Big Group on Seminary

10/25/06 Seminary Ridge

I had a group of over 50 Eighth Graders from the Philly Area join me on a cooler night out on the ridge. This group only had two chaperones and when they made the comment about only having one guide when they normally have two, I responded that we usually have more than 2 chaperones for a group of that size. It took a little while to get these kids under control, but once they were, they were a great group! These kids knew the answers to most of the questions, they knew about the "dead ringer" part of the "Buried Alive" story. This group was more knowledgable than most school groups that make their to Gettysburg. Even the kids that weren't interested had the courtesy to stay in the back of the group and whisper! There was one kid in the group that asked me if I really enjoyed telling stories and when I said yes, he said he could tell! My wife told me that he's a pyscology major waiting to happen.

A guide from back in the day came into the office to say hello this afternoon. It was great to see Paul again. Now if we can only convince him to move back east!

Looking forward to Halloween!

"RS"

Lots of Tours Lately

Ghost Train 10/13/06

It was storytelling time on the Ghost Train and I had two cars full of the Red Hat Ladies. Needless to say the conductor and I got pinched once or twice! Frisky! It went very well considering it was first my time with the train! Saturday the 28th of October is the next time on the train and I have been working on my verbage, so the stories should be much more polished. All Aboard!

Seminary Ridge 10/14/06

Mostly locals came along for the Seminary Tour that night, although there was this one gal from Milan! International night at the Ghosts of Gettysburg. This tour was pretty cool and we all had some fun. I was hoping the Seminarians dressed up the Luther Statue, but they haven't yet. His time will come.

Seminary Ridge 10/12/06

5th Graders from Leesburg, Va came along on a nice night, if I remember correctly. The teachers were a little nervous that it might be a little too scary for this age group, but I toned it down and we had a great time. I love this age group on the Seminary because they are the same age that Hugh Zeiglar was at the time of the battle. I started off by asking them what they liked to do on the summer vacation and we came up with a general consensus of "try to have as much fun as possible." After talking about what the Zeiglars went through and Hugh's "summer job" I think these kids will appreciate their own summer vacations a little bit more this year.

Seminary Ridge 10/13/06

After the train on Friday the 13th, I had 8th graders out of Maryland meet me on the Seminary. These kids wanted it to be scary, I warned them to becareful what they wished for. After a few remarks about how the first couple of stories were not that frightening, I warned them again. By the time I was finished with them with "Buried Alive" and the Krauth House story these kids got what they asked for. Some of them were covering their ears so not to hear the stories! When a storyteller warns you to be careful of what you wish for, heed their warning.


Baltimore St. 10/21/06

I had a great group of people from the Johnstown area join me for an in town walk that Saturday night. This was one of the best groups of people I've had all year. They laughed at all of my jokes, even the bad ones, and had some great questions. Comeback again next year, please!

Batlimore St. 10/21/06

The York College Alumni came to town for their annual ghost tour. Having graduated from YCP myself, I always enjoy this group. I recognized a few of the people in the group, I think we hung out at the same parties back in the day. One guy on the tour, who I am pretty sure we went to school together, said something after the Party Ghost story that I will never forget. In the story the Gettysburg College kids see a ghost appear in the back of the house, a girl invites him into the party, but gets no response. This guy says after the story, "At York College, we would have brought the party to the ghost!" Go Spartans!

Happy Hauntings...

"Rick Saunders"

Got the call for Carlisle St

Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006 Carlisle St

After I returned to the office from introducing the Seminary guides, my coworker told me that I needed to get my uniform on, and that I would be guiding the 9:00 Carlisle St tour. Roughly 30 people signed up after 8:00 and put the group size up to 93. It had been awhile since I guided that route, but why not? About 30 nice folks and I went off into a night where it was cool and only sprinkled on us for a short while.

I mistimed this tour a little bit. I guess I told too many stories at the beginning of the walk, I took almost 2 hours. I used to be able to do that walk in an hour and a half. I really forgot how long that tour was!

That tour has some of the best stories on it, so we all had a pretty good time. After I finished, I waited for another one of our guides to finish his tour on Lincoln Square. He told me, as we were walking back to our cars, that someone mooned his group from the Gettysburg Hotel. That just goes to show that sometimes, you see scarier things than ghosts in Gettysburg!

Happy Hauntings...

"Rick Saunders"

Fall is Here!

Baltimore St Wednesday Sept. 27, 2006

Some nice folks joined me for the downtown walk Wednesday night. I love touring in the fall, the temperature couldn't be better. Weekday walks have very few, if any, children on them so I can turn up the intensity with some of the stories. Although the downtown route doesn't have the most terrifying of stories we all had a good time.

I have been working here in the Tour Headquarters for almost a month now and it never ceases to amaze me how many people go the wrong way down Breckinridge St. There is going to be a head on collision one of these days. I can't say that I look forward to seeing that happen, but it's bound to happen. Drive carefully when you're in Gettysburg!

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Sorry for the Delay!

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted here on the old blog. I think I've had four or five tours in that time. Some were big some were small, the weather was really nice each night, and I think we all had a good time.

I'll be working in the office a few nights a week there on Baltimore Street. Stop in and say hello!

I will write a little more about the last few walks soon!

Happy Hauntings!

"RS"

Blood Red Sun over Seminary

Seminary Ridge 8/2/06

temperatures reached the high 90's on Wednesday where I spent the afternoon in the Majestic theater watching "For the Glory." They were having electrical problems in theater but the show went on, just about a hour late. The show was worth the wait, although it was not quite what I expected. There was no dialogue or obvious plot, but the music and singing was fantastic.

It was still near 90 degrees when the tour went off at 8:15 and was easily the hottest tour that I have had to guide in a long time. I went through my canteen with ease and somehow kept my brain from overheating! About 15 people from Washington, New York, and Pennsylvania braved the high temperatures and I think we all had a good time.

Hoping Saturday's tour is much cooler!

"Rick Saunders"

Seminary Ridge 7/24/06

A very comfortable Monday evening awaited two nice families from Delaware and Virginia. This was a smaller tour, only 7 people, so this one was very laid back. I don't think I scared the kids too much , so we had a pretty good time!

Storyteller's Rant...When I was playing golf the other day, the girl I was playing with asked me what I did for a living. When I told her that I was a storyteller she really didn't understand what I meant. Then I mentioned the ghost tours, and I got the typical rolling of the eyes and polite smirks from everyone in the foursome. I was then told by this guy that the stories are all made up and exaggerated while she commented that "It's all bullsh*t, there are no ghosts." They just don't get it.

I could care less about ghosts and what people think of them. Does it really matter? I had a police detective from NYC tell me he's seen a ghost, am I supposed to not believe him? I've heard tons of people tell me that they have spent thousands of hours on the battlefield and never saw a ghost so they don't believe in them. Hey that's great.

It's about the storytelling. We could be guiding fairy tale tours and as long as the storytelling was good then I did my job. Ghost tours are like going to movies in a way, instead of watching a screen, the visitor is asked to use their imagination. How often does that happen in ordinary life? Take advantage of such situations. Enjoy the stories for what they are, stories.

"Rick Saunders"

Seminary Ridge 7/21/06

On a humid Friday night, about 20 people came along on a tour where my storytelling was a little off. It seemed like I was having trouble focusing on the story I was telling at the time. More than once I crossed over stories and had to backpedal to get on track. I hope no one noticed. Thanks to the folks from Ohio, Tenn., Texas, New Jersey, Michigan. Minn. and the New Englanders from Maine and Vermont. My jokes were as awful as ever, but it was a lot fun!

