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Seating on a pickup-pulled tram is limited to 35 people on each of the two trips so interested persons might want to sign up and pay the $10 per person fee early to guarantee a spot. Guests also might want to bring a cushion or blanket to make the ride on the metal tram a bit more comfy. The tour is expected to take about an hour-and-a- half.
Marc Houseman, director of the museum, will conduct the tour and share funny/interesting/spooky stories at each of the stops. He is especially excited about the fact that Roger Langendoerfer, one of the owners of the John B. Busch Brewery, has offered to let those on the tour go inside the brewery. Several people from the St. Louis Paranormal Society are likely to be there to share information.
Langendoerfer said the society has been to the brewery four times and even captured some things on film and audio. "They told him the place was definitely haunted," Houseman said.
Antonia Hayes, now 98, and granddaughter of John B. Busch, said she remembers a man named "Fritz" who died in the building when she was 4 or 5 years old. Fritz was homeless and came by to ask for work. Her father offered him a job doing yardwork and let him live in a small room in the brewery. One day he was found dead in a corner of the building.
"In that corner of the room things frequently get moved around," Houseman said.
Persons interested in taking the tour can call Houseman at 636-239-0280 or stop by the museum, located at Fourth and Market streets. No one will be signed up until their payment of $10 is received.
Cemetery Tour
Those interested in attending the cemetery tour should go to the cemetery, located on Wildey Way off Clay Street near the Knights of Columbus Hall the day of the event.
"This is a historical tour and it's not intended to be scary," said Houseman, who is also caretaker and sexton for the cemetery.
"Nothing is disrespectful and it always draws a big crowd." Houseman will talk about some of the 200 people buried in the cemetery and the way some of them died. These include John Busch, of the brewery fame, Franz Schwarzer, the zither maker, George Bergner, an inventor and gunsmith, and James Owens, son of the founder of Washington.
"And there were lots of other doctors, lawyers and politicians," Houseman said.
Refreshments will be served before the tour with homemade chili and cookies. There is no cost for the food, though people can make a donation if they would like.
Those attending should bring a flashlight and the cost is $5 per person. "That money is used for the care of the cemetery," Houseman said. "It's interesting and, in a way, seems to satisfy people's morbid curiosity."
