October tours highlight strange Stratford history

STRATFORD — Hauntings. Witches. UFOs. Pirates. Poltergeists. Sea serpents.

Those are just a few of the topics that will be covered on an upcoming bus tour around town called “Strange Stratford,” the proceeds from which will benefit Perry House, Stratford Historical Society, and Friends of Boothe Park.

Two tours each are scheduled for Oct. 24 and Halloween, at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Admission is $16. Registration is required at perryhousestratford.org/ strangestratford.

The tours will be hosted by Mary Ann Vlahac, a Stratford resident and Housatonic Community College business professor who has what she calls “a keen interest in mystery and history.”

For several years Vlahac has been conducting walking tours around Academy Hill to benefit the Stratford Historical Society.

“There was a lot of interest in what I’d call the strange history of Stratford,” she said. “And let me just say that it is strange.”

There are many famous events from the town’s past that would fall into the heading of “strange,” such as the trial and execution of Goody Bassett for alleged witchcraft in 1651, or the mystery of the long-destroyed Phelps Mansion on Elm Street, the site of a series of strange occurrences in the 19th Century, which was once called the most haunted house in America.

But there’s more that not so many people know about, Vlahac said.

“There’s a lot of unique history that we have that’s beyond the obvious,” she said.

The tours, featuring continuous narration from Vlahac, will depart from Perry House on West Broad Street before stops at Stratford Point Lighthouse, Judson House and Boothe Park.

Though confined to Stratford, Vlahac will also touch on stories from communities that used to be part of Stratford, including Bridgeport, Shelton, Trumbull and Monroe.

And not all of the discussion will be about witches, ghosts, or other spooky happenings.

Guests will hear stories of sea monsters in Lordship and buried treasure of the famous pirate Captain Kidd.

Or Deacon John Birdseye, who, according to legend, was living in Milford but moved to Stratford — via a swim across the Housatonic — because he was caught kissing his wife on a Sunday.

But there will also be plenty of spookiness too, Vlahac said.

“Where are the haunted spots in Stratford? Lift any rock and you’ll find one,” she said.

Those attending will also get a list of reference materials Vlahac has used in her research for further reading.

In addition, the Stratford Historical Society will also be offering a program on Halloween at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The free program will begin with an ice cream social — from Goody Bassett’s, of course — before a presentation on some of the scary legends and sights in Stratford, to be followed by a walking tour of the immediate area.

“There are a number of for lack of a better word haunted locations around the Judson House,” said the historical society’s David Wright.

In addition to Phelps Mansion, there are also ghost stories associated with the former Shakespeare Theater as well as the white house on the theater property.

The program is titled “Specters and More from Forest to Shore,” a play on the town’s motto. No advance registration is necessary.

“It should be fun for anybody who wants to visit with us,” Wright said.