Sarah Ashley - Haunted Louisiana Ghost Stories and Paranormal Activity from the State (Haunted States Series)

Ghost Stories and Paranormal Activity fromthe State of Louisiana

By: Sarah Ashley

#2 in the Haunted States Series

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 by Sarah Ashley

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Louisiana is one of the most captivating andvisually stunning states in the South, with a long and fascinatinghistory that has meshed cultures, religions, and races. Several ofher oldest cities, including New Orleans, Shreveport, and thecapital city of Baton Rouge are the most populated. Many residentsare descendents of the 18th century Native Americans, Africancultures, the Spanish, the French, and of course, Americanancestry. While English is the main language of Louisiana,inhabitants of certain sections of the state speak French, or Cajunand Creole French.

Since the 1600s, American pioneers, settlers,sailors, pirates and tradesmen have ventured into Louisianaterritory, situated along the Gulf of Mexico and bordered by Texasto the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east.The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico that cradle Florida, theCaribbean and numerous outlying islands brought sea traffic,privateers, and pirates from afar.

Louisiana is a land of swamps, bayous andwetlands, and drier ground as you head north from the gulf.Beaches, barrier islands, coastal marshlands and swamplands covernearly 20,000 square miles of this state, and have been used asshelters and hideouts for more mysterious segments of society forgenerations. The subtropical weather, humid climate, and the long,hot and muggy summers in Louisiana often test the tempers and thepatience of even longtime residents.

Some of the earliest inhabitants of Louisianawere the French and the Spanish. Native American contact led tonumerous conflicts, skirmishes, and deaths. French Acadians knownas Cajuns have long settled along the edges and interiors ofsouthern Louisiana swamplands. Creoles, a term that refers tomixed-race individuals born in Louisiana with ancestors fromEurope, also settled in this area.

Louisiana, therefore, offers an interestingand diverse mix of culture, background, history and tradition.Legends, superstitions, and belief systems from the Caribbean,Africa, Native American Indians, French, Spanish and Americansettlers have all morphed to create a unique atmosphere inLouisiana.

Perhaps for this reason and due to its uniqueblend of inhabitants, Louisiana is also known as one of the mosthaunted states in America. Rumors of haunts and paranormal activitysurround a plethora of former plantations, military forts, homes,and taverns throughout the state, and sometimes numerous locationswithin one town.

Louisiana has become a favorite tourist spot,not only for those who want to experience the history and beautythe state has to offer, but also for those who are seeking thespirits of those who have departed before us.

Plantations scattered throughout Louisianawere built during different eras; from the early 1600s to the early1800s. While many of them are gone, long ago razed, demolished, orovertaken by native Louisiana vines, shrubs and neglect, othersstill stand today in various states of repair, or disrepair. Manyhave been reclaimed, renovated and reconstructed throughout thestate, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich and diverse pastof Louisiana residents. Today, many of those former plantations arealso haunted.

The Myrtles Plantation

Location:

7747 US Highway 61

St. Francisville, LA 70775

It seems appropriate to begin this book abouthaunted Louisiana with the tale of one of the most reputedlyhaunted former plantations in the state - Myrtles Plantation.General David Bradford constructed the plantation in 1796. At thetime, the residence was known as Laurel Grove. The home, now over200 years old, is on the National Registry, and operates as a bedand breakfast, as well as a destination event location for weddingsand receptions.

The Myrtles Plantation has been visited bynumerous ghost hunters, and paranormal research experts in thecountry. Profiled on such shows as SyFys Ghost Hunters,Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures, as well as the LearningChannel, National Geographic Explorer and a television showcalled the Haunting of Louisiana, the Myrtles Plantationoffers not only a unique glimpse into Louisiana's past, butinteraction with a few ghosts along the way.

For generations, visitors of variouslocations throughout the property and home experience apparitions,strange smells, sounds of footsteps meandering up and down thestairs, as well as the appearance of handprints in mirrors.Interestingly, while the plantation property itself has beenreputed to be haunted for generations, some of the more commondetails of ghostly apparitions and happenings are not even 60 yearsold.

According to legend, the Myrtles Plantationis believed to have experienced nearly a dozen murders since 1794,although to date, only one murder has been historically verified.Owner David Bradford did not occupy the house for long, as he wasinvolved in the Whiskey Rebellion and had a bounty placed on hishead. (We encourage our readers to delve into history and read upabout the Whiskey Rebellion, suppressed by President GeorgeWashington.) Eventually, Bradford was pardoned for his role in theWhiskey Rebellion by President John Adams.

General Bradford died and Laurel Grove waspassed on to his daughter and her husband. They, in turn, sold theproperty, and it came into the ownership of the Stirling family,who nearly doubled the size of the structure and changed the nameto Myrtles Plantation. During the ensuing years, the home changedhands several more times. People died in the house (one young childdied from typhoid fever), and another man was shot and killed onthe porch.

Today, Myrtles Plantation is alleged to behaunted by at least a dozen ghosts. As the plantation house sits ontop of an Indian mound, surrounded by massive, moss-draped oaks andaromatic crepe myrtle trees, the plantation and surroundingproperty is more than beautiful by day and definitely unsettling bynight. A veranda extends around the outside of the mansion,complete with wrought iron railings and porch rockers.

Visitors, ghost hunters, and paranormalinvestigators to the plantation have recorded many claims ofhauntings and paranormal activity, including manifestations. Themost common include:

A black woman wearing a green turban is oftenseen wandering around the mansion during the evening hours. Somevisitors claim that the woman, a French/Malabo babysitter orgoverness named Chloe, is the culprit who often wakes them duringthe night while arranging mosquito netting around their beds.Apparently, Chloe was supposed to have been involved in an affair(most likely unwillingly) with Bradford's son-in-law, JudgeWoodruff. He cut off her ear and ended their affair after he caughther eavesdropping at one of his meetings.