Winery Named Business of the year

Dozier's Winery picked because of innovation, community service

By Chuck Smith -- City Editor Great Bend (Kan) Tribune

    Innovation, community service, customer service and other business qualities were stipulated about an Ellinwood firm that was named the 2002 Barton Business of the year today.
    Dozier Winery of rural Ellinwood received a dozen nominations forthe honor in the county program.
    Community Development Director Mysty Rusk Stated that the nominations for Dozier Winery included glowing reports about the efforts of Bruce and Nina Dozier in the development of an important local tourism attraction from a basement hobby.
    An old railroad depot was utilized on their property south of Ellinwood where a gift shop, walk path, and other attractions were added for those who come to visit. Arrangements are made for special meals to be held there, also.
    The winery has had visitors from all but three states and from eight foreign nations as well, and the quality of its wine is also becoming well known. It is being featured in local liquor stores as well as sold by the drink in local restaurants.
    Ellinwood City Manager Bob Peter called the winery a "tremendous asset" to the business community in Ellinwood and elsewhere in the area as it continues to act as a tourism attraction.
    Commissioner Kirby Krier said it was with Dozier winery in mind that he first became interested in the business recognition program two years ago because of the example that was set with it. He congratulated the Doziers for their efforts in developing the business as area tourism attraction and for their involvement in area tourism efforts.
    Rusk told commissioners that a plaque that has been specially designed for the winery is being commissioned and when it is ready, commissioners will meet at the winery to make the formal presentation.

Great Bend Tribune    October 31, 2002

Seasonal Spirits, Ghostly figure rumored to haunt area winery makes unexpected appearance to local photographer

by Louann Cobb

According to folklore, a young woman died from a broken heart after the death of her betrothed.  Dressed in her wedding gown with a preacher by her side, she waited on the platform of the small Midwester town depot station for the arrival of her beau, looking forward to their marriage before he would again depart for war.  She was overcome with grief as the train passed her by without stopping, instead carrying her lover off to war and eventually his untimely death.  Distraught, she haunted the town looking for him.  The depot was later moved to its current location south of Ellinwood and her spirit followed, continuing its search for her beloved.  Hopes were that he would return to her at the one familiar site that so quickly took him away.
Over the years many people claim to have seen this fair maiden ghost.  Dressed in a white flowing gown, she quietly moves, slithering in and out of the prairie landscapes in search of him.
Some people think these are the tallest of tales, an exaggeration of a story told before, while to others who have seen her, a mystery of their encounter, each a truth with intriguing circumstances.
If you have no fear, come along.  Do you believe.....

The Beginning -- an Anonymous Tale
A young man grew up on the banks of the Pawnee River North of Rozel in 1926.
As a young lad, he recalled many stories told by his family who had lived in the area two generations before him.
To his recollection, a ghost was seen by many around the town's 1910 Santa Fe Depot station.
As the tale goes, the station was named after the depot master's daughter Rozella, but as to whether the ghostly creature was the hightly speculated ghost bride is unknow to this day.
the depot was later moved, leaving a hollow spot amidst the towering white grain elevators at the town's entrance.  While many of its residents are unable to recall the incident today, the mere fact of its possible existence has created an air of curiosity among the citizens.

Starting Over
"I never saw the ghost,"  she said.  "I remember a discussion one night -- talking about good ghosts, bad ghosts and spirits.  I'm not sure about ghosts, but yes, there are angels/spirits.  I never saw her."
When the depot was moved in 1984, a path had to be cleared just to get it in.  It was placed on the property north of the big oak trees facing the road.  Reflections from the pond were vivid from the open depot windonws and the newly purchased homestead was full of trees and wildlife.  it was almost as if it belonged there.
"My husband always wanted to do something special with it,"  she said  "There were visions of a train.  Passengers would load up by the road and ride to the front of the depot.  he had plans to fix it up, maybe even a restaurant.  he wanted to make it a special place."
The whole time they lived there, nothing unusual happened with the ghost but she did recall the story.  Her husband marveled at the tale and was happy to share it with friends.  "He had fun with the story."
There were other small buildings on the property, walking paths -- lots of nature.  At one time she recalled so many deer and turkey that the whole ground was black.  The wandering ghost continued to be a haunting mystery.