I had a nice conversation with the couple from Minnesota after the walk. They told me that the night before they went on a tour with another company and said that the other guide was not very polished in her storytelling, that her choice of words could have been better and they attributed this to her lack of experience. I took this as a compliment. They mentioned that the Ghosts of Gettysburg website really sold them on taking our tour. And they told me about some Yahoo reviews they read so I went checked it out.

Some reviews were positive and others not so positive. One guy complained that all it was was storytelling! What did he think he was getting into. That is all these ghost walks are about, storytelling. And some of us guides are better than others. Some guides would rather talk about ghost photography and paranormal investigations while others work historical anecdotes into the tour. When taking one these walks it's hit or miss. If you get stuck with an inexperienced guide or an untrained guide you're not going to have as much fun!

This gets back into what I was ranting about the other day. With all of these fly by night companies, you don't know what you're going to get. You might get a high school kid that was in the drama club and wanted a summer job. Like that young girl on the Seminary who doesn't know the buildings but is out guiding a tour. Or maybe you'll get the guide who knows absolutely nothing about Gettysburg, but is an avid ghost hunter and fanatic, so they're a qualified guide.

I think my friends from Minnesota did it right. They looked into things before they came to Gettysburg and made an educated choice. Credibility goes a long way.

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Ghosts Walks make the Paper Again!

Thunder and lightning tore up the skies above the Seminary Tuesday night forcing us to cancel the walk. Most folks rescheduled for other tours and I went and hung out in the office. We talked about the meeting the other night dealing with the ghost walks and some of the concerns surrounding them. And of course, a reporter from the Hanover Evening Sun was there at the meeting to cover all the action. I don't think that link would last that long so I am not posting one. This wasn't a bad article, but there was a few errors.

I would like to first address a few errors in the article. First, Mark Nesbitt does not own Gettysburg Ghost Tours, rather he owns Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours. There is a big difference and as much as Mark has been in the news this mistake should have never happened. Secondly, at no point in time did any of the tour operators agree on limiting the number of people in a group to 20. There was never a set number when it came to group size.

There are so many things with the way that the Borough is handling that could make this a much easier situation! There is so much talk and no action. The biggest problem I have is that companies that operate ghost tours or any walking tour, where you have an amusement license, are NOT required to carry liability insurance. This is absurd! If I open a store, I am required to carry insurance, but if I take groups of people through the streets, I am not. Let's look at this for a second. If someone falls and breaks their leg on the sidewalk, while on a tour with an uninsured company, who are they going to sue? The company, the guide, or the Borough? The company probably isn't making that much money, the guide isn't worth suing, so that leaves the only option where a payout seems realistic. I wonder how quick the Borough would be to act once a lawsuit comes their way.

Another issue that we're facing is the large number of companies that keep popping up. The article stated 13 companies operate ghost tours in Gettysburg. 7 advertise in the Gettysburg experience, the monthly tourist magazine, so I have no idea where the other 6 are hiding. I remember the good old days when we only had two companies!

It is easy to understand why companies keep popping up. There is really no rules or regulations to follow. Anybody, and I literally mean anybody, can get an amusement license as long as they agree to pay a 10% amusement tax on ticket sales. There is no need to buy insurance that would cost roughly $1000 a year or worry about if the guides are giving historically accurate information. So why not? They get a card table, set up on the Square or wherever, sell tickets and generally harass anybody that walks by them prospecting for their walk, guide a tour, take the money home, and pay the tax later. Sweet! Very little overhead, hardly any operating expenses, cash in hand and noone looking over their shoulder. If things go bad, they can fold up their table and move somewhere else. All the Borough gives are guidelines and we wonder why this comes up as a problem.

Here's a few suggestions to help fix this. Make it a requirement that every company carry liability insurance. If a smaller company can't afford it, too bad. This protects everybody, the company, the Borough, and most importantly the visitor!

I would also certify the guides, all of them. Make every guide, outside of the NPS, take a safety course. Even if you have to charge a few bucks for it. This way nobody can use the excuse that they didn't know the rules. Fine the guides that are not certified and the ones breaking the rules. No more crossing the street while not in a crosswalk, standing in front of residential homes and open businesses, and blocking the sidewalk. Hold the guides and the companies accountable when problems arise. I don't think that we need a swat team to police this, but hand out a few $75 fines and watch the guides straighten themselves out. This certification I am referring to here does not deal with historical accuracy, just basic safety regulations.

As far as historical accuracy is concerned, this is impossible to police. The idea of "licensing" the guides was already brought up but it was made inclusive by Main Street Gettysburg and their Licensed Town Guides. This idea is back in the hopper and might come around, but you're never going to make everyone happy no matter what you do when it comes to accuracy of the information the guides give out.

I also suggest that every company have a permanent place of business and a land line phone number. No more card tables and cell phones. I understand that the company I work for got its beginnings with a card table on the square. But that was 12 years ago! The climate has changed. That was a startup idea at the time and is a legitimate business now, force the companies to operate as one! There needs to be a way to get in contact with every company in a consistent manner.

I am not saying that these are the answers to all of the concerns surrounding a growing business that has reached a national scale. But if this is becoming newsworthy, then let's do something about it. I can not see the companies, at least the profitable ones that have been doing this for awhile, opposing any of these changes. Maybe we need to look at the way the NPS handles their Eisenhower tours that take place in town over the summer. I have no idea of what the regulations are for the ranger leading the tour, but there might be something there that can be applied to what we do. It seems like regulations are going to have to be put in place and it is too late to fully enforce any rules that are established in the near future. Let's look to next year and assure every visitor, tour operator, and guide can have a postitive experience.

Sleep well and be safe...

"Rick Saunders"

Nerd Time on Seminary

Seminary Ridge 7/14/06

On a comfortably warm Friday night about 25 people joined me in the twilight on Seminary Ridge. Folks from Oregon, Pittsburg, Tampa, North Carolina, New Jersey, and some locals from Hanover made up a really good group. My jokes were terrible as ever but I think we all had a good time.

I had a lot of questions lately about the photo with the faces in the flares. So here it is again.

I am working on a photo page for the site, so if anyone has any interesting photos, please feel free to pass them along! Thanks again!

From tours gone by... After the tour was over, the young son of a friend of mine asked me how I could remember all of the stuff that I was talking about. I told him that I am a big nerd and I read alot of books. Years ago a young boy came up and asked me what team I played for? Not really knowing how to respond, I thought about it for a quick second and replied "I guess I play for the Yankees," since I wear the Federal uniform. I don't think the kid really got it, but his father and I had a pretty good laugh!

Sleep Well...

"Rick Saunders"

Muggy Monday Night

Seminary Ridge 7/10/06

Roughly 20 nice folks joined me on a humid Monday night. These people hailed from PA, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio. I had a good time as always! And thankfully, the ghost that little girl was worried about after the tour got neither me or her father!

After the tour was over a gentleman from Ohio and I had nice conversation. We both had majored in history and focused on the "first half" of American history. We found it interesting that we hardly use the degree that we worked and studied so hard for. There is not that many jobs for history majors that actually involve history. I have been fortunate to work for a Historical Society and in a historical art gallery, but those jobs are few and far between. We both agreed that history might have better studied as a minor with possibly education or business as a major. Keep that in mind any of you would be history majors out there!

