No matter if you are chasing spirits or you're just enjoying a stroll through the beautiful oasis, it's best to watch your step (and keep your dog from digging). Some did, most didn't, and suddenly Denver had a booming population of residents ... both the living and the dead. Not until my last visit in 2011 to see a friend did I learn of the park’s dark past. In 1865, 40 acres of the cemetery became Mount Cavalry, a … Legends, Ghosts, Myths and Mysteries Main Page. Almost immediately, when the bodies began to be removed from the cemetery in 1893, strange things began to happen. He allegedly cheated the city by faking the movement of hundreds of graves. A singing woman can be heard and seen at night. Afterward, we talked about what we saw for a long time, both confident that we had seen and talked to “the walking dead!”, So, if you ever go out to Cheesman Park at night, know that you just might be questioned by a ghost in a hospital gown who continues to look for his killers. There are thousands of bodies under this popular Denver park from its time as a city cemetery. Since its development, Cheesman Park has been plagued by reports of unexplained activity. Though officially annexed in the year of 1883, many of the plats in the city go back to the year of 1868. The contractor who was tasked with moving the graves was paid by the casket. These experiences became the basis for a 1980 Hollywood horror film called The Changeling.. Many were never moved and are still on the grounds. You never know what secrets are just below Cheesman's surface. I hope this is the correct address to email. Behind the building was the Potter’s field section of the graveyard, where the vast majority of the dead were buried in mass graves. Cheesman Park is located in central Denver, southeast of downtown. A couple of days later, Rooker shot O’Neil down as he passed by the door of the Western Saloon. But if you dig a little deeper, literally, you will exhume an interesting, and pretty creepy, piece of Denver history and few buried secrets, too. Until lately. Lee is also fascinated with ghosts. Cheesman Park. The town set about exhuming the graves to move them to ... er, greener pastures. Cheesman Park is one of Denver's oldest neighborhoods — a small, densely populated area bordered by Colfax Avenue on the north, York Street on the … Which brings us to this century. “There, I heard it again!”  I exclaimed as I heard the chain jingling. On January 25, 1890, Congress authorized the city to vacate Mt. However, most of those buried in the cemetery were vagrants, criminals, and paupers. “To this day it is estimated that there are 2,000 bodies still buried in the earth here at Cheesman Park,” tour guide Shube said, citing local historians and research. In 1907, a successful Denver businessman named Walter Cheesman died and his wife told the city that she would donate a marble pavilion to the park if the name were changed to Cheesman Park. And so, Cheesman Park was born. A year later, the cemetery’s name was changed to the Denver City Cemetery. He allegedly cheated the city by faking the movement of hundreds of graves. Around their edges were piled broken coffins, rent and tattered shrouds and fragments of clothing that had been torn from the dead bodies…All were trampled into the ground by the footsteps of the gravediggers like rejected junk.”. The town then turned to contractor E.P. When we could see them no longer, Rubin and I quickly ran toward my apartment as fast as we could, never looking back. In November, General Larimer designated around 320 acres of land to be used as Mount Prospect Cemetery. After the cemetery became unsightly and unused, it was converted to a park in 1890 and completed in 1907. In addition, it's said on moonlit nights, if you stand on the west steps of the pavilion the grave-filled cemetery of the 19th century will appear before you. The park was originally named for the US Congresswho gave permission to change the cemetery to a park and was renamed Ch… By the late 1880s, the cemetery was seldom used and had fallen into even worse disrepair, becoming a terrible eyesore in what had become one of the most prestigious parts of the burgeoning city. When the Denver Republican got hold of the story, its headline proclaimed on March 19, 1893: “The Work of Ghouls!”  