Big Daddy's Ozarks Writing Blog

Be watching for “Short Stories from the Ash Grove” in 2014.

I remember those summers when I worked at Summerscape on the campus of Drury University. One year we had a talent show, and a fellow camp counselor and I wrote a skit modeled after the Liar which was popular on Saturday Night Live at the time. Here it is:

I'm working on a collection of short stories entitled, "Short Stories from the Ash Grove." At this point, it is going to be a collection of 16 short stories that I wrote between 1982 and 2000. Each story is getting a make-over, or at the very least, some editing. I even made some changes to the short story I wrote for senior English way back in 1984.

Here are the first few paragraphs of, "The New Neighbors."

David Burton
October 1987, Drury Mirror

In my quest for an answer to whether or not the ghost of Clara Thompson is fact or fiction, one source was continually suggested to me as the most authoritative student source--Robin Holmes Fowlkes.

"I used to be skeptical about ghosts also," said Robin. "I wasn't skeptical though after the first time I experienced the presence of this ghost--it was so good and warm."

Robin Holmes, a 1986 graduate of Drury College and a very talented musician, currently lives in Fort Worth, Kansas, and is married to Bruce Fowlkes, also a Drury graduate.

For Robin, her ghostly experiences are not a joke.

"I feel very strongly about it," said Robin. "I was shocked when it first happened. I was also really excited. I didn't believe it at first, but now it is a very special period of events in my life."

Robin says she is unable to remember the exact time she first experienced the ghost because she didn't think of most things as ghostly episodes.

"I always had to practice after 10:30 because it was about the only time I had left," said Robin. "I can tell you, there were lots of times when I heard doorknobs turning and rustling sounds, like hands rubbing on jeans, after the building had been locked up."

Still, Robin says she realizes some of the things she heard could have been because Clara Thompson is such a big and old building--but not all of the sounds can be explained in this fashion.

"I do recall one of the first experiences that I recognized as a legitimate experience with a ghost," added Robin before she related the story.

One weekday, after midnight, Robin was practicing on the stage of Clara Thompson.

"Security came in and told me to get out," said Robin, "but I begged to be able to stay and practice. The stage lights were the only lights left on. The security guard said that it would be all right but to remember that I was the only one left in the building. He was locking me, and only me, in the building."

After security left, Robin continued with her practicing. Two pianos were on the stage at the time. The Stienway, on which Robin was practicing, was setting behind the partition on stage.

"I was practicing, and then between playing, I heard a noise in the balcony," said Robin. "It sounded like a doorknob turning. The lights were out, except on stage."

According to Robin, she looked out into the auditorium from around the partition and saw nothing, only black.

"I heard footsteps though. Not clomping steps but more like a rustling or shuffling. I followed the steps from one end of the balcony to the other as the rustling continued. I strained my eyes to see someone but I couldn't. There was no one there. Then there was a big rustling, almost a sigh, and the ghost sat down. I knew what I heard. I have no doubts. It was a ghost."

But this story doesn't end there.

"I was really scared after listening to this, especially since security said I was alone," Robin said. "Then a feeling, a warm feeling like a gust of wind, hit me. It wasn't a breeze, it didn't blow my hair or anything, it was just a warm--almost chilling--breeze. Then I wasn't scared anymore. It took care of my fears even though I KNEW someone was watching."

Robin said she continued to practice and the whole time felt as if she was making someone very happy. Then, Robin was touched.

"After playing for a while, something came up from behind me and expressed its appreciation for my music by hugging me," continued Robin. "It felt warm, but it was also scary because it felt as if someone was hugging me. It felt like an old man or an old couple who were very attached to the building."

The only time Robin said she was really scared was when she said "Hello" into the audience after she heard the rustling.

"I only did that once," said Robin. "It really scared me."

The entire time, however, Robin felt certain that the ghost was very benevolent.

"I think the ghost is someone who really loves music and loves that building," said Robin. "I never felt like I was in danger. I always thought that maybe I was making this ghost very happy with my music."

Possibly most significant is the fact that these same events happened to Robin 9 or 10 times.

