Haunted La Crosse: The stories behind the area’s spookiest places

For Michael Scott, a ghost story can be more than just a story. It can also be a way to explore the people, places and history of La Crosse.

Scott, a local storyteller, freelance writer and actor, has spent years collecting stories about the city’s darker past. His interest in storytelling eventually led him to put together a walking tour that combines local history with accounts of potential ghost encounters.

The idea began in 2012, when the La Crosse Public Library approached Scott about developing a walking tour focused on murders, former brothels and other parts of the city’s past. The library’s archives department gathered historical accounts, which Scott used to write the tour’s script...