Have you heard about the haunted Silver Dollar City?
Every year when there are pumpkins in the city, the fall colors show in all their glory, and the air grows crisp, the ghosts of Silver Dollar City are allowed to roam the hills.
Each morning there are three grand ghosts who have the privilege of welcoming the guests and opening the park. Granted not ALL guests can see them but those who have, share quite the tale.
The Scoundrel Clarence
These three lovely ladies, Mamaw Mabel, Grandma Minnie, and Aunt Emma have spent seven generations watching over the crafters and all of the citizens of the city. They of course have a vested interest. Their great grands are all citizens. But, in 2020 there’s a new ghost in town. One especially irritating haint, Uncle Clarence who does nothing but causes everyone grief!
Mamaw Mabel
Mamaw Mabel is a good ghost who spent most of her life throwing parties. She is the socialite of the group. One day she was flying around the candy store while Miss June Ward her granddaughter was making candy and telling stories to the guests. That scoundrel haint Clarence snuck right in and put out the fire under the copper kettle. Mamaw Mabel jumped in lickity split and lit the fire back up. She then proceeded to chase that good for nothing, miscreant, Clarence all the way past the pumpkins into Echo Hollow. It caused quite the stir for those who could see the entire incident.
Grandma Minnie
Grandma Minnie is a hard-working ghost. She can knit, crochet, or doing anything with fibers. By the time Minnie was 15, she was making aprons, bonnets, and trousers for people all over the county.
Every year when she returns to Silver Dollar City she’s assigned to watch over the craftsmen… and one special grand, Frisco Jack.
After that rascal, Clarence had been chased into Echo Hollow he needed something else to disturb. Frisco Jack was down in the Frisco Barn Makers‘ Market. He was singing a story to the guests when that ne’er-do-well Clarence snuck into the barn. He quickly eyed a beautiful light fixture above the head of Jack and immediately laughed at the thought. He’d give that boy a story to sing about!
Thank goodness Grandma Minnie was listening to her grand whilst doing some knitting. She immediately threw one of her knitting needles just like a firey arrow! Whew, with seconds to spare that needle flew through the barn and plunged straight through the hand of Clarence. It surprised him enough to stop what he was doing, make eye contact with Grandma Minnie, and thwart his plan. He knew he was in for trouble as she began to chase him out of the barn and pass the pumpkin carver. He was plumb into the Exposition area before he got far enough away from her that he could catch his breath.
Aunt Emma
Aunt Emma is everyone’s favorite ghost. She loves to cook and she loves to feed everyone. Back in 1880, she was the head cook for the miners. Men would come from all around to have breakfast with the beautiful Emma. They would beg her to run off with them and be their wife. But, Aunt Emma had been in love with a young miner who lost his life before they were able to wed. Her heart was never free again.
As a young girl, she would wake early so she’d have time to bake big o’ yeast rolls layered with cinnamon and sugar and topped with powder sugar icing. “Ever’ mornin’ should feel like Christmas mornin’ before you head into the mines.” Aunt Emma would always say to the boys.
Fall treats were her favorite and on the same day that cranky o’ Clarence was messing with the other ghosts, he showed up at the bakery. Sitting back he quietly watched as Aunt Emma stood over the whoopee pies, the cinnamon rolls, and the hot apple cider.
Love in the Hainted Hills
For the first time that day, Clarence was completely peaceful and quiet. The familiar smell had drawn him to that part of the park but when she spun around he turned white as a ghost! Was it really her? His Emma? He floated closer and she must’ve seen him out the corner of her eye. She froze still as he moved closer.
“Emma?”
“Clarence?”
He gathered her in his arms and the two began to cry. After 140 years they had finally found each other again. Clarence had gone into the mine with a piece of Christmas in his hand and the thought that ‘come payday, he was gonna buy that girl a ring’. Only, he never made it out.
Aunt Emma and Clarence reminisced as they went to the entrance of the Marvel Cave. Emma smiled as she pointed to her brother’s grand boy Gene. He was the official greeter to the city and she had come year after year to watch over him.
Then the question came to her mind. “Clarence, why did you get to come to Silver Dollar City this year?” Laughing he said, “My sister Sarah use to pick on me something awful. So, I thought I’d keep up the family tradition. That man over there is always just walking around and talking to people. Doesn’t seem to be doing much so I thought I’d keep him on his toes. He’s my sisters grand, Brad Thomas.”
Ghosts for Christmas?
It was time for the ghosts to meet up at the Time Traveler and make their way back to the other side when something went terribly wrong. The portal was closed! Now our three friendly ghosts and the incorrigible Clarence are stuck in 2020 with the rest of the world. This year there will be a new meaning to An Old Time Christmas!
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