The Ghost at the End of the Road
The road was narrow and long.  A grove of trees hung low over the curving path that wound around to the top of the hill.  On one cold, damp afternoon the winds whistled through the branches of the trees as the skies turned gray.
A young mother was bathing her young daughter while her two sons frolicked in the front yard.
"I remember it was during the equinox,"  she said.  "I believe 1999.  I saw it for what I thought it was."
She recalled that the younger son came rushing into the house insisting that she come out and see.  She passed it off.  But they were insistent.  Finally she went out and walked up the long pathway from the house.
The skies were dark and at the end of the driveway she could see a white image with no face.  Standing at the base of the driveway, it levitated above the ground.  "It got really translucent and just hovered there,"  she said.  "I was just 50 feet  from her.  If I had known what I was going to see, I would not have gone so far out."
She thought to herself that she was not really seeing what she was seeing.  "I felt a presence, there was something ghostly about it.  The dog would not quit barking.
"We did not talk about it for the longest time and then she asked her oldest son what he saw.  it came up the north hedge row and was gravitating toward the house according to him.  When he described what she had seen, her thoughts were confirmed.  it floated through the trees.
Se recalled another incident while children were in the basement of the house watching TV.  She remembered feeling a cool breeze pass through her.  When she went to the basement to check on the children, they thought she had already been down there.  They thought that they had seen her and heard something brush by earlier.
This mother of three felt like it was a friendly spirit.  "Spirits are all around us," she said.  "Kids bring the spirits out."

The Lady in the Middle of the Road
"Coming home one night I saw her," the young woman siad.  "She was wandering in the middle of the road.  She was dressed in long flowing white dress and carried flowers.  She had a white drape over her face.  She had no hands -- no feet.
"I saw her at least two or three times a month for quite a while,"  she said.  "She was always away from the road.  She always crossed from the left side of the road to the right.
During one encounter the ghost was right beside her car.  She never disappeared, but just stood there.  The young woman never got out of her car.

More than 20 encounters with the ghost
He commented that he had not seen her for some time.  "We kept track on our calendar.  it had to be at least six years ago," he said.  "I've seen her at least 20 times in the past five or six years."
When I saw her, she was close to the winery,"  he said.  She stood on the side of the road and was wearing a long wedding dress, carrying a bouquet of flowers.  it was almost like a soft cloud.  I had to go around her.  She did not move.  I was never brave enough to stop and get out."
He was aware of the story of the young bride.  As to his own theory, he had none.
"She seemed to float," he said.  "And when I passed her, her head would turn, she would watch you come and she would watch you go."
He never told his wife.  he thought that she would not believe him or think that he was really crazy.  it was only later that he learned that his wife had seen the very same thing.

The Newest Encounter
The family had just recently purchased the two-story house at the end of the long winding path lined with tall sweeping trees.  They were never told of the haunted ghost stories that surrounded their dwelling.
Six months earlier, their daughter, son-in-law and two children lived there for a short time.  It was during that time the oldest daughter had an encounter with the ghost.  As she rocked her younger sister, she could see a woman's shadow move up the stairs.
On two occasions the toilet seat in the bathroom slammed shut in the middle of the night.
the wife remembered another unusual unexplained incident involving her husband's decoys.  "He usually keeps them on the west side of the garage," she said.  Upon returning home from work one day she saw them all lined up in a row along the drive facing the north.
When she questioned her husband, he thought that it was just the wind.  She remarked how they were neatly standing in a row and facing to the north.  to this day, it is still a mystery.
"It would not bother me if we had a ghost in the house.  I would welcome her,"  she said.  She seems like a friendly ghost.

The Ghost Bride
It has been some time since the ghost bride has been spotted.  But over the past 27 years, neighbors have had experienced misplaced items in their homes; objects moving, falling, crashing, from room to room; and images that appear to be spirit-like roaming about the nightfall.
The chilling reality is that there may just be something going no that cannot be explained.
Bruce and Nina Dozier, owners of Dozier Winery, have recalled tables on the property being misplaced on numerous occasions.  Even though they have not seen the popular "spirit of the past," they have felt her ghostly presence.
A ghost or spirit-like paranormal may be within this community.  She has manifested herself to some.  To this day, however, there has been no explanation or revelation, only the experiences and stories that have been passed along.  Judge for yourself and have a ghostly Halloween.

