ON THE RECORD
DENTON SCARES TOUR CITY’S HAUNTS BY ASHLEY GRANT
J
ohn B. Denton has been dead for more than 150 years, but professional storyteller Shelly Tucker says that hasn’t kept the late pioneer and preacher from keeping a watchful eye on the city that bears his name. Standing next to Denton’s grave on the lawn of the Courthouse-on-the-Square on a muggy Thursday night, Tucker spins a yarn she heard from a close friend. Illuminated by a string of yellow lights wrapped around a nearby tree, Tucker stares solemnly at the small, curious crowd gathered around her. She tells the crowd about her friend’s sighting of John B. Denton’s ghost – yards away from his earthly remains, the pioneer’s specter surveyed the city that bears his name. Tucker’s tale is the first story and first stop of Denton Haunts, a tour of the city’s paranormal locales that is focusing on “scares on the Square” this summer. “The tour is mostly for entertainment, but ghost stories aren’t just for Halloween,” she said. “Every day we wake up in a different world and there are things that go on beyond our knowing.” The $10 tours are held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m., starting at the grave of John B. Denton. Tucker, Denton Haunts’ new tour guide, takes patrons on an hour-long tour of buildings on the Square, each with its own terrifying tale. Tony Clement and his wife, Angie, took the tour after seeing it advertised. “I’m really into history and was fascinated by some of the stories she told,” Angie said. Although Tucker has been a Denton resident for over a decade, she said she never really knew the history of the city until she began working with the Denton Haunts tour.
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In order to find ghost-inhabited spots, spinning ghostly tales. She is interested Tucker and others conducted extensive re- in learning the stories of the spirits who search at the Courthouse-on-the-Square roam the city. Museum and the Emily Fowler Library. “For whatever reason, these ghosts just “We went through notes, newspaper like Denton,” she said. “And they should. clippings and interviewed people who lived and worked at these places,” Tuck- GRAPHIC BY ANDREW TELLEZ er said. “From there, we just kept adding little tidbits of information.” Stories and legends about haunted hangCommunity Amenities outs on the - Unique, tranquil setting surrounded by expansive Square include greenbelt, winding walkways and courtyards the ghost of a Relaxing heated spa and resort-style pool with private cabana young blonde State-of-the-art Health/Fitness Center with 24-hour card access including cardio girl in the basePrivate detached garages with remote control access ment of Andy’s Executive business resource center Bar, and poltergeist-like acInterior Features tivity at J & J’s - Exclusive discounted cable amenity! Pizza. - Open, airy floor plans with nine-foot ceilings Tucker said - Spa-like bathrooms with soothing garden tubs she can’t in- Private patio or balcony (the perfect outdoor retreat!) corporate every - Expansive kitchens story into one tour and tends - Spacious living rooms with 9 and 12 ft ceilings (perfect for large-scale furniture) to change it up - Full-size washer/dryer connections on a nightly basis to make each 1515 Cannon Parkway Roanoke, TX 76262 tour unique. For Tucker, Office 817.430.4041 | Fax 817.430.4787 the tour is about Mon-Fri 8-6 | Saturday 10-5 | Sunday 1-5 more than just enchant24 hour leasing online at www.boulderridgeapts.com ing patrons by
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JULY 2012