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Manitou Springs celebrates Emma Crawford with annual coffin races and wake

Coffin Races are one of a kind

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Come one, come all!!!  Manitou Springs is celebrating one of its most famous residents, Emma Crawford! She came to Manitou around the 1880’s suffering from tuberculosis then know as consumption.  She was a lovely young woman and was accompanied by her Mother and fiancee.  Low and behold, she started to improve in the crisp mountain air and loved to hike on Red Mountain.  She was busy with planning her wedding when she took a turn for the worst.  Her fiancee promised to bury her atop her favorite mountain and so when she died (1891) he did indeed bury her up there.  Over the years, with all the rains, her coffin came to the top of the land and she slid down her mountain. She was then buried in an unmarked grave in the local cemetery, but the townspeople refused to forget about her. 

Every year the folks in Manitou Springs hold a festival in her honor.  Its held close to Halloween and includes a wake at Miramount Castle  (this year held on October 24, 2008) complete with Victorian style coffin, and a lovely dinner.  Many famous notables of the era will be in attendance including Dr. Bell and Father Francolon (owner of the castle) along with his Mother, Madam Marie Francolon.  Reservations are required and the event should not be missed!

The event continues on Saturday, October 25, 2008, with the annual coffin race. where 40 coffins and “Emmas” race up the main drag (Manitou Ave).  Each coffin will be pulled by a team of 4 mourners and will have Emma riding in it. A variety of prizes are awarded.  The race begins after the Parade of Hearses finishes their drive this year led by the Denver Hearse Association.  Don’t forget to dress for this ghoulish event and maybe even take in a ghost tour that night while you’re there.  There’s plenty of bed and breakfasts to enjoy and then have breakfast at Adams Mountain Cafe before heading back to the world.

Related Posts:

• Homes in Manitou Springs, September Market Report
• Manitou Springs Homes, August Market Report

So, come one, come all for a spooktacular good time in October!

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Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

Tags: coffin races, Colorado Springs Realtor, Emma Crawford, Ghosts, Halloween events in Colorado Springs, Halloween things to do, manitou springs homes, Manitou Springs Realtors, Neighborhoods - Manitou Springs

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 at 8:30 am and is filed under Attractions & Activities, Neighborhoods - Manitou Springs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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