The article described, in detail, McGovern’s practice of hacking up what were sometimes intact remains of the dead and stuffing them into undersized boxes. The hospital, more often referred to as a “pest house,” was where smallpox victims were quarantined, along with others having contagious diseases and some that were merely sick, elderly, or handicapped. Early grave robbers during the cemetery relocation reported being touched by unseen hands. The park was finally completed in 1907, without ever having moved the rest of the bodies. Many were never moved and are still on the grounds. While taking a stroll upon the rolling hills or having a picnic under the shade of one of the many trees in the beautiful 80 acre Cheesman Park, many visitors don’t realize that they very well may be walking or sitting right upon the grave of one of the many who were buried here in the 19th century. On April 9, 1859, he was hanged from a cottonwood tree at the intersection of 10th and Cherry Creek Streets. It was originally the Prospect Hill Cemetery built in 1858, which expanded east to Denver Botanic Gardensand Congress Park. It’s often considered haunted, with numerous ghost stories to read about online. He wasn't particularly respectful of the dead in other ways, leaving bones and coffins everywhere during the process. In its earliest years, it was a neighborhood where the wealthy resided in immense and gorgeous mansions. When the majority of bodies remained unclaimed, the City of Denver awarded a contract to undertaker E.P. The donation was conditional that part of the park be designated as Cheesman Park and so it was. Before then, the recently established Denver was home to the large Prospect Hill Cemetery, which spanned the area that is now the Denver Botanic Gardens, Congress Park, and — you guessed it — Cheesman Park. To say the least, we were petrified! Before then, the recently established Denver was home to the large Prospect Hill Cemetery, which spanned the area that is now the Denver Botanic Gardens, Congress Park, and — you guessed it — Cheesman Park. The History. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Pavillion at Cheesman Park in Denver, Colorado by Carol Highsmith. That's a lot of unsettled souls who might still be searching for their heads ... and feet ... and arms ... well, you get the picture. Since the late 1800‟s, the area of Cheesman Park has been a place for the citizens of Denver to come and relax in peace. McGovern was to provide a “fresh” box for each body and transfer it to the Riverside Cemetery at a cost of $1.90 each. Moments later we were surprised when we saw a kid riding a bicycle with a chain dangling from his pocket. Afterward, the city built a temporary wooden fence around the cemetery, leaving it in shambles with open holes still displayed. He is also a musician and recording artist trying to make a living in this field part-time. Back in the raucous, early days of Denver, the gold rush brought over 100,000 prospectors, entrepreneurs, and more to the city with dreams of striking it rich. In actuality, the property didn’t belong to the Town Company either; rather the land legally belonged to the Arapaho Indians. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how this all went down. In 1923, the bodies from the Hebrew Burial ground were removed to other sites and the cemetery returned to the city, where the site currently serves as the site of the reservoir in Congress Park. Surrounded by Capitol Hill mansions in the heart of downtown Denver, Colorado Cheesman Park is not only frequented by visitors wanting to explore its botanical gardens or enjoy its 150-mile panoramic view from the pavilion but is also said to be home to a number of restless spirits. It was officially named Mount Prospect Cemetery and was unofficially coined as Jack O’Neal’s Ranch after one of its first inhabitants, a gambler who was murdered. A report in 1866 stated that 626 persons were buried in the cemetery. Located in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood, Cheesman Park is a lush 81 acres that didn’t make its debut until the late 1890s. Horrified, I said, “Shouldn’t you be in the hospital?”, Shaking his head, he answered, “They let me go because I didn’t have any money.”, He then warned us to watch out for “them” and stated several times:  “I’m going to get them!”. Walley did an extremely bad job of keeping up the cemetery which soon fell into a terrible state of disrepair as headstones were toppled, graves were vandalized and sometimes, even cattle were allowed to graze upon the land. Many were never moved and are still on the grounds. Cheesman Park is a wonderful reprieve from the concrete jungle of Denver. The ‘guy’ said to him, “Have you seen my wife?” and he disappeared into a bush; as if he walked right through it. Creation of the pavilion in the park, built with funds donated from Walter Cheesman’s widow and dedicated to the people of Denver, led to the park being renamed “Cheesman Park” in 1907. It was originally a cemetery. In their haste, body parts and bones were literally strewn everywhere and in the disorganized mess, “souvenir” hunters began to loot the open graves and coffins. Its sprawling lawns and elegant pavilion act as a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Colfax Avenue and the surrounding city. Though Denver consisted of only 150 buildings at the time, about 1,000 spectators attended the Stoefel hanging. This week, it’s time to fact-check this ghost story! Its pavilion, The Walter Scott Cheesman Pavilion, is a Denver icon that has been host to many weddings and events since it was dedicated in 