by Kathleen "Katie" O'Donnell
of Punkin' Doodle Boo Folk Art
In many a quiet town's history, there lurks a tale of
strangeness or legend that is passed down from one
generation to another. Frightening tales of happenings that
leave lasting impressions on us as children, these stories
prompt us to sleep with the hall light on, or the closet
door shut tight. Spooky tales that make us walk briskly past
a dilapidated
landmark or old cemetery. Later, when we recall those
stories as adults, we find we still get goose bumps on our
flesh. Recalling those tales as perfectly rational grownups,
we still find ourselves questioning our belief in
supernatural occurrences, witchcraft, and mythological
beings.
December 2007
Last month we ventured to the New Jersey Pine
Barrens to bring you the haunting story of the New Jersey
Devil. This month we bring you the true story of Mr. Glava,
a Vampire buried in a sleepy Colorado town.
Nestled in the Colorado foothills, about 30
minutes outside of Denver, there is a sleepy little town
rich both in history and legend. The town is called
Lafayette. Local legend maintains that a 19th century
vampire is buried in the town’s municipal cemetery.
Locals say that back in late 1800’s, a
gentleman from Eastern Europe came and settled into the
small town of Lafayette. Mr. Glava, as he was known, was
deemed suspicious by the local residents of Lafayette.
Rumors circulated that the strange talking Mr. Glava was a
vampire. Lafayette legend maintains that Glava was killed,
in typical vampire fashion, when a stake was hammered
through his heart. Parapsychologists who have long visited
and studied the gravesite indicate that Mr. Glava’s spirit
is still “very active” and that he still haunts the
gravesite.
Reportedly, one parapsychology group has
recorded, through Electric Voice Phenomena (EVP), Mr. Glava
asking for someone to remove the wooden stake from his
heart. Moreover, Mr. Glava continues to maintain his
innocence from beyond the grave.
In that old mountain cemetery, there is, in
fact, a gravesite dated in the 1800's, marked with Mr.
Glava's name. Reportedly, this graveyard is a Historical
Landmark, so the grounds are very well kept. However, in
the area of Mr. Glava’s final resting place, two very
overgrown rose bushes climb eerily around the tomb.
Townspeople say the creeping rose bush never blooms. If
that is not enough to give you goose bumps on your flesh, a
very old gnarled tree grows from where the body lays.
Legend says the tree grows from the stake planted in Mr.
Glava’s chest.
HalloweenArtists.com is a group of talented, artistic
individuals who love "Spooky Stories and Frightful Folklore"
and all things associated with All Hallows Eve. Each month I
will feature a spooky tale that is based on truth and/or
regional folklore. I welcome you to
send in your own
"Spooky Stories and Frightful Folklore" or make suggestions
for an upcoming column. Most of all, we encourage you to
bookmark our site, so that you may retell these stories to
you and yours.
Till
next time,
Katie
About the Author:
Kathleen "Katie" O'Donnell is a Colorado artist,
educator
and mother of two children whose nicknames inspired the
title of her business. Her work has been featured in online
artisan magazines, and shops and galleries across the
country. Visit Katie here on HalloweenArtists.com or on her website at
PunkinDoodleBooFolkArt.com.
