By Jamie Strickland
I recently had the opportunity to join some friends for one of Clayton’s newest entertainment options — Clayton Ghost Walks.
As a bit of a history nerd who’s always up for a thrill, this was right up my alley.
I don’t want to include too many spoilers, so let’s just say the tour was a great mix of local history, folklore and haunting tales that left me more than a little creeped out.
I’ll never go near that cemetery again without some specific images coming to mind, that’s for sure — and I’ll definitely be looking over my shoulder at some favorite hang-out spots.
From the early days of our country through modern times, the tour takes you on a story-telling adventure through downtown Clayton, stopping to point out places that are ripe with spooky legends.
The following is a Q&A with tour guide and local history teacher Doug Pawlak.
Q. Tell us a little about your background
- I am originally from Western New York, but have lived in North Carolina for the last 28 years. For 25 of those years, my family and I have called Clayton home. My children are both now in college, with one attending UNC-Chapel Hill and the other at NC State.
I am currently a history teacher with around 24 years of experience. My wife is also in education, and has long been my partner in everything. History is my passion, and so naturally, I gravitated towards a job doing what I love.
I have taught mostly at the middle school level (22 years at Riverwood Middle), but am currently teaching at a local high school (Corinth Holders). I think the history aspect of my background helps to put the stories I tell into proper context.
Q. How did you get the idea to offer Clayton Ghost Tours?
- My family and I love to travel, and enjoy visiting historical areas. More than a few times, we’ve also gone on ghost tours while visiting these historical areas.
Sometimes, the guides have been great, and sometimes, I’ve been disappointed with ghost guides who had no enthusiasm or who lacked story telling ability. It dawned on me that I could potentially do it just as well, and hopefully even better.
I also realized that there was no dedicated ghost tour in Clayton, though there are some in nearby towns, and I thought, “Why not me?” I know Clayton is a rapidly growing area. I know that I enjoy conducting research, and all the years of teaching have helped shape my story telling. With a little encouragement from a fellow teacher, Kara Shoup, as well as my family, I gave it a go.
Q. How did you gather the information for the tours and learn about the local ghost stories?
- Lots and lots of research. Acquiring information of this magnitude was really a years-long process. Understanding the history of the town you live in fascinates me, and as soon as I arrived in Clayton, I started learning as much as I could about the local history.
Anything related to the history of the area, I read. Anybody who had deep roots to this area, I enjoyed talking with. Anything related to legends, supernatural stories and ghosts, I’m all ears and always have been. It just fascinates me.
Last spring, I was told that I should check out some of the stories concerning various unexplained events that had happened at Revival 1869. This in turn, led me to learn about other businesses and locations around town which also had their own ghost stories and unexplained events.
Since I started the ghost tours, many more people have shared their own local stories with me, as if they were relieved that there was somebody out there willing to listen to them, who wouldn’t immediately laugh at them, and who would take them seriously. I’m a skeptic at heart, but I’ve learned to not dismiss stories and evidence, just because it doesn’t agree with what you think is possible.
Q. Will you be doing the tours year round?
- If the demand is there. I anticipate a drop off after the fall busy season. Hopefully, demand will pick back up next spring. People love to be scared.
Q. Do you have a favorite local ghost story?
- Definitely the man in the top hat from First Street Tavern. It’s kind of symbolic and fits the very image of what one might expect a ghost to look like. More than a few people have reported seeing him, and I’m both a little afraid, and a little bit anticipatory of me finally seeing him for myself.
Q. Any other details you’d like to share?
- I’ve enjoyed myself offering these tours. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it. There have been some really friendly people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, and giving talks to them has been simply fun. There are a lot of great people in the area!
Learn more at claytonghostwalks.com.