"It was the sweetest, warmest feeling. It always gave me goosebumps," said Robin. "It was all very exciting. I have never felt anything like it since. It is really a special time for me."

However, the two events that made Robin really believe in the ghost of Clara Thompson were things that happened to other people.

On one occasion, Robin attended a Count Basey concert at a Springfield High School with her friend Randy Luna. Before Count Basey performed, a female singer named Carman Bradford opened for him.

During the performance of Count Basey, Bradford walked in the back doors of the auditorium. Robin and Randy saw her and decided to go speak with her about the performance.

"I wanted to tell her how talented she was," said Robin. "During our conversation though, she discovered that I was also a singer. For some reason she decided that she really wanted to hear me sing."

So, after the concert, Robin, Randy, and Ms. Bradford looked for a piano in the high school. They were unable to locate one in the building, however.

"Carmon then suggested that maybe we could come back to Drury," said Holmes. "I told her how beautiful Clara Thompson sounded at night, and she got it in her head that she really wanted to hear me."

Robin also added that Bradford was happy to be away from the 18 men she was traveling with in the Basey tour.

"She was wanting some girl-talk," said Robin.

These three performers went to Clara Thompson and Robin and Bradford both sang while Randy played the piano. Nothing unusual happened until Carmon Bradford felt something very unusual.

"Just out of nowhere she said, `Oh, my! Did you feel that? It was like a warm draft, a rush of warm air. I've got goose-bumps.' I knew it was the ghost," said Robin. "I hadn't felt a thing but she had. I never mentioned it to her, but I know it was the ghost touching her."

The second event that made Robin even more confident about what she had experienced came during an afternoon piano lesson with Dr. Sidney Vice.

"During practice, just out of the clear blue sky, Dr. Vice said, `I know this may sound strange, but after practicing late at night, do you ever think there is a ghost in here?'

"Well, my chin almost hit the floor," said Robin. "I had never mentioned my experiences to anyone before, and now, here was the head of the department asking me about a ghost. I knew then that there was definitely something to this."

Robin also discovered that this ghost has some special quirks.

"When I would come back from breaks, I wouldn't experience him again right away," said Robin. "I had to be practicing in Clara Thompson for a while, and it always happened when I was on stage."

Then, as expected, Robin would again experience the rustling, the sitting down, and a warm feeling.

"Every time I would hear that rustling I would get scared, but it wouldn't be much longer before I felt the warm rush or the hug," said Robin. "I really feel like I was fulfilling a dream of someone."

One other curious event happened with Robin and Steve Siebert. They had been waiting for a chance to record a song together; so, late one night they went over the Clara Thompson, taking with them Robin's "jam-box." Robin placed the recorder out in the chairs and taped their performance.

"When I played back the tape there was a tapping on the recording in time to the music. This was something neither of us heard while we were recording," said Robin. "My recorder had never done that before and hasn't since. The taps began with the music and then just sort of fade out towards the end of the song. The tapping was very clear, as if someone was tapping a pencil on the chair in front of them as they sat right next to the recorder."

One significant personal side note here. Steve Siebert also related to me exactly the same story.

According to Robin, she began to look forward to these types of experiences.

"I loved that rushing feeling and started looking forward to it," said Robin. "On three or four occasions I just stood alone in the middle of the stage and sang. Each time I could hear the rustling sound walk across the balcony and sit down."

It is important to remember that each time, Robin says that she knew that she was the only person in the building.

"Every time, security would tell me they were locking me in," said Robin.

Each time, it was the same thing.

"It happened so much that I felt like they really knew me," said Robin. "It happened repeatedly, and I could also tell the difference between just odd sounds, and the sounds of the ghost."

By David Burton
October 1987, Drury Mirror

"I am not ashamed to tell you," began Dr. Sidney Vice, "I have felt for a long time that there is probably a ghost in Clara Thompson."

Dr. Vice, the head of the music department, has been an instructor at Drury for 22 years. Now someone has finally asked him about the ghost of Clara Thompson. "It is exciting, and I've been thinking that for 20 years," said Vice.

