Once upon a time a Hamlet druggist fell in love with his female employee assistant.

He was killed when he went off to serve his country during World War I, and his assistant, who was also his fiancé, was so devastated by the news she hung herself in the store.

Now, every year, on the anniversary of what would have been their wedding, her ghost returns to what is now Mabry’s Drug Store.

It’s stories like those you’ll hear this year during the third annual Hamlet Ghost Walk sponsored by the Hamlet Rotary.

The ghost walk is on Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. The tour will begin at the Hamlet train depot and make its way down the sidewalks of downtown. Roads and train tracks will be closed for the duration of the tour.

The stories told during the tour have come from Rotary members asking residents of Hamlet for local folk-lore and volunteers who write ghost stories. This year, the club has also asked middle school students to write ghost stories.

“The all have at least a thread of truth to them,” said Rotary president-elect Ellyn Brannick. “They’re mostly based on actual people or businesses that existed in the area.”

For this year’s tour, the Rotary is looking to cast about 100 people. Brannick said most of the people who have participated in the previous years have been calling, wondering when they’d be able to take part in the spooky event again.

The casting call is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. outside the Hamlet train depot. Those who are cast will portray one of the many ghosts on this year’s tour. This is a volunteer job and all those cast are required to create or find their own costume for their role.

“We need men, women and children of all ages,” Brannick said. “One story at the train depot is about a New Year’s celebration where the whole town was involved, so you can be 70-years-old or 12 and be a part of this.”

Tickets for the ghost tour are already on sale for $10 per person, or you can purchase a booklet of 10 tickets for $80.

“This is a fundraiser for the Hamlet Rotary which supports local needy causes like the Literacy Council, Backpack Pals, Christian Closet and the women’s crisis center,” Brannick said. “Fundamentally, 100 percent of our proceeds go back into helping the community.”

Interested?

For more information about tickets, or the casting call, contact Brannick at 461-3229.