Haunted weekend lurks

What a change in weather we had last weekend. We went from October to January overnight. The good news is that many of you decided to get out a camera and record what you saw. Thanks to all who did submit a photo. But, we still need more entries for the Douglas County Historical Society's October photo contest. This is a great month because there is so much going on. Just take a photo of whatever your favorite October event or thing is and send it in to our photo contest. E-mail entries are as welcome as print copy entries. We'll let you know the winner the first week in November.

Oct. 24-26 is Haunted Weekend in Carson Valley with three days filled with three different events for you to enjoy. We recommend you buy a ticket for all three events in advance to be guaranteed a rousing good time.

Friday, Oct. 24, walking tours will depart from the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person. This tour will take you back in time to historic places to meet Gardnerville pioneers. While we won't tell you everywhere you'll go " we like to surprise you " we can tell you that Trinity Lutheran Church will be on the tour this year. Trinity dates back to 1895. Other stops could include the old hospital across from the museum and the historic Brun Garage.

Saturday, Oct. 25, take the walking tour of the Garden Cemetery. Tours depart about every 15 minutes between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Along the route you will meet interesting characters right out of the pages of Gardnerville history. Tickets are $5 per person.

Sunday, Oct. 26, the walking tour meets in Genoa for the Ghost Walk Mormon Station. This was the state's first permanent settlement, so the history is full of wonderful characters from pioneers to pony express riders. Tickets are $5 per person. Tours depart from the Genoa Court House Museum at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

For more information or directions to any of the venues, call 782-2555 or 782-2893. Remember, the Friday and Saturday walking tours are at night and we all know what our weather can do in October, so dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. The comfortable shoes apply for the Sunday tour although the daytime weather should be a lot warmer than the evenings.

We hope to see you out there on one or more of the tours. Newcomers, this is your chance to learn about your new community and its rich history. Bring your neighbors or friends and make a special event of it.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned here, please call the Douglas County Historical Society at the Gardnerville museum at 782-2555. Visit our Web site at www.historicnevada.org. Remember, DCHS and its two museums, the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville and the Genoa Court House Museum, do not receive any regular state or county funding. It's up to our members and friends to help us keep our doors open.

n Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com or at 790-1565.