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Ghost walk explores historic buildings of McKinney's Chestnut Square

By CHRIS COATS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Chris Coats is a freelance writer in Richardson.

Cindy Johnson has heard her share of ghost stories around town but never anything that she could relate to.

Photos by JENN ACKERMAN/DMN

The Dulaney Museum is considered a hot spot for paranormal activity in McKinney's historic Chestnut Square. It is believed that Mrs. Dulaney, who spent years mourning her husband and child, can be seen in the two-story house that was built for her in 1916.

That changed last summer when Cyndy Long, owner of Alice's Tea Shoppe, mentioned meeting Ms. Johnson's cat at McKinney's Chestnut Square.

"She described our cat even to the point of its distinct meow," Ms. Johnson said. "Our cat had died two weeks before and was buried right next to where she saw it."

That's when Ms. Johnson, executive director of Chestnut Square, unearthed an idea – an October ghost tour of McKinney.

"It's sharing McKinney's history with stories that people tie to the history of the buildings," she said. "If it takes scaring people silly to share our past, then we'll do it."

The Legends of McKinney Ghost Walk, set for Saturday, is a self-guided tour of paranormal hot spots in downtown: Chestnut Square, the Old Collin County Prison, the Collin County Courthouse, the Londoner pub and the North Texas History Center.

A storyteller will be at each location sharing the stories of the ghoul old days.

"It's all about bringing people into McKinney and learning through the old craft of storytelling," said Nancy Cowlishaw, a McKinney school district employee who will be stationed at the old prison.

Stories like seeing the shadow of a hanging man at the prison's courtyard area, which was a site for legal hangings until 1921. Or of a ghostly figure in white who roams the old courthouse.

The Dulaney Museum and Cottage, once homes to the McKinney family in the late 1800s and early 1900s, is another hot spot.

"I'm sure the Dulaneys are happy that we keep sharing their story even if it is through ghost tales," said Chestnut Square camp director Heather Boykin, who has also heard her share of things go bump in the night.

Heather Harper of Plano and Wendy Harkrider of Wylie were downtown creeping around the old prison on a recent night. They liked the idea of a ghost tour.

"I'd go on it," Ms. Harkrider said. "It's an entertaining way of learning history."

Martin Timmerstein, 13, isn't thrilled with the idea. He helps his mom with events at Chestnut Square and sometimes has to lock up at night.

"I hear sounds, and I get really scared," he said. "I know all of the nooks and crannies of where the ghosts could be. I'd be good at giving a ghost tour but I won't do it."

Ms. Long is getting into the spirit of the tour by hosting a Haunted Tea at Alice's that evening. She and her mother, Judy Canterbury, have had sightings of an elderly woman at the tea room, and the feeling of a finger going down spines.

"Many shop owners have ghosts but won't say because they're afraid that it will scare off business," Ms. Long said.

"We definitely have a positive presence here," Ms. Canterbury said.

"Ours mean no harm and are polite. Whenever they open a door, they always remember to shut it."

Chris Coats is a freelance writer in Richardson.