For Halloween, the ghosts of those buried at Boot Hill return to tell their stories. The Ellis County Historical Society once more presents Haunted Boot Hill, with costumed history players under the direction of Cheryl Glassman portraying the famous and infamous of old Hays City.

These include Bill Mulvey and Sam Strawhun, two desperadoes planted there in 1869 thanks to Ellis County Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok.

The free show is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. on the corner of 18th and Fort Streets in Hays, site of the original Boot Hill Cemetery (1867-1874). The Ellis County Historical Society acquired the property in 1972 and the area is now preserved as a historical park presided over by the Felten statue of The Visitor.

Bring your lawn chair and enjoy free Halloween treats with no tricks before the entertainment begins. When Boot Hill Cemetery ceased operation in 1874, the bodies buried there were moved to Mount Allen Cemetery. At least that was the intention. However, additional remains were unearthed well into the 1900s.

Of the 80 or more individuals interred at the site starting in 1867, only about 30 can be named.

The Ellis County Historical Society is located at 100 W. Seventh in downtown Hays. For more information, call (785) 628-2624 or email [email protected].