Spirits of Pittsboro Past Walking Tour
Oct 14 and Oct 28 2023
The Alvin Bynum house pictured at right is part of Pittsboro's past. Built about 1875, it was probably the most ornate home in Pittsboro, and is the only house known to have had a mansard roof. Later owned by J. C. Lanius, the house was located on West Salisbury Street, half a block west of Hillsboro. It was demolished in the 1960s or 1970s when a chain grocery store was built on the site. This photograph, taken in 1954, was donated to the Chatham County Historical Association by Jonathan Manning. | What spirits lurk in downtown Pittsboro? Experience an out of the ordinary historical walking tour! In the spirit of Halloween, participants will encounter ghostly spirits from the town’s past. Walk in the footsteps of those who came before us to see the town and its buildings and sites in a whole new way. Experience the wonder of our shared history through the exploration of “Spirits of Pittsboro Past.” Participants will be led through a one-mile tour of downtown Pittsboro visiting historical sites and learning local folklore while encountering “spirits” along the way. We will tour sites such as the Masonic Lodge, St Bartholomew's Church and cemetery, and more. At the conclusion of the tour, participants will be invited to a reception and home tour of the oldest surviving building in Chatham County, the “Yellow House” built for Patrick St Lawrence around 1790. Hosts are current owners Ray and Janet Carney. We will assemble at the Historic Chatham County Courthouse at 5:30. The walking tour, including the reception, will take about two and a half hours. We will move at a leisurely pace and will encounter spirits along the way who will tell stories about Pittsboro's past. Tickets are $20, and the tour is appropriate for ages 12 and older. Tours are Saturday October 14 and Saturday October 28 from 5:30-8:00. Tickets are limited to 40 per night, with two tours running simultaneously each evening to provide participants with a smaller group experience. There's more information on the registration pages. The spirit tours are a fundraiser to raise money for educational programs of the Chatham Historical Museum. Online payment by credit card is required to register on this site. Use the buttons on the left to register. Tickets are also available at the Chatham Historical Museum in the historic courthouse Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 to 4:00. Payment at the Museum is by cash or check only. TICKETS FOR BOTH TOURS ARE SOLD OUT (as of 9 Sep 2023). You can still register for the waitlist. If you have questions about the event, contact Museum@chathamhistory.org.The house pictured here is part of Pittsboro's past. Learn more about it here. |
Chatham County Historical Association
https://chathamhistory.org ~ history@chathamhistory.org ~ PO Box 93 ~ Pittsboro NC 27312 ~ 919-542-6222 ~