Visiting a haunted jail...Which is now a museum...Down the Rabbit Hole we go...

This coming weekend, I will be performing musically with partner Harry, as our duo Merry Mischief, in costume/garb at:
"The Jailbird Antiques Festival" on the grounds at the Museum of Wayne County History on Butternut St, Lyons NY.         Click here for the museum's website and info

So,  as long as I'm playing there at this new place to me, I thought I'd take a tour and a cruise through before the day of the show. I went with my dear friend Ditchy Witchy, (aka Marie) who is a regular patron there. She is very much interested in the local history, and especially in a particular former inmate or two and their historical stories.

This is a VERY interesting place with very curious stories and sights.
The site was once the Wayne County Jail, and they say that it is haunted.
I agree. But it's not haunted in an overly spooky way, (except mayhaps in seeing the living conditions of what the inmates experienced. That indeed, is far more frightening than the ones that I experienced while there). But then again, I went in with my shields up to keep me safe, and with love in my heart to try to understand.

Here following are some photos of the jail.

Note the artwork that has been left as is, on the walls, from the inmates who were incarcerated here. This jail was in service from the year 1856 to a surprising 1961!

 Here is an interesting sculpture at the front door.
It sort of prepares you for the inside.... in a way....

When you first walk in, staff greets you very pleasantly. There is a gift shop.
You can buy extra special wine brands here (we are in the Fingerlakes Wine Country, after all...)

You just don't see these kind of wine names all the time...
A white...

 and a Red....

 and another red..."Robber"

 Then the next thing you see is a display of children's toys.

 I had one of these school play chalkboards when I was young...

Are you read for the Jail tour now?
OK, follow me.
It's in here....
Let's start with the first thing I see when I walk in. It's the artwork on the cement walls were made by some of the inmates while they were incarcerated here.

 

 

Some of these drawings look fairly modern. But then again, remember the jail was in use until 1961...

This is where the prisoners ate, just 3  or 4 steps out of the cells...

and the rope on the table signifies that one inmate was hung. Right here in this space.
.

 

I was amazed to see such small cells...

 

 

with no windows....

and with the floor scuffed from years of pacing..     

really tells a story...doesn't it?

And the feeling that people are still there....

They say it is haunted.
check out this pic.
Do you see it?
There was no mist in the room when I took this photo...

 Here is a shot I took in one dark cell....
Lots and lots of orbs

 

These next two were interesting...

Before I walked in...if you look you will see 2 orbs directly ahead.

On on the stair landing...

one on in the doorway directly center.

But when I stepped through the doorway and took another pic, they were gone.

 And yet, we pressed on, wandering this interesting collection of items in the Museum of Wayne County.

It has other things in it to document the county history...

So you wander from jail to office....to Victorian era house with bedrooms and toy rooms....

Office

 Note this pic. There are more orbs all over this jacket and also on lower cupboard here...

 And den?

TOYS.
I know.
Sorta weird with the jail theme...
but...
kewl nonetheless...

Train...

T

Dolly collection...

even a labeled Barbie collection...

All kinds of household antiques

 This is an early washing machine. I think....

Kitchen on the basement level.
My folks had a stove like this for awhile. The kettle was always hot.

Bath time by the wood stove

Orb on hat inside this case.

Many time frames represented with Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, WWII...

 Medicinal and health items

 Then turn a corner and there's a bedroom.

 Want to stay here?
This bedroom was provided to the family of the inmate who was being executed, so that they may be close to their loved one..

It has been said that sometimes this rocking horse rocks...

The Fox Sisters were famous in our CNY area. Even Mrs. Lincoln came to chat with them.

This painting is "dab art" and is really interesting...

Check it out up close!

Also, Lyons was historically know for amazing glass works

This is interesting. I walked into one room, and my friend Ditchy was right by me...and I distinctly felt someone friendly "poke me 3 times" in my back on my right side.

And my friend didn't do it.  That was bizarre. I'm glad I didn't ask her about it till we left. I think it would've made me feel a bit weird. But I'm alright with it now. Evidently, some spirit there just wanted me to look at some display. After this I heard that that the curator has had her pant leg tugged before too.
OK then :)

All in all, a packed museum with a lot that doesn't meet the eye, if you know what I mean.

"The Jailbird Antiques Fest is this Saturday, May 3rd

9am-3pm

Antique vendors fill the Museum of Wayne County History and also the lawn. 

Lunch will be served from 11-2 when we will have Merry Mischief’s strolling minstrels entertaining our visitors with beautiful music. 

Jackie Spiegel, antique appraiser will be on site as well. 

Fumie Thorpe pouring tastings of award winning Jailhouse Wine and to top it off, the Wayne County Historical Society’s Volunteers will be treated to a free lunch!"

Definitely a different sort of step back into time!

Hope to see you there!