Ghosts of the past make an appearance

"It's a sad day, it's a sad day," says Kevin Ray dressed in period costume as he tips his hat mournfully to passersby.

Ray was referring to the death of Carson City founder Abe Curry, whose funeral procession, complete with bagpipes, was approaching a group of participants in the 17th annual Kit Carson Trail Ghost Walk.

As the funeral procession passes by, the "Widow Curry" breaks away from the rest of the mourners, sobbing hysterically, and leaping onto the flower-covered casket of her deceased husband.

A member of the procession pulls her off the casket and tries to calm the distraught widow while guiding her gently back to the procession, but not before she makes one last attempt to find solace from amongst the tour participants by grabbing Reno resident Royanne Barringer to her bosom.

Again, the Widow Curry is guided back to the funeral procession, but she calls out about Barringer's compassion, "She understood! She understood!"

"We See Dead People," sponsored by the Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau, offered "two tours and a funeral" this year to hundreds of people who attended. The Undertaker Tour and the Overtaker Tour both visited historic homes and met characters (and ghosts) from the past.

Ray, who serves on the Ghost Walk committee with Candy Duncan, Joy Evans and Mary Bennett, called the annual event the best of live theater.

"It's a moving show," he said, "and it's one of the largest shows in town. For two miles, you get to experience Carson City at the turn of the century. You're going into five homes, and we're bringing thousands of people to downtown."

The Ghost Walk brought to life the characters from the past (portrayed by the Bruka Theater actors) and honored the memory of Abe Curry.

According to the printed program, "Abraham Curry, the 'Father of Carson City,' accomplished more in his 15-year residence in Carson City than most men do in a lifetime. Not only did he purchase the land in 1858, which is now Carson City, but he laid out the townsite and built many of its buildings, both public and private. Curry envisioned Nevada's statehood long before its time and donated the four-acre plaza on which the Capitol stands today."

The Ghost Walk included 22 tours leaving every half-hour, 11 each for the Overtaker - which included stops at St. Peter's Church, the Clemens home, the Brougher/Bath home and the Rinckel Mansion - and the Under-taker - featuring the Esser home, St. Teresa's Church, the Bliss Mansion, Bender home and Edwards home.

The Nevada Gunfighters put on a show outside the old St. Teresa Church, now the Brewery Arts Center Perfor-mance Hall. The saloon scene starred a couple of outlaws and a Dark Angel, charged with collecting bad souls and hauling them off to Hades, said narrator/sheriff Frank Freeland.

Participants enjoyed all aspects of the tour, including the perfect fall day.

"I really enjoyed learning the history of Carson City and all about the founders," Penny Bassett of Carson City said. "This is my second year. I also enjoy getting to go inside the houses and seeing the architecture and period furniture. My favorite was the Bliss Mansion - it had fantastic furniture and artwork."

Briana Wright-Oliver of Carson City said she also enjoyed learning the history of the area.

"I had no idea the building where the Firkin & Fox is used to be an old brothel and that it was in the red light district," she said. "I also liked going into some of the historic homes and hearing about some of the paranormal experiences."