The spirits of criminals past will haunt the Jacksonville Museum this weekend during a ghoulish part-nership between a fledg-ling Medford theater group and the Southern Oregon Historical Society.
"Dr. Maximillion's Museum of Un-Natural History" will be open from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, at the museum on the corner of Fifth and C streets, Jacksonville.
Maximillion, a mix of Edgar Allen Poe and Dr. Frankenstein, will lead visitors on a tour through history and the passageways of what used to be the county courthouse, now haunted by criminals such as Louis O'Neil seeking vengeance.
O'Neill was accused of murdering Lewis McDaniel in Ashland on Nov. 20, 1884. He was tried and convicted at the courthouse and hung from the gallows outside.
"From the beginning it's a twisted plot line, and it's more fun than your traditional haunted house that you walk through and get scared," said Robin Downward, Second Stage Community Theater's artistic and business director.
Downward recruited actors, wrote the script and prepared the special effects while SOHS provided the venue.
Admission is $6; $3 for children under 42 inches in height. The program is not recommended for children younger than age 6.
Proceeds will benefit SOHS and the theater. Call 899-8123 or visit www.sohs.org.