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Seminary Ridge 7/6/06

Bike Week has come to Gettysburg and from what I read in today's paper upwards of 40,000 bikers came to town! None of which came along for my Seminary Ridge tour Friday night! Around 28 folks from Philly, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Texas, and Rhode Island came along, including a Nutmegger from my home state of Connecticut. The weather was excellent and there wasn't that many bikes to talk over, actually the train is more disruptive than any motorcycle, so I think it was a pretty good time.

I asked the group if any of them were in town for Bike Week and all of them said they were not. Then I asked how many of them came to town not knowing it was Bike Week and got another overwhelming response. This happens every year, people come to town and don't know what's going on. Granted about half of the group were in town for the reenactment, which I read was very small, but most didn't know what else was going on. I can't wait for the reaction of the people who come to town over Labor Day and walk into the Klan rally that's planned. I'm not a travel agent but you really should check out what's going on in the places that you visit on vacation before you go! Either way, thanks for coming along!

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Seminary Ridge Tours light due to No Reenactment

Seminary Ridge 7/1/06

For the second straight night we had smaller crowds than expected. Another guide and I each took about 20 people with us on a pleasant Saturday evening. Folks from NY, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Ocean County, New Jersey, where my wife and I vacation, came along on a tour where my storytelling was on, my jokes were a little off, and music from the Carnival echoed in the night. This group was a good one and I really enjoyed it.

There is something special about being on the Battlefield on the anniversary days. Before the tour I was trying to imagine the campus after the first day of fighting. It was enough to give me chills and something I look forward to next year.

From tours gone by...I think it was 2001 when I tried to fight in the battle reenactment and then guide a tour later that night. I thought I could easily pull it off because there was only one battle that day and I had a Seminary Ridge, the easiest tour on my voice.

When I used to participate in reenactment, I was the guy in the ranks that was screaming and cursing the whole time. Some guys would go out and laugh and joke around during the battle. Not me. I would scream my self hoarse.

Well I got a little excited during the battle and when it came to tour time, my voice in rough shape. I still had gunpowder smeared on my face when I showed up and I asked that the group of about 70 people be split 40-30. I still had just enough left that the group could hear all that I said, even though there was little tone or pitch changes to my voice!

That was the last time I tried to do both!

Looking forward to Bike Week...

"Rick Saunders"

Slower Night than Expected on the Seminary

6/30/06 Seminary Ridge

Friday night did not bring out the crowds that a holiday weekend normally does. But with no reenactment this weekend I guess a lot of folks stayed home. 28 brave souls joined me for one of the most comfortable nights I've had on tour in quite some time. A nice family from Los Angeles enjoyed watching their young children see fireflies for the first time. That seems to be happening a lot lately! Some Granite Staters came along as well as folks from Missouri, Ohio, NJ, NY, and Michigan. I love it when New Englanders are in the group, they seem to really get my sense of humor. This probably stems from too many winters and bouts with cabin fever, but regardless it's always nice to see folks from up north. "Live Free or Die!" This was a really good group and we had a lot of fun.

Thanks to Mike F. for sending this photo taken by the Krauth House. Notice the orb in the upper left corner.

Just an observation...The Fourth of July week or weekend is always interesting in Gettysburg. Reenactors, buffs, and the curious tourist can be found everywhere. Battlewalks, the reenactment, living histories, and the carnival are all going on. Traffic is at its worst and most of locals go on vacation to get away from it all. But this year was different. There was less people around. Traffic is always bad on weekend nights over the summer, and of course the carriage rides still back up traffic for blocks! But I figured that there would be more people in town since the reenactment was cancelled. I thought people would have more energy since they didn't go the reenactment and spend all day in the sun. I've heard that there were tons of people on the NPS's Battlewalks, so maybe that's where everyone went. I can't wait to see what this upcoming weekend is going to be like with the reenactment and Bike Week both in town. Burning rubber and gunpowder in the air all weekend! Ear plugs anyone?

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Fireflies and Rain on Seminary Ridge

6/26/06 Seminary Ridge

When the phone call came confirming my Seminary Ridge tour I ask if anyone was going to take the tour? It was a rainy, miserable Monday that followed a weekend where parts of Southern Pennsylvania Maryland saw massive amounts of rain. The Sunday night Seminary Ridge tour was rained out. About 10 folks were brave enough to buy tickets and the tour went off in a light drizzle. It really didn't rain that hard at any point in the tour so the threatening skies were kind enough to hold off for us. These folks from Massachusetts, Michigan, and Colorado didn't seem to mind the conditions so off we went!

The highlight of the tour for me was the reaction of the two teenagers from Colorado when they saw the fireflies or lightning bugs hovering over the grass in front of the Schmucker House. When I asked, they told me that they have never seen them before. Growing up on the east coast I have always took for granted those little buggers assuming everybody had them.

From tours gone by... Years ago a group of high school kids from Las Vegas came on a Seminary Ridge tour. The fireflies were out in force that night and roughly half way through the tour, they appeared. That was the end of the tour. These kids went nuts and scattered everywhere chasing the lightning bugs. Their teacher told me that they didn't have them on the west coast and especially in the middle of the desert where they lived! This was the first time they have ever seen them! I doubt those kids remember a word I said, but I bet that they'll remember the tour!

Stay dry and sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Humid Seminary Ridge

6/23/06 Seminary Ridge


The skies held off and just a little lightning appeared as the tour was ending Friday night on Seminary Ridge. 39 nice folks came along as we walked into the humid night. It always surprises me where folks come from that make up a group. There was a nice family of four from Alabama, one family from Indiana, amd a few folks from Alexiandria, VA. But the rest were practically locals. Some of them came all the way from Taneytown, MD or Littlestown, PA, both of which are shorter drives than I have from Hanover! Then some others were from Harrisburg and Shippensburg. It was almost like local night at the Ghosts of Gettysburg! It was an enjoyable tour for all. I did tone down a story or two, just a little bit, because there were some younger children in the group. But my storytelling was crisp, so I think those stories were still very effective. There was also a lot of cameras going off!

From tours gone by...Mark Nesbitt is from Ohio and is a Cleveland Indians fan. I am a Yankees fan. Years ago when the Yanks and the Tribe were both looking good going into the season Mark and I made a friendly bet. If the Yanks went farther than the Indians, I could wear a Yankees Hat on a tour, and but if Cleveland went farther I had to wear an Indians hat. Neat bet right? The season was over and the Yanks won the Series, so I'm guessing it was either 1999 or 2000. But I never saw Mark to rub it in and collect. But one night I unknowingly collected . I wore my Yankees hat on the ride down and when I got ready for the tour, I spaced and kept it on. I think it was Dan or it might have been Jason, but one of the other guides introduced me that night and never noticed. I was getting some wierd looks from the group and wasn't quite sure why. Well, in the beginning of the tour I tip my hat for a visual effect in one of my opening stories. That's when I realized that I still had my ballcap on! I was a little embarrassed at first, but then I remembered the bet. I told the crowd about our bet but I'm not sure if everyone believed me. I remember a few people with doubt on their faces as I was explaining myself! Maybe they were Red Sox fans, I don't know!

When I told Mark about this a few weeks later we had a pretty good laugh about it. Then the guide who introduced me that night walked in and all three of us were laughing. Then Mark fired that guide and we stopped laughing for a second until we saw Mark smiling and that's when we all really started laughing!

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Crazy Night on Carlisle Street!

Carlisle St. 6/22/06

I was called in for a Carlisle St tour on Thursday night. I haven't given one of those walks in awhile so I was looking forward to it. There was lighting in the sky all night, but there was no thunder or rain so we went off as scheduled. But this tour went in all sorts of directions. I am still trying to figure it all out!

