Dave Hunter is the award-winning author of “Along Interstate-75” and “Along Florida’s Expressways” the quintessential guides for those driving to and in Florida. With his researcher wife Kathy, he enjoys travelling with history, gathering unusual andmysterious local stories. The Hunters winter in Lakeland, Florida. And now we have a ghost story. Tarleton Oak was reputedly haunted by a gray-uniformed Confederate soldier, who had been seen by a number of unsuspecting guests, descending the main staircase and passing into the front “surgical” room before vanishing. Fox News had conducted an investigation which led to some unusual observations. I mention this because at the time, I produced live radio segments for morning drivetime host Bill King of WEOL-AM in Cleveland, Ohio. We called these “On the Road with Dave.” We decided to do a live show about Gone with the Wind and Tarleton Oaks, so I set up my remote radio gear in a corner of the library, beside an arch through which the staircase was visible. During the broadcast, Bill and I were chatting about the hauntings when in my peripheral vision, I saw a gray shape coming down the staircase. “Bill, it’s happening,” I stammered as my adrenaline hit an all-time high. To my relief, it was Fred dressed in a gray jogging outfit; he could never resist an openmic and was coming down to join the show. We had a wonderful time as he regaled the Ohio audience with behind-thescenes stories from Gone with the Wind. Fred and Terry were always fun to be with. He never exploited his role in public, which made him a very comfortable companion; he generously autographed a number of photos to Kathy and me, some of which are reproduced in the article. Sadly, he passed away in August 2008. Terry closed the B&B and we all like to think that our dear friend has gone with the wind to a final resting place in the sky. Fred and Terry relaxing after a fun evening together. CSANews | FALL 2022 | 25 Travel
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