Dr. Vice has frequently experienced the ghostly events on weekends. During the weekend Clara Thompson Hall is completely locked up. Dr. Vice, however, has a key to the doors and occasionally will come over to the building--when there is no one there.

"I have had repeated experiences with what I believe is a ghost," said Dr. Vice. "Too many times when I have been here on the weekend, with the building completely locked, I have heard banging, rustling, and moaning sounds which can not be explained."

Dr. Vice says that he understands students feeling a little unusual in the building, as if there is another presence,

"I have little doubt, however, that it is a benevolent ghost," added Vice. "I don't believe it is threatening at all; rather, I think it is watching over our program."

As a matter of fact, Dr. Vice considers this ghost so seriously that he has developed his own theory as to the identity of the ghost. "I have often thought that it could be Dean Skinner," said Dr. Vice.

Thomas Stanley Skinner, the man credited with founding the Drury Conservatory of Music, was the Dean of Music for 3 decades at Drury, 1920-1950. "I understand that he was a tremendous musician," said Dr. Vice.

The only problem with this theory may be the fact that Mr. D. Wayne Johnson, a 1950 Drury graduate and a student of Dr. Skinner's, says that students were telling ghost stories about Clara Thompson Hall when he was a student.

"I haven't had any personal experiences," said Johnson. "I've heard a lot of stories about rattling and creaking though."

It would have been impossible for Dr. Skinner to have been the ghost during Johnson's time since he was still alive and teaching during this period.

However, Dr. Vice suggests a possible solution to this apparent dead-end. "Could it be possible that this ghost vacated Clara Thompson in order to show his respect of Skinner? Perhaps this building has had two ghosts," said Dr. Vice.

Ghost experts, in fact, do suggest that spirits will occasionally vacate a certain location in order to allow a different spirit into a location where its interest would be greater.

"I am quite certain that this is a musical ghost," added Dr. Vice. "I know it is gentle, and I feel like it watches over us."

Dr. Vice even suggested what he believes the ghost is looking for. "I believe activity, especially with music, makes it happy," said Dr. Vice. "For example, the only times I have ever heard the moaning sounds have been over breaks or weekends when the building is deserted. It was at those times I felt that maybe the ghost was lonely and unhappy."

Written by David Burton
October 1987

Everyone loves a good ghost story, but what happens if you happen to be living that story?

Several Drury students claim to have had unusual encounters in Clara Thompson Hall, leading some people to speculate that the ghost of Clara Thompson roams the halls of her building nightly.

However, some present music students as well as alumni, suggest that these "ghost stories" are only a passing fad.

Senior, Steve Siebert, remembers one unusual experience he had last year when practicing with Robin Holmes Fowlkes, a Drury alum. Steve was playing the piano and Robin was singing.

"Robin and I were taping our performance," said Siebert. "When we played it back, we could hear tapping on the tape, like someone tapping a pencil. The strange thing was that it was tapping in time to the music and didn't start until the music began and then ended as soon as the music stopped. Neither one of us had been tapping."

Siebert mentioned that it could have been a tape defect, but still he is unable to completely erase the feelings Clara Thompson Hall gives him.

"I always feel uncomfortable or creepy in there practicing," said Siebert. "I always feel like someone is around. It's very weird. It's very cold."

Robin Holmes Fowlkes, who is now living in Fort Worth, Kansas, related some things from her own experiences.

"I always felt like it was a nice ghost," said Holmes. "In a way I always felt as if I was making it happy when I sang."

According to Fowlkes, the ghost is a music lover and shows itself only to those people who truly love music.
However, not everyone who works and studies in Clara Thompson has had close encounters of the ghostly kind.

Dr. Julian, a 1981 graduate of Drury who now instructs in instrumental music, admits that she is not personally acquainted with "Clara."

"I never heard of a ghost being in here the whole time I was attending Drury," admitted Dr. Julian.

Even Darlien Dill, the secretary for the music department, has not experienced the ghost.

"I have heard students talk about it," said Dill, "but in the 18 years I've been here, I haven't ever had contact with "her." As a matter of fact, I don't remember hearing that much about it until the last couple of years."

