The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-22
Declare That Form of Wealthy
Man Appears at Dark.
HE SMOKES HIS PIPE.
Sits on Front Porch and Terri
fies Entire NeighbOrhOod.
Other Items of Interest i'm Kan
sas Towns and Cities.


the ghost like form of c. Borbach,
formerly wealthy man of this city.
is appearing every evening at sun
in which he died. is the sworn opinion
of practically every citizen living in
the west end of Harrington.
The ghost scare has become so gem
eral that the neighbors in the vicinity
of the house are living in their homes
in horror and the vast traffic that once
came in over West Walnut street has
been shifted to other streets in the city
the house. the neighborhood and this
part of the city is Stunned.
1t is said that a white form, repre-
senting in every detail the profile and
features Of the late Mr.. Borbach APP
pears on the front porch of his for
mer home. The house is an odd affair
the front porch topped with a huge
cone like tower. The house itself is
built in ghostly detail and in its stu
alton upon the brow of a steep hill, it
has caused CONSERVATION among the
people CT the city.
AT his death Mr.. Borbach was one
of the ealthy citizens of Harrington.
He came here in the early days when
the Rock Island and the Missouri Pa
cific first built through the city. He
bought up considerable land at that
time and when the Rock Island eStab-
Ished their large terminals in this city
his property was turned into Tor
tune
Last summer Mr.. Borbach died. He
owned at that time many houses over
the city and was considered wealthy
He lived in a small but most queer
house on the brow of the Walnut street
hill and for many years was we'll
known figure in this part of the city.
He spent all of his time in warm
weather on the front porch of the
house smoking a large old style pipe
His position on this porch, the smok-
ing of the pipe and the general sur
roundings gave the place a distinctive
touch-and the touch still remains
The house has been vacant most OF
the time since the death of the old
man. His sons have tried to live in
it but they declare openly that in the
night they hear noises. then scratch
of a match. a light. and the door TO
the front porch will open as the gnost
of the old man walks to his customary
seat, lights his pipe and smokes.
All who have lived in the house
make the same statements ana the
place is known as the Retreat OF tne
Borbach Ghost" People who have
passed the house during the night claim
to have seen him on the porch. Peter
Popp, general foreman of the daWIey
lumber interests in this city, ana
sane business man declares that he mas
seen the ghost of the old familiar hg-
IRE on the porch many times. During
the present moonlighted nights many
reports of the ghost have been gwen.
Walnut street to the west from Her
ington is the main thoroughfare between
this city and the smaller towns Inc
street and the roads leading TO the
street have been placed IN e1cellenS
condition for automobile purposes ana
the street is the busiest of any IN the
CITY during pleasant evenings HOW
ever, since the recent ghost scare II Is
said that even the automobilists care
not to run their cars past the haunte1
house, fearing that their machines VIII
break down at this point and they WIN
GnJ II necessary to stop and make re-
pairs. .os
1t is a peculiar set of circumstances
for the people of city OF 5,ooo peoPle
to fall into but the scare has become
prevalent and is firmly believed
Those who refuse to beneVe IN tne
ghost theory also refuse to go 10 the
Dries and thus the scare grows each
day-and night.