Tombstone Workshop

TOMBSTONE 

                                      SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

                                                       JANUARY 18, 2003

We started this workshop by gathering in the parking lot on the corner of Fifth and Fremont Street in Tombstone.  A local gal named Nickel rushed by to drop off a tape of a local ghost tour for us and promised she would see us later in the evening.

We walked down to the Birdcage Theatre where we snapped photos in the famed bar room known for its poker game which lasted the entire run of the establishment.  The 1881 burlesque hall contained a stage, dance hall, bar and casino. The soiled doves lured prospective clients from fourteen red velvet draped cages along the catwalk. 

It is now a museum and gives you a good idea about theatre life in the 1880’s and the background of some of the ladies who worked there.  I have been in the Birdcage many times and I find---due to the spirit energies---very hard to concentrate on the various museum items in the building.  The Black Mariah, Tombstone’s original hearse, is also on display.

We then headed for the Territorial Courthouse. Also a museum, we checked out the old courtroom, jail and hanging gallows. One of the guests sensed a sobbing woman searching for her husband through the courthouse.

Next door is a quaint little bed and breakfast called the Victorian Rose. The owner had experienced paranormal activity in the past so we were asked to do a walk through investigation to see if anything might manifest.  Some of the psychics in the group felt the presence of a little girl who still lingers in her former home.

We stayed at the Buford House Bed and Breakfast during the workshop. It is a two-story adobe built in 1880 by George Buford. In 1888 a George Daves Jr---distraught over the break up of his relationship with Petra Edmonds across the street---took a gun and shot his former love and then turned the gun on himself.  Petra survived her wounds but George died from a bullet to his head.  They say George still makes the Buford House his home and we were there to find out!  We booked the entire bed and breakfast so we’d have full access to any activity.

We all met for dinner at Nellie Cashman’s Restaurant.  Employees blame ghosts for moving objects and making crashing sounds in the kitchen and dining room.

We then drove a few miles out of town to Brunckow Cabin---the site of several murders during the early mining days of Tombstone.   One man with the workshop crew reported his car radio stopped working completely as he drove into the site and others reported seeing strange lights out into the nearby desert.

We made a quick stop at the Tombstone Cemetery and arrived back in town just in time for a special after hour tour of Big Nose Kate’s Saloon arranged by our new acquaintance Nickel.  Part of the basement area is original to the building and apparitions have been found in recent photographs.

Nickel invited us to come on down to the Silver Nugget Saloon for a little Karaoke and a few of us took her up on it!  We will never forget workshop regular Lisa McDaniel singing “Summer Nights” from “Grease” with one of locals!

Back at the Buford House we stayed up waiting for an appearance from George but all was quiet during the night.  We woke up to a home cooked breakfast any spirit would die for!

Unfortunately, our photos of this workshop were destroyed when the computer crashed. If any of the workshop attendees still have their photos from this event, please send to me again and we will get them post on this page where they belong!

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