Vigo County Historical Society

Stiffy now haunting museum

Legend has it the little bulldog guarding his master’s tomb has been dead for centuries. But a fierce glow in his green glass eyes makes one wonder.

Mary Lou Furnas said those eyes have spooked more than one youngster who sneaked out to the Heinl tomb in Highland Lawn Cemetery for a look at Stiffy Green by flashlight. Husband Robert said it was also fun to speculate on whether the pup had moved since the last visit.

"Everyone knew about Stiffy," Mrs. Furnas said. "That was the thing to do on a date." Unfortunately, vandals threatened the dog’s existence. Stiffy was removed in 1983.

Now the Vigo County Historical Museum has the legend. Heinl’s descendants donated him, and Saturday the museum unveiled "The Haunted Legends of Vigo County," featuring Stiffy and a detailed replica of the Heinl family tomb.

The Furnases have a vested interest. Mrs. Furnas is a member of the Terre Haute Lioness Club, which provided money and labor for the exhibit. Cabinet maker Robert put more than100 hours into creating the crypt.

The Lioness Club, a 66 year-old-legend itself and the first Lions Club auxiliary established, has been a key supporter or the museum, said museum Executive Director David M. Buchanan. Club President Roxe Anne Kesner said members hope the "Haunted Legends" will attract youngsters who haven’t seen the museum, as well as local folks who’ve helped hand down the legends.

Ed Stuck was one of those. Stuck "used to sneak out there" and see Stiffy back in his West Vigo High School days.

Mark and Tammy Ford are linked with another legend. They presently bought a house that belonged to the son of Martin Sheets. Sheets was reportedly so scared of being buried alive that he had a working phone installed in his mausoleum. Strange circumstances involving phones supposedly surrounded his wife’s death years later. The Fords said documents they found in their house gave about eight versions of the story.

Buchanan said that’s typical of haunted legends. To make the museum display, he said a tale had to have a consistent version that survived decades.

And many do. Such as the legend of the dead drag racer peering out from a rock wall on Fruitridge Avenue. Or the tale of the headless engineer. Or the story of the sobbing, faceless nun.

Or the one about the green-eyed bulldog that haunts the museum basement. But of course, that’s just an old ghost story. Nothing to it, really.