moved out of the home in the 1920s, when it became a boarding house.  Soon afterward, the home was converted into a funeral parlor.  Years passed and it would seem that the house would go back in time as it became a boarding house again, and then finally a residence again which serves as a bed and breakfast.

The old Houghton house is now the Stone Lion Inn which is owned and run by the Luker family.  Sometimes late at night, footsteps can be heard making their way up the stairs to the third floor.  It is there where the youngest Luker boy's room is located.  Although he stacks his toys neatly on the shelves in his closet at night, in the morning all of the toys are found scattered all over the room as if some youthful spirit were at play during the night.  Sometimes, the patter of little feet can be heard running down the hallway when everyone is snug in bed.  Many believe this to be the spirit of little Augusta Houghton. 

Dead Woman's Crossing - Weatherford, Oklahoma

A bridge crosses Big Deer Creek northeast of Weatherford, Oklahoma at the intersection of Arapaho and Dead Women Roads.  A site that looks somewhat serene today, however back on July 8th, 1905.  It became the center of mystery and as it turned out later, murder when Katie DeWitt James and her 14 month old daughter disappeared.  Katie was never to be seen again, alive anyway. Some believe her spirit still lingers near the spot where she met her demise.

Some say the ghostly sound of wagon wheels and a woman screaming can be heard at Dead Women's Crossing near Weatherford, Oklahoma

Katie DeWitt decided to leaver her husband, she and her daughter were planning to leave Custer County when she met Fannie Norton, a reported prostitute.  She agreed to stay with Fannie's brother.  The next day it is said that Fannie took Katie and her daughter to a town called Hydro to do some errands, planning to return in a few hours.  A couple of hours later, Fannie returned with the wagon alone, of which one of the wheel's was bloodied.

After there was no sign of Katie or her child for some time, Katie's father hired an investigator to find out what happened.  Reportedly, Fannie was seen taking Katie's daughter to a local boy.  She asked him to take the child to his mother so she could take care of her.  Shortly afterward, Fannie disappeared.  She was found in a nearby town.  When questioned about the whereabouts of Katie James, Fannie immediately denied killing her.  However, that evening, Katie committed suicide. 

Some time passed and a man fishing in Big Deer Creek near Weatherford, found a skeleton in the water.  The head was found nearby with a bullet hold in the back of it.  It was determined that these were the remains of Katie DeWitt James.  Some suspicion surrounded her estranged husband, and him having arranged her death, but he was not charged.  Whether Fannie tried to rob Katie, then shot her and pushed her body into the creek, it is unknown.  To this day, no one really knows what happened to Katie that day.

Over the years, the bridge has been washed out several times, however, there are still reports of strange happenings around the bridge near where Katie's body was found which is now known as Dead Woman's Crossing or Dead Woman's Bridge along the road that bears a similar name.  Many experience cold spots when on or around the bridge or on near the creek bank.  Some have had feelings of being overwhelmed by an unseen force and having the feeling of being pushed towards the edge of the bridge.

The most common experience that folks experience though is hearing the sounds of a woman's screams coming from Big Deer Creek and bridge area.  On dark nights, some hear the sounds of wagon wheels creaking along the creek crossing.  Many believe that this is the lingering spirit of Katie DeWitt James calling out for justice.



Other reading:
http://www.oklahomatoday.com/oklahomatoday/MAGAZINE/Routes/ND11_-_Haunted_Bridge,_Living_Mystery.html

Labadie Mansion - Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Outside of Bartlesville, Oklahoma the ruins of a 19th Century Victorian mansion obscured by twisted trees sits on top of a hill with a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside.  Sounds like something out of a horror movie, but this is for real and it comes with real life spirits tormented by a history of death on these grounds.

The Labadie Mansion sits on a hill top near Bartlesville, Oklahoma

In the late 1880s to 1935, Frank Labadie and his wife Samantha resided in this mansion along with their servant, who some believe was a slave that chose not to be free.  His name was Enos Parsons.  It is said that Samantha became pregnant around 1893, however, when the baby was born the child was black.  Thus, betraying the secret relationship that Samantha had had with servant Enos.  In a fury, it is believed that Frank Labadie killed Enos Parsons, then proceeded to throw the baby into the nearby creek.  It is rumored that 1935, Frank went crazy and could not handle the torrid past and killed his wife then set fire to the house and he himself perished in the flames.

All that remains of the mansion today is the foundation and a few walls.  Many folks claim that when they were visiting, strange occurrences took place such as flashlights and other electronic devices suddenly draining of power.  Noises of someone or something moving through and around the surrounding brush are another common occurrences.  Probably the most bizarre event that witnesses claim to have seen is the remains of the old stone fireplace suddenly burst into flame then go out on its own.

Ruins of the Labadie Mansion near Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Ruins of the Labadie Mansion near Bartlesville, Oklahoma showing the remnants of the fireplace

Although, the descendants of the Labadie family claim that none of these things are true, and that Frank and Samantha died in a freak accident with their gas heater malfunctioning, and others say they died in a fire but of smoke inhalation. Their graves are located in a nearby cemetery with no indication of a child or Enos Parsons being buried there. One would think that there would be some kind of markers there, unless these deaths were intended to be obscured in time as if these souls never existed.