There was a group of sixteen people from Montana, Puerto Rico, and Minnesota that were related somehow and they had hired a tour leader to take them around the east coast. Then there was a guy with his sons that came along. There was also a photographer from the York Daily Record snapping tons of photos and collecting notes. And thankfully my wife came with me because the evening got more confusing as we went along.

A sheriff's deputy pulls up when I'm out in front of the Prince of Peace Church telling my opening stories. He comes up and asked the tour leader what my name was. I had no idea what was going on. I found out about all of this after the fact. The tour leader said she didn't know, she obviously wasn't paying attention because I mention my own name 9 or 10 times at the beginning of my tour. My wife goes up and tells the deputy my name and then they all start to smile and nod. As all of this is going on the photographer has worked her way behind me on the steps and was shoving her camera in my face. Nobody told me that a photographer was coming on the tour so at this point I had no idea who she was or what she was doing. I kind of knew she was a reporter but I was in the middle of a story and didn't want to break stride, and with the deputy there I didn't know if I was going to be able to tell more stories! So I figured that I would at least finish the one I was telling!

I went up after the story and asked the deputy if everything was alright. He told me that I was not the guy he was looking for and that everything was okay. I mentioned how after the recent newspaper articles came out, I wasn't sure how to react to the police showing up on one of my tours! We had a laugh and I continued on.

As we were crossing High Street I asked the photographer who she was. She told me and come to find out we knew some of the same people. York, PA is not that big of a place I guess! I invited her to come along on the whole tour if she wanted to.

In front of the Courthouse I explained a little bit of what has been in the newspapers lately and I thought that by now everyone knew the girl taking the 800 pictures worked for a newspaper. We continued on and when I got to my stop on Water St, the candle went out and I couldn't get it relit. Oh well. Then as we were making our way to Stevens Hall the tour leader and another woman in the group told the photographer that they did not want her to publish their photos in the paper. I have no idea why and to be honest I felt that those women were some what rude about it. The photographer could have told everyone who she was and why she was there I guess, but if you live in Montana why would care if you picture winds up in the York, PA newspaper. Either way this created a little tension within my group which I did not like. I chose not to get in the middle of this, but the photographer wasn't happy that she just spent the last hour taking pictures that she couldn't use. I'm upset because this might have cost me some face or print time in the newspaper!

Now as the tension is mounting, the sky is getting really dark and the lightning is flashing all over the sky! I tell the Blue Boy story and the group seemed to relax a little. Halfway through the story most of the street lights go out. Now it's really dark!

After I finished the tale, the tour leader, who I was already irked with, tells me it's time to end the tour. She was concerned with the lightning and said we all had to go. I understand her safety concerns but you can't buy a lightshow like that anywhere and the last time I checked I was the guide not her. I said okay, if you want to leave have a nice night. I then looked to the guy with his sons who were not a part of this group, and asked if they wanted to keep going. They said "sure" so I said I only had about a half hour left and everyone was welcome to come along if they wanted to. We could have gone the north side of Pennsylvania Hall where there is a roof to shield us from the rain if the situation got worse, but what do I know? I am just a tour guide. I have only been at it for nine years!

The whole group followed me.

On the way over to Pennsylvania Hall I pretty much lost the photographer. Those two women practically chased her off the tour. I still don't know why those women were so hostile. The photographer went and took a few pictures from a distance and then went and joined the other group on campus with the other guide. This group leader gave me dirty looks for the next 20 minutes. Whatever!

I finished the tour on campus and everyone in the group seemed to have a good time. I was just glad it was over. I can't remember a stranger tour than that one. Lighting problems, tension in the group, law enforcement officials, a woman trying to take control of my tour! What was that? I hope Friday's Seminary Ridge tour goes much smoother!

Still piecing back together my brain...

"Rick Saunders"

Michigan Night on Baltimore St Again? and a Response to Recent Newspaper Articles

Baltimore St. 6/21/06

I guess it is Michigan week at the Ghosts of Gettysburg. For the second time in 7 days I have had eighth graders from the Grand Rapids, MI area. For such a large group, I was surprised that we actually got off on time. These kids were a fun group. I wonder if they booked through the same tour company as the last group because its sounds like they hit all of the same places the group the week before did. We took some pictures, had some laughs, and I made a good number of them squirm a little with my last story! Good times.

Storytellers Rant… After a recent public meeting was held, the local newspapers jumped on a story about ghost tours giving some Gettysburg residents problems. The locals complained about noise and safety concerns while the ghost tour businesses said that a few bad apples are giving the rest a bad name. One article even talked about turf wars between competing companies.

[link]http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_3959314[/link]

Here’s where I stand on all of this.

I think that the residents have a right to their privacy and are just in complaining if the tours bother them. The one gentleman quoted in these articles happens to live next to an alley where guides will stop and tell stories. Why a guide would stop there I have no idea. There are plenty of other places to stop in that area. The blame here falls on the individual guide.

As far as safety is concerned this is also the responsibility of the guide and in a small part the tour operator. Guides should not block the sidewalks, forcing individuals and groups into the street. The way I have been doing this for 9 years is very simple. If you can not leave half of the sidewalk open, you don’t stop your group there. I do not want to have to stop in the middle of a story because I am interrupted with a sidewalk issue. You lose any momentum you might have built in the story and it can be somewhat embarrassing to everybody. Don’t block the sidewalk and stay out of the alleys, it’s that simple.

Guides need to use every effort to use the crosswalks, where pedestrians have the right of way. The guide should also make sure it is clear before they let their group cross the street. If they can’t control their group enough to accomplish this, then they don’t belong tour guiding.

Also I question if some of these new start up companies have the insurance that the larger ones do. I know that the company I work for has a fairly large policy to protect our customers in case of an accident. It also covers some of the properties that the owners are kind enough to let us use such as the Seminary and Gettysburg College. Tour operators should also give their guides some sort of safety training. But all of this is voluntary, at the moment.

Two years ago, the tour operators had to sit through meeting after meeting going over safety and other ghost tour realted issues. There was talk of "licensing" the guides, so there was some sort of standard amongst the tours. That fell through. There has been plenty of talk, very little action. And with new ghost tour companies popping up nightly, it is no surprise that there are problems. Nobody can keep track of these new companies, therefore the blame falls on the larger, better known operations.

I do think that it is only a small percentage of guides who are causing most of these problems. And with a minimal effort, many of them can be solved fairly quickly.

As far as the turf wars are concerned, usually the larger groups with the louder guides take up the most space. Obliviously. This will force a guide with only three or four people on their tour to seek another place to stand. Part of the problem is that since there are so many people starting up these companies, many of which are not profitable, trust me, there are more groups on the streets. It is possible that the number of people taking these tours has not gone up, there are just more voices out there competing for the same real estate.

While we’re at it…The concern of someone getting hit by a car goes well beyond the ghost walks. How about the woman in the SUV that almost hit two people jay walking on Baltimore St while talking on her cell phone? I know it sounds cliché, but it happened around 8:00 last night. Or what about the three kids on their bicycles riding in between the parked cars and the moving traffic heading south on Baltimore St at 9:45 last night while I was trying to get into my car after my tour? The one little rascal almost hit me.

And as to that whole thing about the trash being caused by the ghost walks. People who go on ghost tours are not the only ones that litter in Gettysburg. I am sure that some littering is caused by a few people on a tour every once in a while. But litter finds its way onto the ground all the time. Go look at the college neighborhood on a Saturday or Sunday morning after the kids have been partying all night. Did the ghost tours leave all of that trash?

