Bud Steed - Haunted Fort Smith & Van Buren

Published by Haunted America

A Division of The History Press

Charleston, SC

www.historypress.com

Copyright 2018 by Bud Steed

All rights reserved

First published 2018

e-book edition 2018

ISBN 978.1.43966.515.2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018942452

print edition ISBN 978.1.46714.070.6

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is dedicated to my wife, Jennifer Lynn Steed, who in all our years together has never once lost faith in either me or my sometimes crazy plans. She is the rock on which our family stands and the one true love of my life.

This book is also dedicated to my children: Bobbi Jo, David, Sean, Ciara Jo and Kerra Lynn. You all are great kids, and I cherish each of you more than you will ever know.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to acknowledge all the help and support that I obtained while writing this book.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife, Jennifer, for all the assistance that she gave to me while I was researching this book. From keeping me company during the long drives to waiting patiently while I conducted interviews or took photographs, your support, love, and companionship made the research behind this book extremely enjoyable. Also, special thanks to my son Sean Steed for riding shotgun with me on the numerous research trips to Fort Smith and Van Buren while I was taking additional photos for the book; the company was much appreciated.

I would also like to extend my thanks to Matt Wallace, Matthew Massey and everyone at SMC Packaging Group for their support. The willingness of everyone to stand there patiently while I rambled on about one haunting or another that I had just discovered, a paranormal investigation that I was about to embark on or my next book project is truly amazingnot to mention much appreciated.

Special thanks to my friends Adrian and Tina Scalf of River Valley Paranormal Research and Investigations (RVPRI) for taking the time to speak with me and share some of the history of the area and some interesting stories of the alleged hauntings for which the area is known; your knowledge and time are greatly appreciated.

Last but not least, thanks to everyone who shared their stories with me about their paranormal experiences in the Fort Smith and Van Buren areas. It was great fun speaking with all of you and hearing your stories.

DISCLAIMER

While I have strived to ensure the accuracy of the stories and the history behind them, I think that it is important to remember that they are indeed just ghost stories. Whether they are factual or not is impossible to say, as no one has ever proven the existence of life after death. When possible, I have included in the stories personal experiences obtained during investigations and research trips, but those are in no way definitive proof that a haunting is going on at a particular site. It simply means I had an experience that I couldnt debunk or find a logical answer for. Additionally, those stories that I can find very little truth behind, or are questionable at best in regard to any factual basis, are still included. Even if they are nothing more than an urban legend, they are still entertaining and show the process and evolution of the storytelling and legends associated with the area.

As those of you who have read my previous works already know, I make it a practice to change the names of the people in the book who shared their stories with me. While it is one thing for them to share their experiences with me one on one, I have never felt like that gives me the right to out them in a public venue such as this book. So, in order to share with you their stories as well as ensure that I do not cause them any embarrassment or ridicule, I simply change their names. It keeps everyone happy and eliminates any discomfort that anyone might have in relation to the story being told.

All in all, I hope that you enjoy this book and that the stories of ghosts and hauntings might move you to do a little investigating of your own to seek the truth behind the stories. Its a task that brings me great joy and fulfillment, as I am sure it will you as well. Read the stories, check into them a little further if you like and come to your own conclusions as to what is true and what is simply an urban legend, but above all else, just have fun with it and enjoy the stories!

INTRODUCTION

Both the Fort Smith and Van Buren areas have a rich and varied history, and with nothing but a river dividing the two, its hard to talk about one without including the other. From early settlers to Civil War battles, from outlaws and lawmen to the everyday stresses and joys of daily living, they have all left their mark on the area in one form or another. Whether at historical sites or simply in the oral history associated with it, one thing comes prominently to the forefront: the paranormal.

Stories of ghosts and hauntings are commonplace in the Fort Smith and Van Buren areas, as they are in almost every area and culture in the world, and a lot of those center on violence and tragedy. The violence of the Civil War left its mark in the form of phantom soldiers that are sighted from time to time in the streets and buildings, as well as, in some cases, in the cemetery. The eighty-six death sentences carried out by hanging, seventy-nine of them the result of verdicts passed down by Judge Isaac Parker, are said to have produced phantoms still reliving their final moments on the gallows, seen briefly swaying in the mists and shadows near the old courthouse. Some are said to even inhabit the old courthouse itself, seen from time to time in the rooms and hallwaysthere one instant, gone the next, leaving witnesses wondering if they actually saw what they thought they did.

All in all, the rich history of the area produces some interesting stories and provides the ghost enthusiast with plenty of material to investigate. Lets start by taking a look at that history, first Fort Smith and then Van Buren, to get a better idea of why some of the stories of ghosts and hauntings exist.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF FORT SMITH

Situated on both the Arkansas River and what is now the border between Arkansas and modern-day Oklahoma, Fort Smith was once the last bastion of civilization before one set off into the wilds of the Indian Territory. First established as an outpost for westward exploration and then as a force to keep the peace between the Osages and the newly arrived Cherokees, who had been forcibly moved into the Indian Territory, Fort Smith occupied a high bluff, allowing soldiers to have an unrestricted view of the rivers and the lands around them.

The first Fort Smith was established on December 25, 1817, at Belle Point and was commanded by Major William Bradford. Because of its location by the rivers, as well as the extreme heat of summer and frigid winters, sickness was a very real threat that the occupants of the fort had to deal with. Deaths from fevers, pneumonia and dysentery were common, along with deaths from accidents and fighting. Life was hard for the troops stationed at Fort Smith in the early years.