Reporter lands a ghost story of her own

When I was asked by my boss to cover the ghost story, I was excited.  I enjoy writing features and this one would be a challenge.  I prepared for it like any other story but with one minor problem.
I needed a spooky picture and quite franly, a picture of a building was not the impression I was wanting to portray to the readers.
I needed a ghost -- but where would I find one?
The sheet idea did not appeal to me so I put my creative juices to work and decided to make one.
I borrowed a woman's bodyform from a local store and draped her in a gauze-like dress from the early 30's.  I made a head using a roll of toilet paper covered in polyfill and attached to the bodyform.
The hair was easy, just a cotton mop and a veil of lace draped over her face to make her complete.  After all, this is what everyone I had spoken to thus far said that she looked like as far as I could tell.
I waited for an evening with a full moon to set the mood and took out for the winery.  The evening was cool when I arrived and Nina and Bruce Dozier were not on site, only two dogs and many, many cats.
I took the bodyform from the car and assembled her placement in front of the depot -- as if she were waiting there for the betrothed.  I attached an antique parasol to her back. 
By this time the Dozier's had heard me.  We stood waiting for the moon to appear.  I envisioned the perfect picture -- the depot, the ghost and the full moon.  My camera was ready to go.
"Do you like cats, LouAnn?"  Nina asked.
"Well, they're not my favorite but they're okay." I replied.
"Well look at your car," she said.
As I turned around, to much amazement, my entire car was covered with cats.  They were everywhere -- the hood, roof, trunk, climbing up the attenna, pawing at the windows, under the tires -- everywhere.
Intrigued, I began taking picturesof the cats.  As I approached the car to get a closer shot, several jumped off.
"They (the cats) have never done this before,"  she said.  They were acting strange, as if something or someone was out there.
And the mannequin ghost -- there was one particular cat that would not leave it alone.  the behavior was peculiar.
By that time it was dark and I could not really see what I was taking pictures of.
The moon never did appear while I was there but I continued taking pictures until the camera's memory chip was full. 
Little did I know that when I returned to the office with my camera, i would be in for a big surprise.
There were approximately 25 pictures total.  One particular picture stood out from the rest.  on one of the pictures of the cats there was a large white faded blob high in the tree.  I knew there was no foreign matter or water spots on the camera lens and it appreared to be the only frame with this large, unexplained dot -- or so I thought.
When I zoomed in on it you could still see the leaves on the trees.  It was transparent and you could see the leaves on the trees.  I showed it to another reporter.
"You've caught the spirit," she said.
We have since studied all of the pictures and there are other unexplained photos.  That transparent blob in other photos -- in various shapes and in different places.
One final note.  When I arrived that evening and got out of my car, I left the driver's door open while removing the mannequin from the back seat.
As I was preparing to leave and had gotten back into my car, the keys were not in the ignition.  We hunted all over for them.  I began to panic.  i am known for misplacing my keys but on that particular night, I never took them out.
Finally Bruce went for a flashlight and we began searching  -- everywhere.  Lodged well under the back tire of the car were my keys.  I was nevre close to that part of the car and you had to bend over and reach in to get them.
I made another trip to the winery last night t see if there could have been anything that might have caused these peculiarities -- there were none.
Was it a ghost ... you be the judge.

Great Bend Tribune    November 4, 2002

Who ya going to call?  Ghost busters descend on local winery on a quest for paranormal activity

