Painted Lady Bed & Brew in Albuquerque hosted a “Ghosts of Old Town Albuquerque” talk on Thursday, Oct. 10 as a part of its ongoing “Brews and Boos” event series. Cody Polston — an author, paranormal investigator and ghost tour guide — gave a talk to Painted Lady’s patrons on the various ghosts and ghost stories surrounding Old Town Albuquerque.
The talk featured and retold several iconic ghost stories from Old Town. One ghost featured was that of Milton Yarberry, New Mexico’s first constable — a type of law enforcement officer — who was hanged for murder. He haunts the area near where he was hanged, which is now the parking lot behind La Hacienda.
Allegedly, the ghost will appear to people in the parking lot in a black suit and hat and ask them, “Have you paid the toll?” referencing not the parking meters, but the cost of their sins. Then, he disappears.
Another was the story of the Hatchet Woman, a ghostly woman who allegedly appears near a barn behind La Placita Dining Rooms in Old Town. The most dramatic — and therefore popular — version of the story is that the woman caught her lover being unfaithful and murdered him with a hatchet. However, no such murder is historically documented, casting doubt on the narrative.
Another version of the story says that lovers can go to the barn to see the future of their relationship. If the woman will be unfaithful, a ghost — or a witch, as some versions go — will mark her with a red handprint on her back. If the man will be unfaithful, he will be marked with scratches down his back.
Polston was told the latter version of the story by a tour-goer, who said he pretended to be the ghost to help his older brother break up with his girlfriend.
Old Town allegedly has so many ghosts because of its history; it was Albuquerque’s red-light district, an area of a town known for speakeasies and prostitution, making it a hot spot for historical violence and restless spirits.
“I like ghost stories with some sort of historical significance,” Polston said. “I think it’s fun because the ghost story preserves that little piece of history for us.”
The Painted Lady itself has a haunted history, making it the perfect location for spooky-themed events all year.
Owner Jesse Herron said he purchased the Painted Lady in 2014. At the time, he said it was “a neighborhood eyesore,” but it had a fascinating history.
It was formerly a saloon and brothel, and it accommodated notorious historical figures such as Billy the Kid. The Painted Lady is allegedly haunted by multiple spirits and has coffee cans full of cash buried all around the premises.
“I think it’s a cool space for people who are into the paranormal. We’ve created a community for them to come together and enjoy something and learn something,” Herron said. “We’re spooky year-round.”
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Polston thinks people believe in ghosts and fixate on haunted places for a few reasons, he said.
“One: belief in the afterlife. It’s going to be in their world view. Also, I think it’s a way of trying to deal with death,” Polston said. “When I die, I’m not gone. There’s a part of me that’s still there.”
Most people, though, look at it as a form of entertainment and fun, Polston said.
The Painted Lady will continue to host events, including more ghost talks, open mic nights and scary movie showings throughout the year.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
