Spooky Tales With an Orcas Spin

Starting in July: Pioneer Museum on Wednesdays, 8 p.m.; Crow Valley School on Fridays, 5 p.m.

— from Pegi Groundwater —

“We ain’t afraid of no ghosts!”  You might be after you attend the Spooky Tales Ghost Stories presented by the Orcas Island Historical Society this summer. Master storyteller, Antoinette Botsford, will weave her scary tales of Orcas ghosts at both the Pioneer Museum in the heart of Eastsound and the Crow Valley School Museum on Crow Valley road this summer! You will hear hair-raising stories such as “Hatchet Annie and the Boo Hag of Four Winds”, “Octavia’s Secret Love”, and “The Handless Smuggler of Outlook Inn”, just to mention a few.

Antoinette Botsford, known as “Storybird” to her younger audiences here on Orcas, has told stories from coast to coast throughout North America. She’s also performed in Britain, France, Belgium, Thailand, and India. The Orcas Island Historical Society is pleased that she has agreed to partner with them on this fun addition to the other summer events at the Pioneer and Crow Valley School Museums.

Now, drawing from oral histories, chats with friends, and yes, let’s face it, a generous dollop of imagination, she is putting together a set of ghost stories “with an Orcas spin” for the Orcas Island Historical Society.

“There are plenty of ghosts, and other supernatural beings, here on Orcas–and people are eager to tell me about them”, says Antoinette. “But this sort of ‘information’ comes mostly in tantalizing tidbits–very few full-blown plots emerge from people’s memories. Someone tells me there’s a ghost in the old gold mine; someone saw something down at the limekiln. The ‘Lady in Red’ has been well documented and then there’s Octavia down at the Orcas Hotel. And a young fellow–who blew several of his fingers off trying to impress a young lady at what became the Outlook Inn who—Well, I don’t want to be ‘giving away the ghost’ as they say.”

The ghost stories will be performed at the Pioneer Museum on Wednesday nights at 8:00 pm and at the Crow Valley School on Friday nights at 5:00 pm. Tickets will only cost $10 for an individual or $25 for a family. Antoinette promises a thrilling and spooky evening with a few local ghosts.

Tickets will be available at both museums. Get your tickets early. Seating is limited.

Pioneer Museum in Eastsound    
Performances on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm
July 6,13,20,27
August 3,10,17,24

Crow Valley School Museum
Performances on Fridays at 5:00 pm
July 8,15,22,29
August 5,12,19,26