by Louann Cobb

As a young boy, Alan Reeves was fascinated by the paranormal.  While classmates perfected the three R's, he was busy learning everything he could about ghosts, hauntings, UFO's and aliens.  His wife Tina, grew up in a haunted house seeing shadows and hearing unexplained noises.  The mystery intrigued both of them throughout their childhoods.  
This past weekend the couple, along with several area reporters, went on a ghost hunt at the Dozier Winery south of Ellinwood, an area believed to have paranormal activity with spottings by several residents of the "ghost bride".  The couple has studied this penomena for over 25 years and began performing professional investigations in may of 1999.
Hauntings ahve taken them to areas in Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and as far as Scotland.
Reeves recalled the scariest hunt -- a haunted cemetery in Kentucky rumored to be one of the seven gateways to hell.  "There were noises and moaning sounds,"  he said.  "It was the creepiest feeling that we had being there."
Special equipment is used during a hunt.  The electric magnetic field detector (EMH) measures the electronic fields emitted by spirits.  "Basically, it is a ghostbuster that allows us to know when there is something in the area that needs pictures or video for documentation," he said. 
Cameras of all types are acceptable from the most expensive digital to the convenience store disposable.  "We seem to get the best results with a digital camera,"  he said.  "However, the 35 mm or APS offers the best source for documentation and credibility."
Audio machine used for electronic voice phenomena, flashlights, motion detectors, thermometers and compass are also used.  The compass is important as it operates on the magnetic pulls of the earth.  When a spirit interferes with that energy, the compass spins uncontrollably. 
The easiest way for a spirit to manifest is through an "orb" or small to large moonlike ball.  As they become more powerful and grow in density, they take on a mistylike appearance or figure, known as ectoplasma.  In rare cases, they take on the actual form they were in real life.  The spirit also takes on the personality as it was in real life -- good people/good spirits, bad people/bad spirits. 
Reeves cautioned people to not mistake these spirits with those of the demonic kind.  Demonic spirits like pain, suffering and despair,"  he said.
Reeves said that most people do not understand what they, "seekers," do.  "Society as a large part has a tendency to not question things, but we need to,"  he said.  "That's how we grow and evolve."
"We (Tina and I) never preach that you should believe in the paranormal, but people should be open to it,"  he said.
This past weekend a few people got the opportunity to spend an evening with real ghost busters.  They learned about the paranormal and saw first hand for themselves how spirits manifest.
For the few who may not have been believers, the opportunity presented itself.  Based on the paranormal that was seen and recorded, there is definitely something in the air.
Reeves and his wife Tina can be contacted at www.seekersoftheunknown.com.

The Ellinwood Leader   November 7, 2002

Reporters investigate ghosts

The Will-O-the Wisps of the North Country might be what the explorers of Dozier Winery and Vineyard woods were seeking last weekend.  A contingent of folks included Alan and tina Reeves members of the Seekers of the Unknown from Overland Park, Lou Ann Cobb from the Tribune, Bridgette Ditmer, Derrick Schaller, Derrick Werner and Shelda Slifer from the Interrobang from Barton County Junior College and a reporter from The Leader.
Ditmer said, "Originally, I was assigned a seasonal story about the Blue Light Lady in Hays, but decided a local story would be of a lot more interest.  I learned of Dozier Winery and its Bride Ghost became my subject."
The Overland Park couple put special sensors in the depot.  The Reeves say they use electromagnetic field detectors, cameras, videocameras with infrared night vision, audio recorders, digital thermometers, and compasses.   The group went on a trek down the trail through the wooded area.  Some were in hopes of seeing the famed bride ghost which first is said to have appeared in this area when Wally Jenisch moved in the depot from Rozel.
As they trouped along some noted a compass did not always show true north.  Others saw an electromagnetic idnicator gauge fluctuate and spike.  Some were shooting flash photos at random, others were tasking photos when the meter fluctuated.  One's shoes squished, squished along while others flashlights shone through the woods. 
The Leader reporter states:
Fact:  a compass must be held level and away from any steel to get a true reading.
Happening:  The compass showed strange readings but there was enough steel close to it to have that happen.
Fact:  The electromagnetic field indicator, according to the investigators, was not supposed to be sensitive to electronic equipment.
Happening:  One of the digital video cameras was in front of the meter.  Both had crazy readings.
Fact:  If you are trying to approach an object, spook or not, unnoticed, and you do not want to be detected in a woods you practice noise and light discipline.  Only one flashlight is the maximum number used and it would have a red or green filter on the lens.
Happening:  The group had several flashlights with clear lenses.  They could be heard a long ways away-at least several hundred yards.
Fact:  Fine mist reflects light.
Happening:  Cameras flashes went off and the light was reflected in the mist although it was not solid mist due to incomplete cover of trees.
Fact:  Any depression or lower area in fall and spring especially has quite a temperature differential from a higher area.
Happening:  Some noticed feeling cooler in the lower areas.
Fact:  Battery life for automatic cameras is not long at the best of times.
Happening:  Some complained about the short batter life but left the cameras on for the entire trek.
Fact:  Motion detectors and tape recorders were placed in the depot.  The depot was secured.
Happening:  No previous stories have the bride ghost in the depot.  She is usually going across the field or in the road.

