Do you know that urban legends, i.e. modern folktales, are fictional stories that spread like wildfire from one person to another? These stories are often told as truth, but in most cases they are not true. Despite this, these stories attract people so much that they keep moving forward from generation to generation, like any sensational news. This is the reason why the land of Kansas is also full of such mysterious stories, which have a mixture of fear, mystery and adventure.
The faculty and staff of Washburn University have shared some such urban legends, which are related to different parts of Kansas. Let us know those stories, which still create both fear and curiosity in the hearts of people.
Blue Light Lady – The mysterious nurse of Hayes, Kansas
Librarian Frankie Ostrom shared the scary story of the Blue Light Lady. This story is from the time of the Civil War, when a nurse died mysteriously near Fort Hays in Hays.
It is said that the last wish of that nurse was to be buried on top of a hill, but due to the hill being made of limestone, her grave was made below. Since then, people claim that at night they see her climbing the hill with a glow like blue light. The name “Blue Light Lady” was given because the blue aura of her spirit is believed to symbolize the nursing services she did in her life.
Stull’s Gateway to Hell (Stull, Kansas) – Gate to Hell?
Mallory Riley, who is the Learning and Testing Coordinator, told the story of a place called Stull, which is infamous for its haunted cemetery. This cemetery is famous for its scary atmosphere and the belief that it is the “Gateway to Hell”.
It is said that there was an old church here which had no roof, and its stairs led nowhere. The strange thing was that it never rained inside that roofless church. Every Halloween, a crowd of people tries to reach here, so the sheriff’s department has to increase security here.
Even today this place is a big center of mystery for paranormal events and adventure lovers.
Haunted Children’s Cemetery, Atchison
Riley shared another scary story, which is related to the Haunted Children’s Cemetery of Atchison. According to local beliefs, if a vehicle passes through this cemetery in a dirty condition, then the handprints of small children remain on it.
People say that while passing through there it seems as if someone is watching you. Old graves, wild paths and silent atmosphere make this place even more mysterious.
Italian Wall Lizards, Topeka
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Christopher Jones recounts a different kind of urban legend, one that involves creatures, not ghosts or spirits. He says Topeka is full of Italian wall lizards (Podarcis siculus), a species not native to Kansas.
About 70 years ago, a pet store owner imported a large number of lizards from Italy. When people were not interested in buying them, he released them into the wild. Since then, the lizards have spread and are now seen throughout Topeka.
Albino Woman of Rochester Cemetery
English lecturer Karen Ford shared a spooky tale she heard from her childhood. The story is about the Rochester Cemetery, where the spirit of an albino woman is said to haunt.
It is said that this woman, dressed completely in white, with bright white hair, appears to float in the cemetery in the dark of the night. On scary nights like Halloween, cold winds start blowing with her presence, which makes the atmosphere more scary.
Importance and impact of urban legends
These urban legends are not just stories of fear or mystery, but they are a part of our society and culture. These stories connect us to our past, folklore and collective fears or beliefs.
Sometimes these stories become a source of entertainment, and sometimes they strengthen the local identity and shared heritage of the community. These stories of Kansas make us realize how interesting this layer between truth and fiction can be.
Conclusion
Whether it is the blue aura of the Blue Light Lady, the mysterious stairs of Stull’s Gateway to Hell, or the albino woman of Rochester Cemetery, these urban legends still awaken people’s imagination and curiosity. These stories definitely scare us, but at the same time they also awaken the spirit of exploration in us. That’s why, whether true or fictional, these folktales survive for generations and remind us that mystery is always lurking around us.