Just a couple of years ago, Lisa Garrett had never heard of Historic Newburgh, Inc.'s annual Ghost Walks.

But just one year after attending the Ghost Walks for the first time, Garrett was ready to get involved.

"One thing led to another, to another and I ended up getting involved and diving right in with both feet and it's been awesome," she said.

Joe Schitter, on the other hand, has been around the block a couple of times. He's been involved with the Ghost Walks for about a decade.

"When we first moved here, it was the first year that they had it and we actually went to it," Schitter said. "About three years of going to it or four years of going to it, they called me and said, 'Hey, would you be interested in helping?' I said yes and ever since, I've been helping."

Schitter has been involved in many of the aspects of the Ghost Walks - everything from researching the stories to being a tour guide. He said that the ambiance is as much a part of the tours as the stories.

"I think it's just the beautiful walk that you get to go on," Schitter said. "You get to spend an hour or so in downtown Newburgh on a crisp evening, hearing stories that are rather spooky. But, it's just that idea of old downtown Newburgh in October right around Halloween..."

Garrett said that she is most looking forward to putting faces with names, but learning the history of her new hometown has brought about a new love.

"It's really neat, some of the history and things like that," she said. "Growing up, I was never a history buff. History was one of the subjects I just couldn't stand in school. Now it's come full circle. I guess because I'm not getting tested on it, it's just for pure pleasure."

So, with all the history in downtown Newburgh, is it really haunted?

"I definitely believe in ghosts. Sure, I believe there could be (ghosts in downtown Newburgh)," Garrett said. "It's not necessarily bad. I don't know if they're stuck or what. But yeah, I do believe."

Schitter said that he's heard his fair share of strange noises.

"One time, I took a last tour... we were down at (one of the homes) that talks about a screeching noise that is heard and we heard a screeching noise," he said. "We kind of looked at each other and the people on the tour thought it was part of the tour, but it actually wasn't..."

Schitter said that the stories can make a believer out of a staunch skeptic.

"There's things that maybe go bump in the night and strange things that we don't know what they are," he said. "So the skeptic in me likes to find out and look into what's going on. But, definitely, I think there's some unusual things that can't be explained."

The Historic Newburgh, Inc.'s annual Ghost Walks will be held Friday, Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. beginning at Preservation Hall in downtown Newburgh.

Two tours will be available - the State Street tour, which features Newburgh history, Civil War tales, thrills and bedlam; and the Water Street tour, which features mining and river lore, mayhem, mystery and the Underground Railroad. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children and are available in advance by calling 853-2815. A Sunday matinee tour will be available for those who can't or choose not to walk the route. It will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., beginning at Newburgh Town Hall and will use the Newburgh trolley. Tickets for the matinee tours are $5 and must be purchased in advance by calling HNI at 853-2815.