When autumn leaves begin swirling on the sidewalks of downtown Frankfort, Eleanor “Ellie” Hasken-Wagner starts getting excited. The fall season brings a full calendar for the City of Frankfort Museum & Historic Sites supervisor and her staff.
“October has always been my favorite time of year,” Ellie said.
Born to be a folklorist
Ellie’s life has been shaped by a lifelong fascination with legends.
“I grew up loving ghosts, monsters, anything strange,” Ellie recalled. “I watched 40s and 50s sci-fi with my dad. And, I love reading people’s firsthand accounts of the supernatural and how they make sense of the unexplainable. I grew up in an era that looked at different ways of interpreting the world around us.”
After graduating with an anthropology undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree from Western Kentucky University in folk studies, Ellie ultimately earned a doctorate in folklore and ethnomusicology at Indiana University. Her dissertation, “The Migration of a Local Legend: The Case of Mothman,” examined how stories evolve as they move across communities. Ellie has spoken at the Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and has made numerous appearances on podcasts and documentaries about the legend of the large winged creature with glowing red eyes.
“It’s what I’m known for. It makes me happy,” she said.
But, Ellie is quick to point out that folklore isn’t about tricking people or debunking myths.
“Folklore is so broad, but one definition is that it is an artistic communication in small groups,” she explained. “It’s about understanding what stories tell us about being human. Folklore can help people appreciate cultures other than their own.”
Thinking outside the box
When Ellie and her husband, Harry Wagner, moved to Frankfort in 2021, she stepped into a supervisor’s position without traditional museum training, but with a knack for storytelling.
“I’ve always been drawn to stories — to the ways people hold on to their pasts and the ways those pasts shape a community,” she remarked. That love of story found a natural home when Ellie began working at the Capital City Museum located at 325 Ann St.
“I’m a person who likes to jump in and figure things out,” she said. “It really worked in my favor that the museum had just been renovated so the board was motivated to try new things. The interim director, Kelly Everman, gave Ellie some helpful advice.
“Kelly told me, ‘Good things take time. You have to know the lay of the land.’ She is the most amazing person and that advice shaped so much of what I do here.”
Ellie has transformed the museum’s programming to appeal to bourbon tourists, wrestling fans and other audiences who may not normally choose to visit a history museum. One example is “The Lovely Miss Elizabeth” exhibit.
Miss Elizabeth, a Frankfort native and Franklin County High School graduate, grew up as Elizabeth Ann Hulette. She eventually became known as “Miss Elizabeth,” the glamorous wrestling manager who was once married to Randy “Macho Man” Savage and managed Hulk Hogan.
After two of Miss Elizabeth’s dresses were donated to the museum, Ellie decided to create a small temporary exhibit and posted on social media about the costumes.
“Miss Elizabeth’s number one fan, Jeremiah Smith, saw the post and brought friends from around the nation just to see those dresses,” Ellie commented. “You wouldn’t believe how many people come to the museum for that exhibit. We even hosted live wrestling this summer in the parking lot as a tribute to Miss Elizabeth.
“That’s what I love. Finding out-of-the-box ways to bring in people who never imagined they’d come here.”
Celebrating Frankfort the spooky way
The Capital City Museum offers exhibits that celebrate everything from bourbon-making traditions to the city’s role as Kentucky’s political heart. Under Ellie’s leadership, the museum has leaned even further into creating experiences that connect with the community.
“We’re focusing on ways to make history accessible and fun,” Ellie said. “We try to make everything free, or at least have free options. That way, everyone in the community can participate.”
In October, Ellie puts on her podcast hat and hosts the award-winning podcast, “Kentucky Deceased.” She has become something of a familiar voice in Kentucky’s cultural storytelling. The seasonal podcast explores the weird and bizarre stories that have occurred in Frankfort and Franklin County. When ghost stories and folklore dominate conversations, “Kentucky Deceased” brings listeners the kind of stories that “are guaranteed to keep you up at night.”
The Spirit of Frankfort
Ellie, with her folklorist’s eye, has pondered Frankfort’s supernatural landscape.
“What’s interesting is that the ghost stories here aren’t malevolent. I’ve not been told any stories about a violent spirit in Frankfort. If someone has a story like that, please let me know,” she said. “The Gray Lady, for example, is a maternal figure. I think that says something about Frankfort, that it’s a nurturing place, even in its ghost stories.
“Frankfort does have this energy — something ‘other,’ something different. And, I think that spirit is part of what makes the city so special. Frankfort has an engaging and interesting history and the city is built on that history. I feel like Frankfort is winning right now. Our downtown is thriving. I just love Frankfort and I feel so lucky to live here.”
Check out these events that capture the spirit of the season:
- Museum After Dark, 6-9 p.m Oct. 1.: The museum transforms into a lively gathering place with live music, food vendors, a night market, aura photographs, tarot and oracle readings and time to explore the spooky museum after hours.
- Witches Night Out, 6:30-10 p.m. Oct.10: The museum is the starting location for a fun downtown Frankfort cocktail stroll. Costume attire is appropriate but not required. “We sponsor the Leestown Witch part of the event. I love that this event brings hundreds of people to downtown Frankfort,” Ellie said.
- Russ Hatter’s Murder & Mayhem Walking Tour. Every Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in October, except Oct. 31 — the tour will be Wednesday, Oct. 30, instead: This favorite nighttime tour takes those who dare on a walk through Frankfort’s hidden, dark past. Murders, mobs, shoot-outs and more await visitors on this tour through time — weaving together scandal, courtroom drama and folklore. “Russ is so talented and creative,” Ellie commented. “I feel very honored that he chose me to give the tour. He trained me in the ‘Russ Hatter’ way of walking backward, and in late September, you’ll see me walking backward around town, refreshing my memory of the tour.”
- Poetry at the Pub, 7-8 p.m. Oct. 16: Meet at Mortimer Bibbs for spooky readings.
- Haunting on the Hill, Oct. 18; kid-friendly hours are 3-6 p.m.; Spooky trail/after hours are 7-10:30 p.m.: Take a picturesque hayride to Leslie Morris Park for a family-friendly festival on Fort Hill, complete with a trick-or-treat trail, a corn pit, pumpkin painting, face painting, music and crabapple launching. After dark, the park becomes a lantern-lit celebration with spooky trails and an outdoor movie. “It’s everything you want in a fall event in one place for free,” Ellie said. “Many community partners help make Haunting on the Hill a success.”
For more information on the Capital City Museum, call 502-696-0607 or follow the museum on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