Ghost tours aren’t the only things causing problems.

Hopefully all of this will create enough awareness that many of these problems can be solved in a manner that all can agree upon.

Being as safe as I can...

"Rick Saunders"

West Virginians on Baltimore St

Baltimore St 6/19/06

When I see that I have a group tour on the schedule, I naturally assume that it is school children. Monday night, instead of having students, some very tired teachers from all over West Virginia came along for a Baltimore St. tour. I have a lot of family in WV, so I was pleasantly surprised. This tour didn't get started until around 9:30 and it was still very humid out there. I thought I was getting a break on the weather, but it was just one of those warm Gettysburg nights.

As a former museum educator, I love dealing with teachers. Not that all of these folks were history teachers, but there is a lot of common ground between a tour guide and a teacher. Dealing with problem children, trying to present information in a manner that your kids will understand, and hopefully give them something they didn't have before you talked to them. There was a lot of nods when I brought up some references that they would understand. We laughed, I don't think anyone cried, and all had some fun.

Guide's Tip... I brought up an interesting, borderline cruel, demonstration last night. My good buddy Tom and I used to do this at the Historical Society when we gave the Civil War program. We made some hard tack and gave it to all of the students to try. Then after they had it in their mouths for a minute, you tell them about the worms that would be in the crackers and how the soldiers would eat them anyways. This demonstration is best done outside because there is going to be a few kids that will spit it out. Good stuff.

Still "planning the slaughter of the innocent"...

"Rick Saunders"

Interesting Post Tour Conversation

Seminary Ridge 6/17/06

Saturday night brought around 40 people to join me on the Seminary. The weather was a little warm, but it was a nice night for a walk. These folks were from Florida, Illinois, Baltimore, and a few other places that slip my mind as I write this. One of the guys from Baltimore was familiar with parts of Connecticut that I know, so that was really nice. I really didn't do anything out of the ordinary with this tour. I did tweak the ending of the closing story a little bit which produced the reaction I was looking for. Good time all around.

Storyteller's Rant... After the tour was over I had a chance to talk with the family from Florida. They told me that they had never been to Gettysburg before and how much they enjoyed the area. I told them to drive around Gettysburg and take in the scenery, the farms, and the viewsheds because in a couple of years a lot of it will be long gone. Paved over by the housing boom that is already striking Adams County. They said the same thing is happening where they live in Florida. The citrus growers down there are being bought out by developers and their orchards built upon acre by acre.

Think about this...You are a farmer and you own 100 acres of land, a developer comes along and offers 6 Million dollars for your land to build 400 homes. It is going to take generations on top of generations of your family working that land to come close to ever earning that kind of money. Are you going to turn it down?

Most of the people in that situation will take the money and run. They're probably buying the homes that were built on those orchards developed down in Florida! There are a few people out there that will put an easement on their property so it can never be developed, but those people are few and far between.

This is a major problem that is inching its way towards Gettysburg and many other communitities. I am not saying that development should stop, you can't stop progress. But you can still do something! Support local preservation groups, land conservancies, and government officials with preservation in mind. Donate your money and your time, when you can, to causes that are actually trying to preserve something. Fight your battles outside of commercial corridors where there's something left to save.

I could go on and on about this, but I'll close with this statement. Do something!

Still ranting and raving...

"Rick Saunders"

Michigan Night on Baltimore St.

Baltimore St. 6/15/06

Around 25 eighth graders from East Grand Rapids Michigan came along last Thursday. This was a pretty good group of kids once we got organized. They seemed to have way too much energy after getting off of the bus, but they calmed down as we began the tour. These lucky students were on their way home from a whirlwind style field trip that took them to Washington DC, NYC, Gettysburg, and a few other places in between. The only place they had left to go to was an amusement park. Here again I met the storyteller's biggest nemesis, modern entertainment!

These kids were pretty tough to read at the beginning of the walk. I wasn't sure if they were being sarcastic with their enthusiasm and reaction to an early story. Sometimes school kids, eighth graders more than any other, will give the guide a hard time. This is usually a spoiled little brat that would rather be watching TV or in the pool at the hotel or the punk kid trying to impress his friends by being a smartass. Thankfully this was not the case. Halfway through I could tell that these kids were genuinely paying attention.

I will give this school credit, they actually studied the battle before they came on their field trip! Most of these students were prepared to answer all of the questions. Good job to all!

Guide's Tip Dealing with individual problem children can be a frustrating experience for the guide. If the chaperones are unwilling to help, or unfortunately take the position that it is now the tourguide's responsibility to chaperone the group, which it's NOT, the key is to kill the problem as early as possible. A direction question to the problem individual is one approach. Followed up by a few more direct questions. This forces honesty onto the person and will embarrass them a little. That is usually enough.

Another way is the democracy method. Ask the person if they really want to be on the tour; "You really don't want to be here do you?" If they say that they do want to be on the tour, then ask them to let you do your job. On the chance that they tell you that they don't want to be on the tour, take a vote! The rest of the group probably wants to be there and will outvote your problem. This also embarrasses them a little and will usually get your chaperones involved. Especially the group leader who knows how much money that they paid to take the tour! I have other ways of dealing with situations like this, so contact me with any questions.

Sleep Well...

"Rick Saunders"

Intimate Seminary Tour

Seminary Ridge 6/14/06

On a pleasant Wednesday evening a couple from southern New Jersey joined me out on the Seminary. Only one couple! It was the middle of the week, early in June, so sometimes these things happen. I took advantage of this situation by completely changing my tour for one night.

Rather than put on my normal "song and dance," I just talked to this couple like we were having a normal conversation. I told all of the stories, but without alot of my tone of voice changes, specifically timed pauses and some exagerated body movements. Those who have been on my tours can attest that I talk with my hands! It was refreshing. I got to see how the story, really stripped down, made this couple react. There was nobody else to read so I could focus exclusively on them. I think I really learned alot from this tour.

The couple that joined me had a pretty good time. They practically had a private guide. They were asking some really good questions and I walked them all around the campus. I took them to places that I never have taken other groups. I also spent close to an hour and a half with them when I usually finish that tour in an hour and ten minutes. It was a great time!

From tours gone by... I remember a tour early on in my tenure at Ghosts of Gettysburg that was only 3 people. A very nice gentleman brought his mother and his son to Gettysburg for a little get away. My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, also came along. This little kid was around 9 years old and curious about everything. That was back in the day when we gave both a Baltimore St and Carlisle St tour in the same night. These three people were the only ones I had on both tours! That was the first Carlisle St tour that I ever guided and I was nervous, so I was off the hook a little. Sometimes the smaller groups are the most memorable.

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Double Time on Saturday Night!

Woah! I haven't done back to back tours in quite some time! I got called in for double duty this past Saturday and had a good old time! I started with the original Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight walking tour, the short Carlisle St, and then went out to the Seminary for the 8:15. I should have went back to the office and hauled the 9:45 Baltimore St tour to complete the trifecta! Oh well!

Carlisle St Saturday 6/3/06

I mentioned in a previous past how much I enjoy groups of AP History High School kids and this group from New Hope, PA was one of the best I've ever had. We went on the original ghost tour! I love this tour, it leaves from the square and goes onto the college campus. This tour has some of the best stories we have to offer and the opportunity to guide it does not come up as often as I would like. Take advantage of it when you can I guess.

