On the days leading up to Hallowe’en, I had an interesting experience at the haunted and historic Overholser estate in Oklahoma City’s Heritage Hills area.
The house, which was built in 1904, was at the heart of early Oklahoma City society. Unlike many comparable houses, this one has 99.9% of its magnificent furniture from before the state was formed.
A curator heard music and laughing as she walked the corridor from the library to the music room, according to one of the anecdotes given to me about the house.
So picture my astonishment when I stood on the porch clicking photos of the fall decorations while waiting for the crew to come and heard music – just a bar or two. The music sounded like chamber music from the nineteenth century. I imagined they left period music playing inside the house to contribute to the historical atmosphere since it was almost too archaic to have drifted on the air someplace. As I learned from the curatorial staff a little time later, they never leave music playing when they leave. It’s either rock or country on those few occasions that they play music, I was told.
As I went from the 2nd storey landing into the hall the following night for another private tour of the property to explore its hidden jewels, something brush across my arm. It may have been a stray thread from my jacket sleeve, or I could have just brushed through a web (despite the fact that the area is spotless). I can’t be certain. However, after the unusual music the night before, I wasn’t ready to dismiss anything just yet.
Is the Overholser a spooky place? It most definitely is, according to several tourists and employees. I’m not sure whether I had a brush with its spirits or heard the dulcet tones of a party that had long ago ended. I will, however, maintain an open mind and keep my eyes peeled for anything that goes bump in the night in the heart of Heritage Hills.