2008 Woodie Awards
Come out, Come out, wherever you are
Ghost-filled places send chills
Sarah Ayres and April Martin/Features Editor and Ranger Reporter
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: Features
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"My mother and I heard someone coming down the stairs," said Mary Garcia, a receptionist at the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce.
"I turned to look, and there wasn't anyone there."
Garcia told the story with enthusiasm, as if it had just happened moments before.
Her eyes were wide, and her breaths were short. Many of the chamber's current employees possess a story similar to Garcia's, and they are willing to share it with whomever is willing to listen.
"I do not come up here after hours anymore," Garcia said.
The Chamber of Commerce, the Nat ballroom and Summit Elementary School are three places many believe to be occupied by supernatural beings.
Mandy O'Neal, a psychology major, lived in front of Summit Elementary. It was almost right in her back yard. Only a fence stood between the two.
"When I was a teenager, a few friends and me tried to break into the old school," O'Neal said.
"We could barely see into the windows, but as we were looking in we could see things moving around, and knowing the story behind the school, we definately were scared."
Summit Elementary has been closed for several years. There are two versions of what happened at the school.
It is said that years ago, the janitor of the school went crazy and killed a classroom full of kids and the teacher.
The other version states that four young boys were murdered in the boiler room by a psychopathic janitor.
Ever since then, anyone who has seen or been to Summit gets a bit of a chill.
"Sitting in my back yard, you could see the swing sets swaying," O'Neal said.
Another person who knows a little about Summit is Lindzi Hertel.
"If you play on the merry-go-round, they will play with you," said Hertel, a general studies major.
Although there is not any substantial evidence to support the allegations, many testify to mysterious happenings on the school grounds.
In a police report dated March 23, 1998, a female complainant says if the report is released, "this will harm their future cooperation."
The report continues, "The person reporting is an employee for the Amarillo School District".
The call was a result of a conversation with the "school's boiler foreman" at that time.
The school now is owned by San Jacinto Christian Academy and is equipped with an alarm system.
Police make several arrests per year at the location and respond quickly to the alarm.
Summit Elementary is just one of the few buildings in Amarillo that are said to be haunted, but some are unknown to many people.
Route 66, which goes through Sixth Street, is home of "The Nat," formerly a swimming pool and dance hall. The building now is a bookstore filled with books and spirits.
According to Brandon Mann, owner of The Nat, an area psychic named Bubbles was hired as a medium.
"She said that all of the spirits here are positive," Mann said. "The main spirit is a woman from the1920s."
The feminine apparition did not die at this location, but she really enjoyed being here.
"One morning the bread maker was on our front porch, and all of the doors were locked," Mann said.
"That same night, my brother and I found the strobe light on, and the only way to turn it on would be to plug it in. It's not like we accidentally bumped the light switch or something."
The owner of this supposedly haunted ballroom turned bookstore did not seem to be bothered by anything that he had witnessed.
"Originally 'The Nat' had an indoor swimming pool when it opened in July 1922,"according to Legends of America.com.
In 1926, J.D. Tucker bought the pool building and turned it into a dance palace. The pool was covered over with a wooden dance floor that began to cater to the flappers of the Roaring '20s.
According to Legends of America, "several years ago when The Nat was purchased and renovated for an antique mall, guests would notice cold spots upon entering the upstairs rooms.
"On other occasions, strange noises would be heard when no one was there, and they would arrive to find the furniture re-arranged during the night."
The ballroom floor is said to be popular with the spirits. When bands play, some people still see ghosts swaying across the floor.
Along with Summit and The Nat, there is the Hutchinson County Museum, which has its own spirits and ghosts.
According to WeirdWisconsin.com, "the museum was closed, and the only people inside were the Friends of the Museum who were discussing fund-raising.
"A sudden noise as the meeting was to begin. Several went to investigate but found the place was empty."
Most of the ghosts are said to be friendly and come out only at certain times.
Some people disagree with the thought of ghosts, but those who have been there and done that will tell you different.
Halloween is around the corner, and so may be the spirits and ghosts of Amarillo and the area.