We started fairly early, at 6:30, and the sun was up for the whole tour. It was awesome weather, the temperature was just right and there was very little breeze. The campus was fairly quiet and of course the kids got a huge kick out of the "Hippies use Backdoor" sign on one of the houses on Washington St. I was having so much fun with this group that I went longer than I had planned and had to end it at about 7:50. This gave me just enough time to get to the Seminary for my next tour.

AP History students always come up with great questions and observations. The question came up whether I believe in ghosts or not and I told them my standard response. I'm on the fence and I'm leaning in a certain direction, but a little skepticism never hurts. One of the students asked me how I could not be fully convinced and still be a guide. I have been waiting for that question for quite some time. I told him that one of the main reasons that I guide and enjoy it so much was for the oral tradtion of storytelling. I am going to write a seperate entry on my motivations for being a guide so I'll get into this more later on. But it felt really nice to explain why it is I do what I do. Check back soon for that essay.

Seminary Ridge 6/3/06

Arriving at the Seminary with only moments to spare it was time to shift gears and get into Seminary mode. This group was composed of Boyscouts from Ohio, a couple from West Virginia, and a couple of Ghosts of Gettysburg "regulars" from Maryland. It's always neat to see people that have been on one of my tours before. Off we went into the long shadows creeping over the Seminary.

I finally timed the Glatfelter Hall story for first time this year! The clocktower always chimes on the hour and if I finish the story at the right time, the bells ring as I pause after the story. This always gets a good reaction. As the bell began to ring, I just smiled and nodded my head. When the bell stopped I turned around and someone in the group asked if I meant to do it that way. I told her that I always try, but fail to get it right most of the time. Very pleased, this woman actually started a small round of applause. I think the reason that it worked so well is when I was on the college campus, I set my pocket watch to the 7:00 bells. Therefore there was less room for error. After the tour was over, the "regulars" told me that last fall they were on the Carlisle St tour where the guide timed the bells. It's a really cool trick when you can pull it off!

We finished up around 9:30 and I stuck around for the Gettysburg College alumni fireworks at 9:45. I tried taking some photos but they didn't come out all that well. It was a fun few hours! After 10:00 I went home, went right to bed, and drove to New Jersey Sunday morning.

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Big Thursday on Baltimore St

Baltimore St. 6/8/06

On a warm evening, over 40 people joined me for the Baltimore St. tour. These folks were from all over; North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Virginia, Boston, Connecticut, and Pittsburg. Those are the ones that I can remember, I'm sure there was more. This group ranged from retirees to babies in strollers. There was a lot of younger children on the tour and I remember one in particular.

Charlie Brown always had a crush on the little red haired girl and this girl last night would have had his head spinning. She was around 7-8 years old, freckles, and her dark red hair was pulled back in a pony tail. After the tour was over her parents gave her a tip to give to me. I said what I almost always say to children in this situation. "If you see any ghosts, you let me know and I'll tell some stories about you!" Most of the time the kids will say "Sure!" But this little girl just gave me a blank stare. She stood there, just looking at me without moving a muscle. I really didn't know how to respond. I eventually told her that it was okay if she didn't see one and reassured her that they were just stories. This seemed to lighten her up a little. She cracked a small grin and walked away. You never know what kind of reaction you're going to get sometimes!

There was a couple of people on the tour who saw "America's Most Haunted Vacations" on the Travel Channel. I mention this show when I tell the Party Ghost story. We shot a video of the Party Ghost years ago for that show. Well I was one of the college kids in the video. I am the one wearing the Yankees hat. I also remember there was nothing in the red plastic cups we were holding! So if you're ever watching the Travel Channel, keeps your eyes out for me using up my 15 minutes of fame through the Ghosts of Gettysburg!

Sleep Well...

"Rick Saunders"

Late Night on Baltimore St

Thursday, June 1, 2006 Baltimore St.

The other night was a late one! The rain and thunderstorms held off so we didn't get wet, but the humidity was brutal. Especially to the guy in the wool pants! I don't care what some people say, I'll never get used to wearing wool in that type of weather! Eigth graders from northern New Jersey made up the group last night and with a full canteen of water, off we went.

This tour did not start until 9:50 last night. The group got held up for 20 minutes at dinner. I question the thinking behind feeding 50 fourteen year olds after 9 PM but who knows. Needless to say these kids were bouncing around after they got off the bus! The other guide, Bill, and I even commented about this group being an intersting one before they got off the bus. "Do you see them jumping around in there?" Then to top it off the tour leader says that we can keep the group out all night if we wanted to. Reflecting back on it now I can see her line of thinking. The longer these kids were on the tour, the less engery they would have to torture the chaperones later on at the hotel. Nice try!

We agreed on try to end at 11 and then Bill and I gave each other a look that only a tour guide who's ever been in this situation would know. It was time to suck it up and put your gameface on. When I have a group like this I will walk them, to let them burn off some energy. At our first stop, it only took a minute or two to gain control. The teachers and chaperones did a real good job and the students were well behaved. I think that they had some fun, I know I did.

Storyteller's Rant... I would like to apologize about the delay in posting over the past week. I was away in New Jersey and the website was also down for a day or so for maitenence. I'm back and over the next few days I'll have at least two more posts.

Sleep Well,

"Rick Saunders"

Seminary Saturday Night!

Saturday May 27th, 2006 Seminary Ridge

Ideal weather for a walk! Warm and a light breeze. People from Texas, Ohio, and some Pennsylvanians from Philly to Pittsburg came out. I even brought a few friends along for the ride!

I was a little frustrated when the tour began. I was expected the group to be twice the size, and we all know how I prefer larger groups. But it wasn't meant to be, so off we went aggravated guide and all! Some people take out their frustrations by exercise or meditation. I have learned over the years to channel that energy into my storytelling. I find that I can get real creative with my tone of voice when I am a little sideways before the tour. When I sold timeshare, I had a manager that would intentionally get me upset before sales presentations. He told me that my numbers were better when I was upset. Maybe he was right. When it comes to showtime, you must perform no matter what the circumstances. I guess what they say is true, the show must go on.

At the beginning of my Seminary Ridge tour, we have to recite a disclaimer at the request of the Seminary. If there are any kids in the group, I will usually try to get them involved with this. I'll ask them if they have a good memory. Then I'll tell them to repeat the disclaimer after I'm done reciting it. Most of the time the kids jump at the chance. What they don't know is that I can recite this thing with lightning speed! Then of course, they have no idea what I said, can't repeat it, and are left a little embarrassed in front of the group. Lollipops cure that everytime! On Saturday though, the only two kids in the group did not want to help me out at all! One of them flat out refused. I practically had to give them the candy up front! I had to ask them "if they would please humor the tour guide" by playing along. Like pulling teeth! I always get a kick out of how groups and individuals react and interact on tour. I wonder if anyone has studied this on a more scientific level?

From tours gone by... I try to always mention Hugh Ziegler and his experiences at Gettysburg when I'm out on the Seminary. He was ten years old when the battle came to his front door. He was excited before the battle and horrified afterwards. He had to help carry amputated limbs outside of Schmucker Hall. Gruesome work for a child that age. I tell Hugh's story to show how the war effected children in many different ways. There are no ghosts involved in this story, it is just one of my "interpretive rants."

I told Hugh's story back in April of this year and before I could transition into the next story a woman asked me a question that I consider one of the best I've ever been asked. "What happened to him?" she asked. "What did he grow up to be?" I almost fell to the ground! I told her that he lived unitl the 1930's and settled in Oklahoma. She was relived to know that he did well. It is a pleasure to see someone connect to a story, and in this case the subject of the story, on such a personal level. I look forward to the next such person!

