Kentucky Hauntings(20)

People booked passage on the boats to take part in the race, and people lined the banks of the Ohio River every year until the Delta Queen was retired as a competitor and turned into a dry-dock hotel in 2009. Some believed that, in addition to the usual live passengers on board, there was a ghostly passenger as well, Delta Queen captain Mary Green.

Captain Mary Green was one of the nation's first female riverboat pilots. She died in her cabin on the Delta Queen in 1949. During her life on the Delta Queen, she did not believe in the sale of alcohol and refused to allow it to be served on the boat. After her death, a saloon was established on board. Immediately after the first drink was served, a barge bearing Captain Green's name rammed the Delta Queen and destroyed the bar. Was it coincidence? Maybe, but, if so, it was a very odd one.

There have been many sightings of Captain Mary on deck, but perhaps the most dramatic account that river lore gives us was told by retired captain Mike Williams. In 1984, Captain Williams was sleeping in his bunk on the Delta Queen when he woke up to a whisper in his ear. He could feel someone's breath, but there was no one there. He ignored it at first, but after it happened twice more, he got up to check. He found nobody there, but he did find water flowing into the lower level of the steamboat. A hole big enough to sink the boat was found and repaired. He believes that he was warned by the ghost of Captain Mary Green, a kind and watchful spirit that still lurks on deck looking out for her boat. If not for this warning, Captain Williams might not have awakened in time to find the hole and save the Delta Queen from sinking. It seems that Captain Mary stays on board to watch out for the welfare of the passengers.

The Delta Queen is now docked on the Tennessee River at Coolidge Park Landing in Chattanooga North Shores. On June 5, 2009, the renovated steamboat opened as the Delta Queen Hotel. It has the distinction of being the only floating Historic Hotel in America and is considered one of the most haunted ships in the United States. Guests still have occasional encounters with Captain Mary's friendly spirit.

Out of respect for this great steamboat, the Golden Antlers were retired when the Delta Queen retired. Now the winner of the annual race with the Belle of Louisville and its competitor receives Silver Antlers. Even though the Delta Queen no longer sails the waters of the Ohio River, the great old steamboat and the spirit of Captain Mary Green will live on forever in Louisville.





Stories from Homefolks


Stories from homefolks are the ones we like best. They take us back to times when we sat on the front porch in good weather, or inside by the fire when the weather was bad, and shared stories with family and friends. History is embedded in these tales, but mostly they reflect personal experiences told for entertainment. Most of the storytellers are long gone, but their stories live on.

Some stories from history are very similar to stories from homefolks. In some cases, we had a hard time deciding which story belonged in which category. The tales in this section are about people we knew, or they were told by someone who was close to the story itself. Some of them illustrate beliefs and customs in times past.





Medicine for Willie


Roberta's great-grandmother Alley was an “herb woman” who helped treat the sick near her home in the Kentucky hills. She died before we were born, but her stories were passed on to her daughter, Lou Ann, who, in turn passed them to her son, Tom Simpson. We heard them from Tom and Lou Ann.

In the early 1900s in Kentucky, doctors used to stretch their services over large areas. Paying house calls meant they couldn't always be at a central location when they were needed. Women in the different neighborhoods who had knowledge of herbs and home remedies were often called on by their neighbors to help the sick and injured when a doctor was not immediately available.

Granny Burton was always called on to sit with the sick, especially children. Neighbors helped each other out like that back then because parents would often be completely worn out from trying to take care of a sick child day and night and then do their regular chores, too.

Granny was always more than happy to help when she was called on. She had learned quite a lot about herbs and healing from her mother. In fact, she planted an herb garden every year and tended it with loving care, so she would have the herbs she needed for remedies. Each year, she would harvest her crop and store everything carefully so she would always have a supply on hand.

She had to admit to herself that her favorite patient was Little Willie Dunbar, who lived on the next farm. Little Willie was a sickly boy who often caught colds that sent him to bed with a high fever. Granny Burton spent many nights through Little Willie's childhood, doctoring him with a poultice or herbs to heal a sore or break a fever. Regardless of how bad Little Willie felt, he always had a smile for everybody and tried not to be any trouble. Granny Burton would keep the fire going in the fireplace, keep Little Willie covered with Mrs. Dunbar's handmade quilts, and let Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar get some sleep.