1908. However, when Rooker refused, O’Neill questioned his heritage as well as that of several of his family members. My friend Don told me basically the story told here. Though officially annexed in the year of 1883, many of the plats in the city go back to the year of 1868. Yet more reports tell of strange shadows and misty figures that seem to wander through the park in confusion. But beneath Cheesman Park lies an eerie history, unearthed from time to time by city workers. Loved ones could claim their own and bury them elsewhere, but most of the bodies were left unclaimed. The parks history began in 1858 when General William Larimer jumped the claim of the St. Charles Town Company and established his own town, which he called Denver. “The ones who did this to me. Along the tour you’ll hear haunting tales and hair-raising first accounts of paranormal activity. Both men were gold prospectors, and witnesses believed that Stoefel was really there because he wanted his brother-in-law’s gold dust. The park was created in 1907, but before that, the land actually served as a burial ground – Mount Prospect Cemetery. And the land it once occupied would be made into a park named after a notable local resident, Walter Cheesman. The Park has inexact borders, as it is framed on 3 sides by private residences, but is located in center of the Cheesman Park neighborhood, between Humboldt Street on the west, Race Street and Denver Botanic Gardens on the east, 13th Avenue on the north, and 8th Avenue on the south. Cheesman Park is located in central Denver, southeast of downtown. There are 80 acres of the beautiful lush green park nestled in an urban setting, bordered on 3 sides by private homes. Its sprawling lawns and elegant pavilion act as a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Colfax Avenue and the surrounding city. Due to a large number of graves in the Roman Catholic section, Mayor Bates sold the 40-acre area to the archdiocese, which was named the Mount Cavalry Cemetery. What lurks at Cheesman after the sun goes down? Prospect was claimed by a cabinet-maker named John Walley, who also just happened to be an aspiring undertaker. As the outermost edge of the cemetery began to fill with outlaws, vagrants, and paupers, Denver citizens began to call the cemetery the “Old Boneyard” and “Boot Hill.” Mt. Prospect and in recognition, Teller immediately renamed the area Congress Park. He allegedly cheated the city by faking the movement of hundreds of graves. Around their edges were piled broken coffins, rent and tattered shrouds and fragments of clothing that had been torn from the dead bodies ... All were trampled into the ground by the footsteps of the gravediggers like rejected junk.". Required fields are marked *. Vincent Scully, former Yale University art historian, described the 1898 Cheesman Park as one of the finest urban spaces in America. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. strange experiences they've had in Cheesman Park. Our cookies are delicious. The gruesome work began on March 14, 1893, before an audience of curiosity-seekers and reporters. However, the unscrupulous McGovern soon found a way to make an even larger profit on the contract. It was originally a cemetery. I don't really need help but I do need to tell this story, even though it's not all that dramatic. He then approached us and asked for a smoke. Having had friends in Denver, I’ve made the trip from Omaha several times. Those living in residences surrounding the graveyard began to report sad and confused looking spirits knocking at their doors and windows, as well as the sounds of moans coming from the still yet open graves. Though numerous graves had not yet been reached and others sat exposed, a new contract for moving the bodies were never awarded. Denver’s Cheesman Park is a popular spot for tourists and local families alike, and it is easy to see why. Most “patients” were simply left at the pest house to die. Haunted history: from cemetery to Cheesman Park Kelly Jensen DENVER - The 80 acres of Cheesman Park where today dog-walkers, joggers, and outdoor enthusiasts gather, … There are thousands of bodies under this popular Denver park from its time as a city cemetery. At that time I had not yet learned about the park's history. Most visitors tell of feelings of unexplainable sadness or dread in a place, that is today, meant for pleasure and relaxation. Cheesman Park's Past Life...as a Cemetery. It comes as no surprise that the spirits of these forgotten, looted, and sometimes desecrated bodies continue to make their presence known, not only at Cheesman Park but in the neighborhood that surrounds it. The Dark History of Cheesman Park By Amanda H. King 2. Cheesman park is one of the oldest parks in the Denver area. I have dubbed the ghost “Slackjaw.”. Open spaces, gorgeous trees, and wonderful places to stretch out on the grass and look at the beautiful blue Colorado sky. 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