Sleep well,

"Rick Saunders"

Ghosts of Fredericksburg

Mark Nesbitt's brand new Ghosts of Fredericksburg Candlelight Walking Tours begin tonight. I know that Mark and Carol are real excited about working in Fredericksburg! Best of luck to all of the Fredericksburg guides! Don't scare 'em too much!

If you're ever in Fredericksburg, Va stop in for a walk.

Visit www.ghostsoffredericksburg.com

Sleep well,

"Rick Saunders"

Update from Friday's Seminary Ridge Tour

When I was checking in at the HQ before Monday's Tour, the woman who works in the office showed me an email she recieved that day. I mentioned all of the nice cameras on that tour in my entry from the other day. It seems that at least one of those cameras caught one of the wierdest photos I've ever seen!

Thanks to Jamie T for allowing me to post this photo!

On the bottom right you can see a "flare" around my arm. Looking closely at that "flare" I see a face! There was no one standing behind me at the time. There's more than one way you can expierence a ghost!

Another note on this photo. Where this photo was taken, in front of Schmucker Hall, I have had lantern problems over the past few weeks. This Saturday night's Seminary tour might get real interesting.

Keep your cameras on the ready and sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"

Busy Monday on Baltimore St

Monday, May 22, 2006 Baltimore St Tour

This tour really goes to show that you never know what you're going to get, as far as group sizes go, on any given night. There was 40 people with me Monday night, compared to only 14 the Friday before. One would assume that it would be busier on Friday, but this time that was not the case! A group of 20 high school kids from Pine Grove, PA did make up half of the group, but hey I'll take it! I love bigger groups and this one was just about at maximum capacity for what I prefer for the Baltimore Street Tour. So off we went.

It is always interesting to see how a group is going to react when half are school children, or in some cases boy/girl scouts, and the rest are the "normal type" tourist; people on vacation, couples out on date night or something like that. These kids were in the AP History class and they talked their teacher to take them out of school for a half day and go to Gettysburg. When school groups tell me something like that, I seriously get a warm, fuzzy feeling. There is nothing better than a school group that has studied the battle a little and their only stop on the field trip is Gettysburg! They're not thinking about going to Hershey Park or NYC. These kids were great.

There were some really nice folks that joined us Monday night. There were four people from Santa Fe, New Mexico. I haven't had anyone from NM in quite some time. I had some locals and couples from Virginia and Maryland as well. I had a little trouble getting to greet everyone the way like to. We started in the court yard at our headquarters and it was tough to tell who was in the school group as there were people scattered everywhere. I hope I didn't miss anyone.

Since there was a group of high school seniors on the tour, I went to the GAR hall on Middle St and told some of the college stories. It's amazing how one little joke about college kids and partying can make you "cool" to a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds. It almost never fails!

It seemed like everyone had fun, I know I enjoyed it!

From tours gone by...A few years go on the Seminary, when I asked who came the fartherest to see the Ghosts of Gettysburg, there was one guy who thought he had it! He proudly boasted "California!" and awaited his kudos. Before I handed him the lollipop prize I kept going around the group asking where they were all from and came to a guy who was from Hawaii! He was a native Hawaiian, belonged to the Navy, was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was on vacation with his family. My Californian tourist was crushed! I gave him a pop anyways! How's that saying go? "So close but so far away." In his case, being so far away brought him close, but not close enough!

Sleep Well.

"Rick Saunders"

Seminary Ridge May 19, '06

It was a nice Friday night, right around 58 degrees and very little breeze. 14 real nice folks joined me last night. Had a couple from Boston, a whole bunch of people from all over Pennsylvania and three bikers from Milwaukee on their way home from Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. "It's the only way to see America" she told me. Amen sister!

There was a lot of nice cameras on tour last night and these folks must have taken my picture at least 20 times. If you didn't know it, you'd think there was a small electrical storm around Old Dorm for about 5 minutes. Flashes going off everywhere!

Towards the end of the walk I had what I call "stunned silence" after the "Buried Alive" story. There were no children in the group so I let these people have it. "Buried Alive" is the most intense and intimidating story in my arsenal and after it was over, the group just stood there. They said nothing, blank stares on their faces, and I could see a few catching their breaths afterwards. Awesome! That is what it's all about! Every person in the group seemed to be hanging on every word. I have been playing with my verbage of this story. I trimmed it down some, used a few more power words, put a little anger in my tone of voice and brought that story home! I need to say it again, AWESOME!

From tours gone by... I don't remember exactly how this came up last night, but since there were no children in the group, I told the group about this little incident that happened about 6-7 years ago. I was guiding the Carlisle St. tour which takes you on to the campus of Gettysburg College. We were in front of Stevens Hall and I was telling the "Blue Boy" story. This story is very depressing. In order for this story to be effective you need to tell the history of the Homestead Orphanage and it cruel mistress, who abused the children, way before you get to ghost part of the story. A lot of times you will see people getting upset which means you are doing your job with this story. But this one night I had these two guys in the back of the group having a great time. They were smiling and carrying on. I was watching these guys all tour and I didn't think they were drunk or on anything, so I didn't know what they were up to. As we were walking back into town, they came up to me and revealed the reason for their behavior. Stevens Hall is the girls dorm at Gettysburg College and I guess there was a girl changing in one of the windows. These guys, who were middled aged and on a Gettysburg weekend without their families, told me that seeing that made their whole trip. I don't know if anyone else caught the peep show that night, I know I missed it. Ever since, every time I go to Stevens Hall I make sure I bounce my voice off of the building a few times before I get into the stories over there. You never know what you're going to see on a Ghosts of Gettysburg candlelight walking tour!

Sleep well,

"Rick Saunders"

Baltimore St 5/18/06

Group tour! Last night I spent some time with some very curious fourth graders from southern Ohio. You know you're in for an interesting evening when the tour leader tells you that they just spent 9 hours on the bus without stopping very much. That sends shivers up my spine! First thing you do there is walk the group a little ways to let them stretch there legs and burn a little of their pent up energy! These kids were in good spirits and the weather held for us. All in all it was a nice night for a walk.

As enthusiastic as these kids were, it always blows my mind as to why you would take your students on a three day field trip to a historic site that you don't teach about before you come. There was only one kid in the group that had been to Gettysburg before and most of these kids knew nothing about the Civil War. It got to the point where the "Civil War buff" parent had to answer all the questions. I had to break it down to basic concepts for these kids to set up the human interest stories. "Where would you take wounded men?" "Why there?" I think these kids got it for the most part. I love the look on the kids' faces when you make them actually think while they're on a field trip!

Another thing that blows my mind is how many young kids have a cell phone. When it was time to take pictures of a building, more phones came out than cameras! Crazy.

From tours gone by...I remember one time I had a reenactor in my group. That particular night he was in his Confederate uniform. After the tour he came up and tipped me with the gold Sacagewa dollars. He made the comment that since he was up North, his Confederate money was no good. It was a neat exchange and the few people that were still hanging around got a kick out of it! I talked to this guy for awhile and he told me a story that Mark published in one of his latter books.

Sleep well,

"Rick Saunders"

Thursday, May 11 2006 Carlisle St.

What a terrible night for a walk! The thunderstorms and heavy downpours began about ten minutes before we started. The tour was up in the air for a minute, but we decided to put the kids on the bus and drive around in circles while I told stories with the microphone.

