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Come and Take It

Come and Take It is a talk show about Texas, by Texans. Three friends born and raised in Texas share their views on the state’s history, culture, and just what it means to be Texan.

Your Hosts

Mike Zolkoski
Scott Elfstrom
Sean McIver

#7: Ghost Stories of Texas

26 minutes

Download MP3 audio

A special Halloween episode, exploring some of the best known ghost stories tied directly to Texas History.

Before we begin… What’s your favorite Texas horror movie?

Folklore—-and ghost stories in particular—-are part of the oral tradition of storytelling that’s as old as human culture. We can’t think of a better way to get a sense of a place than to learn its local ghost stories.

Sources

  • Ghost Stories of Texas (1981) by Ed Syers

    This book is fantastic, and really goes out of its way to emphasize the cultural significance of the stories Ed recounts. The author doesn’t get into whether or not the stories are true; he just tells it like it is.

  • Texas Ghost Stories (1987) and Texas Ghost Stories II (1992) by Zinita Fowler

    These books are written for children, but do a good job of summarizing the most well-known versions of these stories.

  • Ghosts Along the Brazos (1977) by Catherine Munson Foster

    This is the book that was the genesis of this episode. Full of stories specific to the Brazoria County area, it’s written by a native of the area who had been telling the stories in libraries and schools for years.

El Muerte, The Headless Horseman

The Lady of White Rock Lake

The Ghost of Bailey’s Prairie

The Face in Galveston

Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells

Yorktown Memorial Hospital

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