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Ghostly neighbors remembered at Boulder school

Flatirons Elementary School
Randy Barber

En Español

Through the back fence of Flatirons Elementary in Boulder, students can glimpse the headstones in Boulder’s oldest graveyard, Columbia Cemetery.

Recently recognized by the City of Boulder as one of its Oldest - And Possibly Spookiest - Properties, Columbia Cemetery is the oldest permanent cemetery in Boulder. Early settlers of the area, including many individuals who helped to build the city and the University of Colorado were laid to rest there, with the first burial recorded in May of 1870.

Years later, Flatirons Elementary was built alongside the 10.5 acre site. Ever since it has been a quiet, beautiful and somewhat eerie neighbor – especially when you consider the nearly 6,500 people who are interred at the cemetery.

“I always loved looking out at the cemetery,” said Hazel Lucas, now a seventh grader at Summit Charter Middle School and aspiring actress, who spent her elementary years at Flatirons. “I liked just thinking about all the spirits over there.”

Meet the Spirits event at Columbia Cemetery

While neither she, nor the school’s staff, nor anyone else we spoke to, knew of any hauntings, there, naturally, is a lot of interest in those who were buried next door. 

In fact, every other year Historic Boulder hosts a ‘Meet the Spirits’ event where people can learn about them. 

“We had a record number of people come out for the event, said Historic Boulder Administrator Melanie Muckle.

This year. actors representing 36 “spirits” gave biographical monologues.

“Some of the spirits come back every two years because the volunteers love their character and their person who they're portraying,” shared Muckle. 

“The stories that involve kids are probably most interesting to kids,” Muckle  added.

Lucas sisters  during Meet the Spirits event at Columbia Cemetery

Lucas and her sister played sisters, Myrtle and Elsie Danforth, who had died in a diphtheria pandemic. 

“[Elsie] got diphtheria,” explained Lucas. ”It attacks your throat and it was really bad. [Myrtle] wasn't allowed to be with [Elsie] anymore, which made her sad because it was her big sister. One morning, Elsie died, and then Myrtle got it.”

Sadly, it was only a matter of time until Elsie passed away too. The story hit close to home for Hazel, especially considering the recent COVID pandemic.

“I know what it was like to be in a pandemic and what it was like to be scared about getting the disease You're just completely in germaphobe mode all the time and had to wear a mask, plus  Plus, I have a really big connection with my siblings, too,” Lucas said.

Leonado Valente greets visitors during Meet the Spirits event at Columbia Cemetery

Meanwhile, Foothill fifth-grader Leonardo Valente portrayed a young man who was killed by a freak runaway railcar.

“Yeah. He got run over by a train,” Valente said. “I doubt that happens much now because the train tracks are more secured.”

Valente enjoyed both the day of the event and getting ready. 

“Yeah. It’s pretty fun,” Valente said. “Getting the costume took a while, but we found some clothes at a store on Pearl near Pearl street and were able to put together an old-timey costume.Then I practiced my lines and really got to know the story.”

Participants watching Jane Doe presentation during Meet the Spirits event at Columbia Cemetery

All of the “spirits” at the event are volunteers.

“Some of the spirits come back every two years because the volunteers love their character and their person who they're portraying,” Muckle said.

And while Muckle doesn’t believe in ghosts, it is hard not to feel a bit spooked when you’re in a graveyard and hear the story Boulder’s Jane Doe. A young woman, identified in 2009 as Dorothy Gay Howard, was found murdered in Boulder’s foothills in 1954. 

“Nobody knew who she was and was buried in the cemetery as a Jane Doe,” Muckle explained. “A number of Columbia Cemetery friends were intrigued by this gravestone and Boulder historian Silvia Pettem dug into the research which eventually led to her identification and contact with her family at long last.”

She hopes that more students will take advantage of the event when it comes back around in 2026, because it can bring alive the history they’re learning in school – but she is fine if folks come looking for something more. For those who believe in the paranormal, Historic Boulder partners with Psychic Horizons, who do psychic readings at the event.

“We’ve got some people who love this event because of the history. We have some people that love it because they love the cemetery, it’s beauty and the rich artistic history of the memorials. Then we have some people who, yeah, are more interested in the sort of ghostly, Halloweeny aspect.” Muckle admitted with a laugh.

Additional spooky BVSD stories, in honor of Halloween
Haunted Manhattan - Staff says 58 year old building is home to multiple spirits
Overnight New Vista High School is filled with fright
Frights not limited to the haunted house at Boulder High
Things sometimes go bump in the night in BVSD

Lucas sisters perform to a group  during Meet the Spirits event at Columbia Cemetery

 

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