This group of 8th graders from the Johnstown, PA area deserves an award for their behavior. They were excellent considering they were wet, cold, and left up to their own devices in the comfort of their seats on the bus. They all paid attention and some even asked questions! Wild. Most groups that I have come across in that situation would have skipped the tour altogether and took the kids to the hotel to let them go swimming.

I will admit that it is not easy telling stories moving at 35 mph, stop and go through town. The windows fogged up in the bus, the driver had no idea where he was going, and I'm taking him down the narrow streets around the college. Talk about the blind leading the blind! There were a few really tight spots and thankfully this guy was a pro. We made it around without damaging any vehicles.

Halfway through, the kids got cold and asked the bus driver to turn the heat on. For the guy wearing a wet wool greatcoat, turning the heat on did not sound like a good idea! It was a very warm last 25 minutes!

The only building that these kids saw was Stevens Hall. That, of course, is home to the "Blue Boy" story which is somewhat depressing when you talk about the mistreatment of the children at the orphanage. But hey, what can you do? This tour, if that what it was, was over in about 45 minutes. The kids seemed to enjoy the experience and I got a kick out of playing with my tone of voice over the microphone.

It could have been worse, at least it didn't snow!

From tours gone by… There was one night where I was on the balcony smoking a cig when I heard a group of people below me talking. They told this one guy that there was a soldier on the balcony and he adamantly refused to turn around and look. So I took the bunting that was hanging on the railing and dipped it down in front of him a few times then lifted it back up and ducked down so he couldn't see me! This guy didn't know what to do. His friends were laughing and this guy really wanted to know how that happened. I couldn't help myself from laughing out loud and finally revealed myself on the balcony. That's when one of his friends said "See, I told you there was a soldier on the balcony!" Good times!

Sleep well.
"Rick Saunders

Seminary Ridge 5/6/06

What a night for a walk! Perfect temperature and very little breeze. It was a smaller group than I was hoping for, especially since it was Saturday night. But 15 is better than 5. Nice folks from Pittsburg, Indiana, North Carolina, and New Jersey.

Honestly last night I was just going through the motions for the most part. I have trouble getting really geared up for smaller groups. There wasn't anyone in the group offering themselves up for any abuse, which sometimes happens with smaller groups. There's less people to embarrass yourself in front of I guess. Therefore I had to be the butt of most of my own jokes.

It always surprises me how groups react to certain jokes. I usually tell the same jokes in the same spot tour after tour. Last night was no different. These people laughed very hard at the kid in the window joke. I tell this story about a kid who lived in one of the houses on the Seminary who used to run up to his room and flick the lights on and off for a minute when he would see the group coming, and then I act all disappointed when he doesn't do it. I’ll admit I’m hamming it up here pretty good. These people thought that was great! I really don't see how this is as funny as other people do, but it works. I guess even Seinfeld gets tired of his own jokes after awhile.

Alright, so I get a great reaction from that one, and almost no reaction on the next joke where the kid hides under the covers. "If you're ever scared by a ghost and you're lying in bed, hide under the covers! You're safe under there!" I didn't mistime this joke or anything and only got a minimal reaction. This one woman even gave me a dirty look. I didn't ask her daughter to the prom or anything, so I don't know where that look came from. It's the least offensive joke in my arsenal. Strange.

The "dead ringer" joke usually gets the same reaction and last night was no different. Same thing with this joke that I tell about a mouse and then a skunk scaring the group off this stonewall. I use certain jokes to keep the tempo of the tour where I need it. If I have to get into a historical interpretive rant, I will set it up with some humor or follow it with a joke. Ghost story telling is about giving the people what they paid for, entertainment. They can get the history for free at the park! Jokes, humor, and human interest stories will overcome the dull spots and weak stories.

A well timed, good natured joke can also set up a group to be blown away by a more intimidating and frightening story. This worked well last night with "Buried Alive." Although I wasn't really pumped up for the walk, I did get a little creative with this story. I told the group about families hearing screams in the house and brought it home with the parents thinking their children are having a nightmare, but then realizing that the kids are at a sleepover down the street. Every person with children in the group nodded their head. Gotcha!

All in all, it was a decent walk with decent returns, but I'd still rather have more people in the group!

From tours gone by… About two or three years ago on the Seminary I told the joke about the kid playing with the lights and of course the group laughed. But what was really neat about that night was whoever was closing up Schmucker Hall for the Historical Society flicked the lights on and off for us over the door on the east side of the building! The group went bananas! That little act made the tour for most of these people and I appreciated the random nature of it, mainly because that is the only time in 7 years that a ACHS staff member has done it for us!

Sleep well

"Rick Saunders"

Baltimore St. 5/4/06

Hello! I am writing this blog to catalog my experiences as a tour guide/ storyteller for the Ghosts of Gettysburg. I am in my ninth season and have a ton of little stories, not necessarily related to ghosts, that I've experienced over the years. I've met tons of interesting people along the way. I have guided well over 400 walks and talked to well over 10,000 people, there's got to be something interesting stuff in there somewhere!

Last night, Thursday May 4 I had a group of about 30 fifth graders from Brunswick, NJ. I don't know what it is but groups from New Jersey are always a little different. Two kids left the tour after my opening, "How people experience ghosts" story set. There's nothing overly scary about these stories, I even end them with a joke, which I think I mistimed last night b/c only 35% of the group got it. Either way two down and 28 to go.

As we went along these kids began scaring themselves. Talking themselves into being scared. I tried to break this up by throwing in a little history lesson to set up stories for later on in the tour. This group had never heard of JEB Stuart or George A Custer, but they did know that Lincoln was in town for a cemetery dedication. It blows my mind how many kids come through that town that can recite the Gettysburg Address but have no idea why Lincoln wrote it or why he was there to deliver it!

As we continued on, of course the sidewalk got clogged because another guide took up the whole sidewalk with her group. That and the fact that 5 groups were passing each other at the same spot at the same time. It is school group season in Gettysburg! I finished in our headquarters yard, but not before a local gave us a rap concert by pulling over and blaring his music for us.

After we finished, a woman came up and told me that she had stayed in the Krauth House years ago while taking a youth ministry seminar. I always finish every tour with the Krauth House story regardless of the tour we're on. Most folks will never know what house I'm referring to even though they probably will drive by it 5-6 times. The woman told me how spooky she remembered the house being and how much she enjoyed hearing a story about it, especially since she wasn't expecting one. Sometimes the littlest things will make a visitor's experience that much better.

All in all, it was a good time with a good group of kids.

From tours gone by....Some years ago I had a group on Lincoln Square and it was around 11 PM. As I was in the middle of a story, we hear this car tearing around the traffic circle. Stopping in mid-sentence I turn around to see a woman hanging out of the passenger's side door screaming "Let me out of this @!#%&* car!" The driver was leaning over grabbing her and pulling her back into the car. She had at least one leg out and I fully expected to see her tumble out of the car. The driver managed to pull her back into the car and navigate the circle! He then went tearing down Baltimore St squealing his tires the whole time. I didn't know what to say my group and I wished I had a camera to take a picture of their faces. There was an akward silence, when a guy in the group pipes up and says something along the lines of "Holy #%$&, what was that about!" We all had a laugh and I responded "You see folks, you never know, late on a Saturday night, sometimes there are things scarier than ghosts here on Lincoln Square.” That was one of the wildest things I've ever seen in 9 seasons of guiding in Gettysburg!

Hope you all sleep very well!

"Rick Saunders"