Things that go bump in the night Things that go bump in the night (October 14, 2005)

Ghostwalk hits all the Pleasanton haunt-spots

Anyone who loves a good ghost story is in luck, because Pleasanton has more than its fair share of spooky specters and Halloween haunts. That's why the Museum on Main is hosting its second Ghostwalk Saturday, Oct. 15.

Last year, Charles Huff led the event, which was much smaller with space for only 30 people. Because it was so popular, the museum brought it back this year with seven 30-person tours that are leaving every half-hour from the museum starting at 5:30 p.m. and stopping at 10 haunted downtown sites.

"We're not guaranteeing that you'll see a ghost, but we're not saying you won't either," said special events coordinator Rebecca Bruner.

Favorite Pleasanton haunted sites are on the tour, such as the Pleasanton Hotel, Gay 90s and Kottinger Barn, but some new haunting tales will be featured, as well. Angela Aloise is one of the newcomers on the tour. She works in for Residential Pacific Mortgage and is also a Museum on Main volunteer. Her business recently moved into the Old Railroad station building, which many say is haunted. One evening when Angela was in the office late, by herself, moving into her space, she was having trouble moving a heavy file cabinet.

"On a whim I said, 'Come on you guys, help me with this file cabinet,'" she said addressing the rumored ghosts. "After I said that, when I tried to move it again, it came right off the wall." When she went to move it back, she pushed and pulled but the cabinet wouldn't budge. So she tried asking for help one more time, and sure enough it moved effortlessly. Perhaps it's because she found some free movers, but Angela said she has no fear of ghosts and in fact enjoys that they're around.

"I think it adds to the interest and the character of downtown Pleasanton," she said.

Local filmmaker Sean Laskey of Orange Moon Films thought the same thing. He was inspired by last year's Ghostwalk and made a twenty-minute documentary on all the popular haunt-spots in Pleasanton.

"I do documentaries as a filmmaker and ghosts have been childhood fun thing I've always liked, so this film merged what I love to do with what interests me," Sean said.

One of the most interesting things about filming the documentary, Sean said, was having the chance to interview locals about their ghost sightings in the places where the sightings took place.

"What struck me was that those who tell the stories tell them very vividly and they are very sure they've seen these specters in various forms," he said.

After finishing the movie, Sean gave the Museum on Main the rights to it, meaning they can copy and sell it as a fundraiser. Sean continues to be involved with the tour and will be leading the introduction to the tour with Museum on Main education director Heather Haugen Rizzoli, who has had some ghostly experiences herself at the museum.

One night, as she and a co-worker were locking up the museum after a day filled with ghost talk, they both mused that they had never seen or felt a ghost. With the doors locked, the two went to their cars in the parking lot and said goodnight, when all of a sudden, the door to the museum swung open and a bright light pulsated from the doorway - a light that had previously been turned off.

"Very strange," Heather said. Strange indeed. And that is just the beginning of all the spooky things happening downtown.

To hear tales of all the ghostly happenings, buy a ticket for the Museum on Main Ghostwalk at the museum, 603 Main St. or call 462-2766. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for members, $5 for children and $4 for member's children.

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