Haunted Tours photo credit Matthew Jonas, Times-Call.
Haunted Longmont: Mysteries & Ghostly Encounters
Every community has stories that linger long after the events themselves have passed. Longmont is no exception, with a fascinating collection of historical mysteries and tales of unexplained encounters.
One of the city’s most intriguing stories centers on William Dickens, reported cousin of Charles Dickens and a prominent Longmont businessman. After coming to Colorado as a teenager in 1859, William amassed a fortune by 1915 and built an elegant Opera House considered one of the finest buildings in Longmont. That same year, he was murdered in his own home at 303 Coffman Street. Some speculated the killing was revenge for his participation in the Sand Creek Massacre. His 35-year-old son, Rienzi, who reportedly had gambling debts, was tried for the crime but never convicted.
Today, the former Dickens home is an apartment building, but stories surrounding the house have continued. Residents have reported strange noises and unexplained occurrences, including sightings of a dark figure believed to be William Dickens himself.
The Longmont Museum explores stories like this on its haunted Longmont History Tours each fall. This season’s tours are sold out, but watch for more next fall!
Celebrate the 26th anniversary of the longest-running public Día de Muertos celebration in Colorado! This year’s Day of the Dead Family Celebration will return to Downtown Longmont with the outdoor street festival that has become a Longmont tradition. This celebration of culture, heritage, life and love will feature traditional live music and dance, face painting, sugar skull decorating, crafts, food trucks, a kids’ play zone, local vendors, a Gigantes Procession and more! Learn more at longmontdayofthedead.com.
What do monsters and aliens have in common? Could an encounter with alien life be less frightening and more hopeful than sci-fi leads us to believe? Meet local astrobiologist and space philosopher Dr. Graham Lau for a fascinating exploration of monsters, “otherness” and alien invasion stories. This is a Library @ the Museum event.
Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra returns to the Longmont Museum to provide live accompaniment to Fritz Lang’s classic silent film “Destiny” (1921, NR). In this towering achievement of German Expressionism, a desperate young woman confronts Death itself to save her fiancé. In three tragic romances set in Persia, Venice and a fantastical ancient China, she is given a chance to alter fate and win back her beloved.
Thursday, Oct. 29
7 pm $18 general admission, $15 Museum members Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road
As you head out for a night of costumes, candy, and fun, keep safety in mind:
• Use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible.
• Look both ways before crossing the street.
• Carry a flashlight or wear something reflective.
• Choose costumes that allow you to see and walk safely.
• Parents and drivers: Stay alert and watch for little trick-or-treaters.
Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the Halloween spirit!
Halloween Storytime at the Library
The Library’s annual all-ages Halloween storytime happens Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 am. Silly and spooky books and songs will be enjoyed by all! Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Stay for trick-or-treating through the Civic Center building next door to the Library after storytime ends.
Leaves and Streams Don’t Mix
Be a good neighbor and keep fallen leaves out of nearby streams. Rain and melting snow will carry leaves through storm drains directly to local waterways. The nutrients in leaves can harm aquatic ecosystems, but leaves are great for composting. Instead, collect leaves and take them to community drop-off events or municipal facilities or use your leaves as protective mulch on your lawn, trees, and plants. The City picks up leaves on these dates.
Time to Ghost Your Sprinklers
Your lawn is ready to rest for the winter! If your sprinklers are still running, we encourage you to turn them off. Trees and shrubs may still need watering during dry spells; water by hand on warm days. The City has cut back watering at City parks and other public areas but you may still see sprinklers running at some parks through October to help keep them healthy for play. Learn more about what the City is doing to conserve water.
LET’S CLEAR THAT UP
Q: When will the City pick up leaves in my neighborhood this year?
A: It depends on which side of 9th Avenue you live on.
North of 9th Avenue pick up: Oct. 26-30
South of 9th Avenue pick up: Nov. 2-6
Place bagged leaves at the curb in front of your house before 7 am on the Monday of your week and leave them out until they are picked up. Use paper bags if you can. Crews make one pass through each neighborhood and they do not collect bagged leaves from alleys, even if your trash gets picked up there.
If that week doesn’t work for you, the Longmont Recycling Center takes yard waste Monday through Saturday, all year. If you subscribe to curbside composting, you can add loose leaves to your compost cart any time.
Long before Longmont Fire Station 1 stood at 1070 Terry Street, the building reportedly housed 200 German prisoners of war during World War II.
Today, firefighters and paramedics say something may still linger within its walls. Some describe the chilling sensation of being watched while they sleep. Others have witnessed a shadowy figure—a man dressed as a firefighter—sitting silently in an engine cab, staring straight ahead.
