Last Gasp Tour

Original business card for Dr HazzardStarvation Heights Centennial Celebration "Last Gasp Tour"

Over the weekend of July 15 & 16th, we (Heather and Mercedes) were tour guides in the far remote land of Olalla, Washington. Together with author Greg Olsen (Starvation Heights) and members of WSPIR (Washington State Paranormal Investigations and Research) we gave presentations about Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard and led tours of her home. 

In celebration of the conviction of the Doctor 100 years ago, these tours of her former land were offered to the public and raised money for the Kitsap Library System.

It was a success! Over $30,000 was raised! 

The hearse rideThe first night we arrived in Olalla we were treated to a hearse ride that took us to a lavish dinner. I can't imagine the Doctor being happy with the amount of food and drink consumed. In fact, some people felt a certain energy in the air, claiming that her spirit was very angry. And we imagine she was! The night started with a tomato soup that surely contained cream. 

Trying to get a few carbs in, the Dr was angry indeed!

Over 400 people attended the two day event. We were stationed in the woods, amongst thousands of mosquitos and the remnants of the Doctor's former sanatorium. Despite the frequent bites, we were in our element and could not have been more delighted.

We were also able to do an EVP session inside the original home of Dr. Hazzard. While there was nothing of note on the recordings there was a strange scratching against the microphone after key questions. The wind? Someone to exhausted to speak? It did send a few chills up our spines to be in the house at night. 

Powerful Words

While the Ghost Tour isn't a haunted house or a ghost hunt, on occasion inexplicable things happen on the tour that affect us profoundly.

Thank you Gina, for sending in this picture

One Saturday night, Heather led the 9pm tour through the Market like she always does. At the end of the evening, she brought her group back into the Arcade by the Economy Market and recited a portion of Chief Seattle's 1854 speech. It was breezy that night, but warm. The group seemed particularly moved by Chief Seattle's words. Heather was feeling a bit choked up herself but she continued to speak. As she did, an icy gust came down the Arcade behind her, blowing past her and through the crowd. After a moment of silence, Heather checked in with her group; they were all a little shaken, and one in particular appeared to be on the verge of tears. 

This is an account from Gina who was emotionally moved by this experience. "It was more spiritual than ghostly. More than anything your reading Chief Seattle's words somehow just resonated with me and almost gave me a feeling of peace with death, something to not be afraid of and almost moved me to tears. I cant quite explain it and then the breeze which to me was an afterthought but seemed to me the words were put forth into the wind and pushed thru us as if to reiterate and enter our souls and to respect what we just learned." The picture above was taken during the closing of the tour. 

So what does a cold breeze mean? A skeptic might explain it as a result of the Arcade's architecture, channeling cold air into the space. According to the weather report, a warm front was moving in at that time, could a pocket of super-chilled air still have been hanging around? Paranormal experts assert that abnormal cold spots and winds are indicative of a spirit presence and can have a strong emotional impact on those individuals who might be more spiritually sensitive.

The words spoken that night: "The dead are not powerless. Dead, did I say? There is no death, only a change of worlds."

Join us for a tour and see if anything moves you! 

Linda Hazzard

Hazzard's cabin, Renee Totten Forgotten Places Photography The living can be far more frightening than the dead, especially when the living includes a starvation specialist intent on 'curing' her patients.

2011 marks the 100 year anniversary since the conviction of Doctor Linda Hazzard. In 1911 she was found guilty of manslaughter in the murder of Claire Williamson. The doctor from Ollala is the subject of one of our stories on the ghost tour because of her connection to the Butterworth Mortuary and the Market area. Northwest author and New York Times bestseller, Gregg Olsen wrote Starvation Heights, a true crime novel about Doctor Hazzard and we use his writing for much of our story. It is a fascinating book.

Photographer Renee Totten captured the emaciated remains of the Doctor's original cabin in a series of photographs. We have written about her before for the ghost tour blog. She is a ghost hunter herself and her eye for detail in her photos hint at her own inquisitiveness. Her photographs are online at www.forgottenplacesphotography.com.

Mercedes from Market Ghost Tour will be involved with an event on July 16^th, 2011 alongside Gregg Olsen and Darren Thompson, from WSPIR (Washington State Paranormal Investigations and Research.)

Starvation Heights Centennial Celebration "Last Gasp Tour"

Olalla Grange, Olalla, WA

Benefit for the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation: Enjoy an afternoon with acclaimed author, Gregg Olsen, as we revisit the home of Dr. Linda Hazzard. Tour her original 1911 residence; view the famous front room, living room, and infamous claw footed bathtub. Be careful, as we pass the ravine, on the way to what's left of her famous sanitarium deep in the woods.  This may well be the last time a tour will be available to the public on the "Hazzard" property before the woods reclaim history.  An event not to be missed!

Saturday Tour includes:

We will first gather at the Olalla Grange (7554 Fragaria Road SE, Olalla, WA 98359)

12:00-12:20 Gregg Olsen presents Starvation Heights

12:20-12:45 Ghost Stories presented by Mercedes Yeager of Market Ghost Tours

12:45-1:15Paranormal talk by Darren Thompson of WSPIR

1:15-2:00 Guided tours of the Hazzard home, ravine and sanitarium

**Special VIP tour, Friday, July 15th Twilight Tour $150.00 per ticket includes: special dinner, lecture and tour guided by Gregg Olsen. For special VIP tickets call 360-475-9039.

You can buy tickets through Market Ghost Tour: CLICK HERE