The Fort Smith Museum of History put on a trolly tour to tell spooky historic tales. For a little Halloween fun Chad and I did the Toast The Ghost trolly tour to learn a little about our town.
Our first stop: Judge Parker's Gallows
During the course of his 21 year tenure at Fort Smith, Judge Parker sentenced to the gallows 160 men and women who had been found guilty of rape or murder by a jury. Of this total, 79 men were executed on the gallows. The judge only handed down the death sentences; he did not attend the executions or participate in them in any official capacity.
Miss Laura's Social Club
Built in 1896 as the Riverfront Commercial Hotel, the house at 123 First Street was bought by Laura Ziegler in 1898. Zeigler borrowed $3,000 from a banker to buy the building. She renovated the building and opened it as a brothel in 1903. She repaid her loan in only seventeen months.Miss Laura’s was on what was known as “The Row” in Fort Smith, an infamous red-light district. It was one of the most celebrated bordellos in the Southwest, and her ladies were known as the healthiest and most sophisticated in Fort Smith.
The Clayton House
** Blogger shut down
once, twice now during my post so i promise to return this week with a full report of our tour, come back you will be in for a real Treat!
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