OLD SPANISH FORT CEMETERY On the road to Old Spanish Fort Cemetery, everyone began trembling when we turned off the main highway to the dirt road. When we arrived, huge, silky spider webs shining in the moonlight, casting an eerie spell on the entire scene. Above, bright stars blanketed the sky. We got out of the car, and our fears grew stronger with each step. The rusty, creaky gate opened slowly. The next few steps were the hardest. Suddenly, the wind picked up as if it were pushing us inside or warning us to go away. The top of a tombstone had been knocked over and had fallen in our path. A new, creepy feeling ran from the tops of our heads to the tips of our toes. A few steps further, we noticed a small grave. It read: George, Nov. 15, 1380 to Nov. 27, 1880. A small child with his whole life ahead of him had died was buried there. Amid the century-old graves, one grave suddenly grabbed our attention. It was a single, fresh grave covered with new flowers. It was so eerie; we felt that it was time to leave. As we headed for the car, the wind once again began to blow and literally pushed us past the creaky gate. Directions: The cemetery is just east of Farm Road 103 about 14 miles north of Nocana, Take interstate 35 north to Gainesville and then go west on U.S. 82. ft is easy to miss because it is behind the new 0ld Spanish Fort Cemetery. (Take the side road by the newer cemetery because it curves around to this historical site.)    BELCHERVILLE This abandoned town of tall weeds and crumbling buildings has a story to tell. According to nearby Nocona residents, Lulla Belle was killed by a passing train while she was walking along the bridge. This occurred during the late 1800s when Belcherville was a boom town. Now, a century later, Lulla Belle supposedly still walks along an abandoned bridge with her head under her arm. The bridge, now partly fallen down, can be a spooky place to visit late at night If you are brave enough to get out of the vehicle.

Directions: The bridge is six miles west of Nocona on U.S. 92.

 THURBER  Once a booming mine town of more than 10,000 people, Thurber is now a ghost town with five residents, all members of the Andrea and Randy Bennett family. The Current focus of the town is the Smokestack Restaurant, which the Bennetts own and operate. They provided Class Acts with the history of the town and a key to the cemetery This ghost town and cemetery are "must visit" sites because of the atmosphere and many unexplained occurrences. Tomi Holsomback, an employee at the restaurant, described some recent "haunting" events that occurred in the nearby house occupied by the Bennetts' son: A mirror that had been hanging for 60 years fell off the wall without the hooks or wall being damaged. There was no other noticeable cause for it to fall. The Bennetts saw smoke and smelled wax from a candle, but the candle was never lit. A rock was removed from a snake aquarium and placed in the sink when no one was around. The Bennetts are still searching for answers to the mysterious happenings. The Thurber cemetery is undoubtedly one of the biggest of Texas' historical cemeteries. It is also one of the scariest places to be on a dark night. The trees bend over the graves as if in mourning for the 700 or more children who are buried there. The epidemics of scarlet fever and whooping cough at the turn of the century definitely left theirs mark on this Texas ghost town.

BELLE PLAINE CEMETERY This cemetery is supposed to be just east of U.S. Highway 283. Despite a two-hour search, Class acts reporters never found the site, but we did experience some extremely eerie sightings. After we left the highway, the road became narrower and narrower, and suddenly we felt as if we were on the set of Children of the Corn. Weeds and cornstalks pounded against the Suburban, and then we came upon a very mysterious abandoned barn. Shadows lurked inside as if some ancient animals still lived there. We could actually see lights dancing in the open doors, with trees bowing down to the barn. Every1hing was dead and motionless until a "thing” jumped out of the grass and stared at us. It was not a rabbit or a pig, but appeared to be some in-between creature that no one could identify. its eyes glared at us as we made a hasty retreat.

Directions: The cemetery is .6 miles east of U.S. 283, about 6 miles south of Baird. There is a sign for the cemetery on the highway.
 

THISTLE HILL Thistle Hill, built in 1903 in Fort Worth's then-affluent Quality Hill neighborhood, has seen the rise and fall of many legends. The first owners, Electra and A. B. Waggoner Wharton, had lavish parties. The mansion has been meticulously restored from near-ruin to a beautiful example of Georgian Revival architecture. We spent the night on Oct. 3 to search for "ghosts”. After dinner, we gathered on the sweeping 14-foot oak staircase to hear about the history of Thistle Hill from Ruth Karbach, Thistle Hill's curator. At 10 p.m., we broke into small groups for the night. In the elegant billiard room, we passed the time by noting the peculiar chandeliers and engraved chairs. However, upstairs in the ballroom on the third floor, others discovered a chair uncovered and in the center of the room. It was recovered, and everyone settled down for the night. At midnight, the chair was found again - uncovered. The rest of the night ran smoothly without any further phenomena. Is Thistle Hill haunted? Probably not. The only residents of the antiquated mansion are the memories of past grandeur and splendor.

Directions: From Interstate 30, exit south on Summit Street in downtown Fort Worth. Go left of Pennsylvania Avenue. The mansion is at 1509 Pennsylvania Ave.

These reports were written and researched by Emily Greiser, Martin High; and Stephen Jennings, Kim Reeves, T.J. Fogus, Stephanie Prudente and Chris Powell, Denton High.

NOTE: These are some of Texas' noted haunted places. Class Acts recommends that an adult accompany any adventurous readers to these spots.

Copyright 1997 Star-Telegram, Inc. Accession Number: 484749