John Johns, the custodian in the Mabee Center, acted surprised when asked about a ghost in the building.
"I've never heard of there being a ghost," confessed Johns, "but we have bats in the attic."

Junior, Amy McCann works in the music department and is also a talented musician.

"I've never heard or experienced anything unusual," said Amy. "I do, however, remember hurrying through an upstairs closet once one evening because I felt like someone was watching me."

Gail Sheridan, a 1984 graduate of the Drury music department, admitted that she had never personally experienced the ghost but had heard several stories.

"My understanding was that it was the spirit of a former music student at Drury," said Sheridan. "I can't say that I ever saw it, but I sure heard an awful lot of strange noises when I would practice over there at night."

Sheridan said that she remembers several students during her years at Drury talking about hearing pianos playing late at night when no one else was in the building.

"That place always gave me the creeps," said Sheridan. "It always felt cold. Just cold and dead."

Interestingly, most ghost experts will tell you that people who come in contact with ghosts always describe them as cold. In addition, buildings in which ghosts reside are typically described as cold.

On one occasion, Sheridan admits that she mistook a slurring trombone player for the moans of the ghost.

"I looked around until I located the moaning. I found a student practicing slurs on his trombone in one of the practice rooms. That was the moaning I had heard," said Sheridan, "still, it is fun to think about there being a real ghost over there."

Seniors Trisha Wiggins and Vicki Spourle believe there is a ghost in Clara Thompson.

"The whole place scares me," said Vicki. "I have always been too afraid to go over there at night by myself."

"It is an awful cold place," added Wiggins. "I don't like to be over there, but I don't feel like it is evil. I almost always feel like someone is behind me or watching me though."

Both Vicki and Trisha related a similar experience, at separate times, about the lights in Clara Thompson.

Apparently, both students have been in Clara Thompson at night when the lights were on. After security comes in and secures the building, the lights are usually turned off. Both Vicki and Trisha recall two separate times when they asked security to leave the lights on, only to discover them turned off a short while later.

"I talked to the security man once," said Wiggins. "I asked him to leave the lights on and he did. I went back to practicing in one of those small rooms, and when I came out later, all of the lights were turned off. That was after security had secured the building.

"That was also the last time I stayed there by myself," Wiggins added with a smile.

Bob Tillery, a senior music major, admits hearing creaking sounds in Clara Thompson late at night, but he feels that these noises are nothing more than settling noises.

"I have a good feeling about that place," said Tillery. "I am not scared to go in there even though I do always feel like there is someone behind me, watching me."

David Peebles, a 1982 graduate of Drury College who now lives in Springfield, admits that in his four years as a music student he never heard anything about a ghost.

"I don't know of any stories, and I never experienced anything unusual," said Peebles. "I guess I could make some stories up though if you really need them."

Despite the fact that several students have experienced "unusual" occurrences in Thompson Hall, the majority of people seem to be skeptical. Maybe that is the way "Clara" would want it.

I hope by the middle of this summer that I am able to release my book, "Stories from the Ash Grove." There has just been a lot going on so this project has been moved to the bottom of the list. But, I'm looking forward to taking a little writing retreat soon (gift from my wife) to work on some story updates.

So far, the short stories I'm reworking and plan to include in my book are as follows:

• Confessions of a Cliche User
• The New Neighbors
• The Decision Makers
• A Friend of the Family
• Bill's Eight Ball Room
• A Short Visit Home
• An Auction with Grandpa
• Elevator Down
• Good Ole Fashioned Family Feud
• Hayfields and Memories
• That Darned Old Dog
• Tragedy at the Railroad Tracks
• The Misadventures of D.B. Ordinary

I've got three novels outlined as well and two of those will draw heavily from the stories and experiences that influenced me in the Ash Grove area.

James Joyce once wrote, "If you have had a childhood you have experienced enough to be able to write stories for the rest of your life." I never realized the truth in what Joyce wrote until I began to gather stories for this book. Every short story in this book was inspired by a person, place or event during my childhood. That is evident in the name I chose for this book since I grew up in Ash Grove, Mo.