On Valentine’s Day in 1883, Sophia Graham Vaile took her own life with a lethal dose of Laudanum in the upstairs master bedroom of her stately Victorian home in Independence, Missouri. Today, Denise Sadasivan, a tour guide at the Vaile Mansion and a member of the Vaile Victorian Society Board, tells the story of Mrs. Vaile and the mansion’s other occupants in hopes of preserving their memories — and their home.

“The first question I am always asked at the start of a tour is, ‘Is this house haunted?’ There are skeptics and there are believers,” Sadasivan said. “My answer is a resounding ‘YES.’”

Sadasivan’s research interests include death and dying and the customs surrounding those issues during the Victorian Era, an expertise she puts to good use hosting the Vaile Mansion’s annual Halloween event.

“Almost everyone is interested in what happens after death, so I like to think our Halloween event increases interest, provides education and humanizes our efforts to maintain the home and provide educational and fun programs,” Sadasivan said.

In planning this year’s event, Sadasivan focused on Samhain, the ancient Celtic pagan holiday. In previous years, events have explored topics like the causes of death during the Victorian Era, the mourning customs associated with death, burial customs and post-mortem photography.

“It is a great way to capture interest in history,” Sadasivan said. “We sell this event out every year, so that tells me people are interested. Of course, we try to make these macabre topics somewhat entertaining, but historically accurate.”

Given that the Vaile Mansion served as a combination nursing home, hospital and asylum for nearly a century, it’s not surprising it continues to attract paranormal enthusiasts and researchers — all of whom spend money in the surrounding community during their visit.

In fact, Independence has been positioning itself as a prime destination for those looking to scare up some spooky fun. In September, Visit Independence announced a unique gamified scavenger hunt designed to encourage visitors to explore the city’s most intriguing destinations.

Participants in the Paranormal Pursuit Passport were invited to “hear stories passed down through generations, uncover local legends, and learn about the people and events behind some of the city’s most intriguing paranormal tales” as they explored 13 local landmarks for a chance to win prizes. The passport program, which runs through Nov. 6, includes the 1859 Jail Museum, the Bingham-Waggoner Estate and, of course, the legendary Vaile Mansion.

Efforts to increase engagement in history and historic preservation through the paranormal and macabre are popping up at museums and historic sites across the State of Missouri. Missouri Town Living History Museum in Lee’s Summit frequently hosts paranormal investigations, and the Alexander Majors House Museum in Kansas City offers after-hours audio-guided ghost tours.

The Glenn House in Cape Girardeau offers ghost tours in October, and Discover St. Charles holds weekly Macabre Main Street tours after dark along its cobblestone streets seasonally. And of course there’s the behemoth of haunted Missouri history, the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Once dubbed “the bloodiest 47 acres in America,” this foreboding fortress now opens its gates to the world’s top paranormal investigators.

For those with a passion for history and historic preservation, embracing the ghosts of the past also opens a door to protecting their homes and history for generations to come.

“The biggest problems facing the preservation of historic properties are money and community interest,” Sadasivan said. “I truly believe we have the interest — that just leaves the money.”

Voters in Independence will decide a General Obligation Bond question in November specifically for the historical sites in Independence.

“Community outreach and involvement are important, and we need to be able to give back when we ask people to give money to preserve the home,” Sadasivan said.

Providing programming that is educational, engaging and entertaining is a component of that community involvement, Sadasivan said. While the Vaile Mansion has attracted interest for its haunting stories, the mansion itself is also an architectural gem, representing one of the best examples of French Empire, Second Revival architecture on the North American Continent. Architecture students from the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri visit the mansion to study its blueprints. And the mansion’s proximity to President Harry S Truman’s home and presidential library make it a popular stop for history buffs.

While the haunting season certainly keeps the mansion buzzing with life, it’s a popular gathering spot during the holidays, too. The Dickens Carolers from Shawnee Mission East High School will fill the home with music during the upcoming Christmas season.

As for Mrs. Vaile, Sadasivan said she’s led many mediums through the mansion — and all agreed she’s still there. Introducing her spirit to visitors is a way to keep Mrs. Vaile — and her home — alive.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Cover photo courtesy of the Vaile Mansion.

Kathryn Deters McDonald is a Missouri native, writer, author and lover of all things spooky, ooky and eerie. Salem, Shmalem. It’s all right here in The Spook-Me State.