The true story of the King Opera House ghost
Press Argus-Courier
According to Van Buren Legend, the ghost of a murdered man haunts the King Opera House on Main Street, but the true story of the murder is far different than what has been believed.
The story goes that an actor by the name of Charles Tolson was running away with the daughter of a local doctor whom he had fallen in love with. The doctor then rushed to the depot on horse and buggy and intercepted their departure and proceeded to beat Tolson to death with a horsewhip.
According to Maryl Purvis, director of the A&P Commission in Van Buren, this story is far from the truth.