Interrobang? (Barton County Community College)  Nov. 14, 2002

Ghost Hunters Look for Bride

It is a well-known tale around here, but for ghostbusters Alan and Tina Reeves of Overland Park, the story of the Bride hanting the depot at the Dozier Vineyard and Winery in Ellinwood held real intrigue. 
After researching stories about strange phenomena on the Seekers of the Unknown website hosted by the Reeves, the Interrobang invited the couple to investigate the story.  They arrived with special equipment for a night-time check on Nov. 2.
The Reeves became interested in the paranormal as children and have been conducting investigations since May 1999.  Tina grew up in a haunted house and Alan has devoured books about paranormal activity since he was old enough to read.  They built a web site, www.seekersoftheunknown.com, dedicated to their passion two years ago.  Since the site has been up, the Reevees have learned about more than 50 haunted sites in Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York and even Scotland.
"I never preach that people should believe, but I think they should be open to it and actually look at it before making a decision," siad Alan.
The couple says searching the paranormal is a bonus to their lives, even though they don't make any money from it.  They both have regular jobs to pay the bills.
"Based upon the evidence we collected, I would definitely say it's haunted,"  Alan said.
A member of the group captured an image of something in the driver seat of a car on a digital camera.  Although it can't be proven what the image was, everyone who saw it agreed it was unusual. 
It was a cold night at the winery and the woods were pitch black.  Everyone carried flashlights and Alan carried an EMF detector, which measures electro-magnetic fields.
"It spiked up in the middle of the woods, but after all the camera flashes, it quit reading energy,"  Alan said.
When the team made it back to the cabin, everyone was frozen and unsatisfied with the results.  After warming up, they returned to the darkness for a second attempt on contact with The Bride.  They sat in front of the depot and spoke to her in an attempt to get results. 
"It was a successful hunt in many aspects and we were able to gather a lot of documentation,"  Alan said.
In the end, the Reeves got what they were looking for and are hoping to visit the winery again soon.  They are also looking to add members to their group to cover more area. 
"For the believer no amount of proof is necessary.  For the skeptic no amount of proof is suffieient," Alan said.

Interrobang!?    October 31, 2002

Bride haunts depot

A woman in white, perhaps a bride, wanders the old train depot waiting for her World War II soldier to arrive for their wedding.  Sadly, he never shows up and, even sadder, she never stops waiting. 
This particular ghost haunts the Dozier Vineyard near Ellinwood.  People who have seen her have named her the Lady in White and The Bride.
Her life was a tragic story that continued into her afterlife; she will wander the depot for eternity.
During WWII  woman was to be married on the platform at the train depot, which was originally located at Rozel. 
Her fiance was on the East Coast preparing to join the war.  He was to stop in Rozel to be married and spend some time with his bride before going overseas.
While the young man was enroute to his wedding, the government froze all the train stops.  All he could do was wave at his beloved as the train sped by.
He was tragically killed on his first mission in Bilver Seas.
His bride roamed the streets of Rozel, focusing on the depot.  Eventually, she went mad with grief.
She was last seen wandering the street in her wedding dressbefore she mysteriously died.  Some say she died of a broken heart.
This tale was retold by Bruce Dozier, winery owner; and the Seekers of the Unknown.  The Seekers, who are ghost hunters, are interested in the story and will arrive on Saturday to investigate the claim. 
The depot was moved from Rozel in 1982 to Ellinwood when Wally Jenisch purchased it.  The Bride came with the building and continues searching for her lost love.
The Doziers bought the property from Jenisch five years later.  They had just confirmed the deal on the land, when they heard the story of the Bride.  Since then the Doziers have noticed strange occurrences, but they have yet to see the bride personally.
The actual time frame in which this story has evolved is unknown.  The tale originated in Rozel and continues to thrive in its new location with the depot.
Neighbors living close to the winery also have had experiences with The Bride.  A woman and her two sons saw her walking on the property.  One of the boys used a flashlight on her and she dissapated.
"It certainly makes life more interesting to have a ghost in the neighborhood," said softball coach Tom Curtis.
The winery offers tours of the area and even has walking trails through the woods.
"The best time to see here is during the spring and fall equinox or during the night,"  Bruce Dozier said.
Anyone brave enough to check it out personally can call Dozier Vineyard Winery (620)564-0195.

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