What Ever Happened to Faceless Fred
Here is another local legend I think we could try to check out. I've know about it for years! The restaurant has a website with contact info, so if nothing else, we'd have a night out with good food! -Dennis
Posted: Nov 1, 2009 11:14 PM CST Updated: Nov 8, 2009 10:50 PM CST
His name is Faceless Fred. He's a farm-hand that has lurked inside the Speak Easy in Holdrege since the gold rush. The Speak Easy is the only building left in the old town of Sacramento. There Fred ran a roadhouse providing supplies to early settlers and making corn whiskey. As the story goes, his wife, Jane, was plain and barren and Fred got a little too friendly with the female passerbys. But, it was his relationship with Goldie that lead to his death. She was one of General Hooker's girls who followed the army camps during the Civil War. Fred's remains are believed to be buried underneath the Speak Easy's basement. NTV News first told you about Fred back in October of 2005. At the time, the staff thought he might have left and followed one of the waitresses home when she retired. In the pale moonlight, you might hear sounds of Faceless Fred's spirit wandering around the grounds, coming in and out of the Speak Easy. Still, some have their doubts, including the restaurant's owner, Theresa Puls. "Never seen Fred," said Puls. Rojean Nelson, a customer, said, "I guess I believe he must be around, but I haven't seen him." But, they can feel him. Puls said, "I think it's a brush-by. It's not a touching. It's like a brush; like a wind or a breeze." Some thought he followed a waitress home a few years ago. They now believe he's back. This past month, Fred made his presence a bit more obvious. Carlene Schemper, a waitress, said, "Hearing it in the kitchen... you would think 50 pans just hit the floor and we'll go back there and there's nothing out of place and there's no explanation for it." Charles Perez, a bartender, said, "We saw somebody like walk through the doorway... just walked in. Everybody looked. I thought it was just me, but everybody looked and nobody was there." Legend has it that Fred was unfaithful and when his wife found out, she decided to give him the axe, literally, and dumped his body in the basement well. Now, his tomb's cemented over and preserved for generations to come. Puls said Fred tends to wander upstairs. No doubt to check out the ladies. "He likes older, heavier set women. So, he probably bugs them more," commented Puls. They believe he's a friendly ghost because he doesn't throw tables or move objects. "It's nothing we're afraid of." said Schemper. Yet, the "Phantom of Phelps County" does turn skeptics into believers. "I'm skeptical, but when that kind of happens to you, you kind of think maybe it is kind of true," said Perez. Despite the scares, Fred's faceless form will always be their favorite customer. "Hang around and keep us entertained," Puls said. To finish the story... Jane, Fred's wife, was never convicted of the murder. Goldie left town suddenly. In the meantime, the owners of the restaurant said Fred has become quite popular among customers. There is no written record to support the story about Faceless Fred. In 1992, Glenn Thompson wrote the tale from stories he'd heard.
Posted: Nov 1, 2009 11:14 PM CST Updated: Nov 8, 2009 10:50 PM CST
His name is Faceless Fred. He's a farm-hand that has lurked inside the Speak Easy in Holdrege since the gold rush. The Speak Easy is the only building left in the old town of Sacramento. There Fred ran a roadhouse providing supplies to early settlers and making corn whiskey. As the story goes, his wife, Jane, was plain and barren and Fred got a little too friendly with the female passerbys. But, it was his relationship with Goldie that lead to his death. She was one of General Hooker's girls who followed the army camps during the Civil War. Fred's remains are believed to be buried underneath the Speak Easy's basement. NTV News first told you about Fred back in October of 2005. At the time, the staff thought he might have left and followed one of the waitresses home when she retired. In the pale moonlight, you might hear sounds of Faceless Fred's spirit wandering around the grounds, coming in and out of the Speak Easy. Still, some have their doubts, including the restaurant's owner, Theresa Puls. "Never seen Fred," said Puls. Rojean Nelson, a customer, said, "I guess I believe he must be around, but I haven't seen him." But, they can feel him. Puls said, "I think it's a brush-by. It's not a touching. It's like a brush; like a wind or a breeze." Some thought he followed a waitress home a few years ago. They now believe he's back. This past month, Fred made his presence a bit more obvious. Carlene Schemper, a waitress, said, "Hearing it in the kitchen... you would think 50 pans just hit the floor and we'll go back there and there's nothing out of place and there's no explanation for it." Charles Perez, a bartender, said, "We saw somebody like walk through the doorway... just walked in. Everybody looked. I thought it was just me, but everybody looked and nobody was there." Legend has it that Fred was unfaithful and when his wife found out, she decided to give him the axe, literally, and dumped his body in the basement well. Now, his tomb's cemented over and preserved for generations to come. Puls said Fred tends to wander upstairs. No doubt to check out the ladies. "He likes older, heavier set women. So, he probably bugs them more," commented Puls. They believe he's a friendly ghost because he doesn't throw tables or move objects. "It's nothing we're afraid of." said Schemper. Yet, the "Phantom of Phelps County" does turn skeptics into believers. "I'm skeptical, but when that kind of happens to you, you kind of think maybe it is kind of true," said Perez. Despite the scares, Fred's faceless form will always be their favorite customer. "Hang around and keep us entertained," Puls said. To finish the story... Jane, Fred's wife, was never convicted of the murder. Goldie left town suddenly. In the meantime, the owners of the restaurant said Fred has become quite popular among customers. There is no written record to support the story about Faceless Fred. In 1992, Glenn Thompson wrote the tale from stories he'd heard.