Myrtles Plantation
The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana has had a very interesting history. It has been long known as one of the most haunted houses in America. It was built in 1794 by David Bradford, a successful attorney. After fleeing Washington due to the Whiskey Rebellion, Bradford relocated to Bayou Sarah where he lived in a 8-bedroom house known as "Laurel Grove" only until after he received his pardon from President Adams did he move his wife and kids in with him. He tried to sell his home in Pennsylvania but failed after two years. Instead, he traded it for 230 barrels of flour, since there was a shortage on flour in Louisiana, which was never delivered.
David Bradford occasionally took in students who wanted to study law, including a young man named Clark Woodrooff. On November 19, 1817, Woodrooff married Bradford's daughter Sarah Mathilda and they had three kids. After Bradford died, Clark took over the duties of "Laurel Grove" for his mother-in-law, Elizabeth. Six years later, Sarah Mathilda died from contracting yellow fever as well would two of his three children.
Woodrooff continued to run the plantation and raise his only daughter until he purchased the house and land from Elizabeth. After Elizabeth died, Clark started practicing law and he and his daughter Octavia moved from laurel grove, which was left in the hands of a caretaker until 1833. On January 1, 1834, Laurel Grove was sold to Ruffin Grey Stirling. The Stirlings were a wealthy family that owned many plantations. It was decided that they would remodel laurel grove to fit their social status and the name would change to "Myrtles."
There have been stories of numerous murders that occurred at Myrtles Plantation but actually there was only one. The ghost that appears most often is that of Chloe, a slave woman. During the time when Clark Woodrooff and Sarah Mathilda lived in the house, Chloe was one of the servants there. While Clark was known as a good lawyer, he was also known for being promiscuous. While Sarah was pregnant with their third child, Clark began having an intimate relationship with Chloe but soon grew tired of her and moved on to someone else. Chloe feared that she would be sent to the fields and began to eavesdrop on the families private conversations. Clark caught her and cut off one of her ears to teach her a lesson.
Now no one knows for sure what the motives were behind her next action. Some say it was to get gratitude from Woodrooff and not be sent to the fields. Others say it was strictly out of revenge. But one day Chloe put a tiny bit of poison into a birthday cake meant for Woodrooff's oldest daughter. Sarah and her two kids all ate a slice and later on that day, became very sick. Chloe tended to their needs but before the day was over, all three were dead. Other slaves, afraid for their own lives, dragged Chloe to a nearby tree and hung her. A few days later, she was cut down, weighed down by rocks and thrown into the river. Since that day, the dinning room has never been used for eating meals.
It's obvious that this story has many holes and is more than likely not true, but the ghost of a slave girl does often appear and is even been photographed. As of now, the Myrtles Plantation has been turned into a Bed & Breakfast.
More Info: http://www.prairieghosts.com/myrtles.html
David Bradford occasionally took in students who wanted to study law, including a young man named Clark Woodrooff. On November 19, 1817, Woodrooff married Bradford's daughter Sarah Mathilda and they had three kids. After Bradford died, Clark took over the duties of "Laurel Grove" for his mother-in-law, Elizabeth. Six years later, Sarah Mathilda died from contracting yellow fever as well would two of his three children.
Woodrooff continued to run the plantation and raise his only daughter until he purchased the house and land from Elizabeth. After Elizabeth died, Clark started practicing law and he and his daughter Octavia moved from laurel grove, which was left in the hands of a caretaker until 1833. On January 1, 1834, Laurel Grove was sold to Ruffin Grey Stirling. The Stirlings were a wealthy family that owned many plantations. It was decided that they would remodel laurel grove to fit their social status and the name would change to "Myrtles."
There have been stories of numerous murders that occurred at Myrtles Plantation but actually there was only one. The ghost that appears most often is that of Chloe, a slave woman. During the time when Clark Woodrooff and Sarah Mathilda lived in the house, Chloe was one of the servants there. While Clark was known as a good lawyer, he was also known for being promiscuous. While Sarah was pregnant with their third child, Clark began having an intimate relationship with Chloe but soon grew tired of her and moved on to someone else. Chloe feared that she would be sent to the fields and began to eavesdrop on the families private conversations. Clark caught her and cut off one of her ears to teach her a lesson.
Now no one knows for sure what the motives were behind her next action. Some say it was to get gratitude from Woodrooff and not be sent to the fields. Others say it was strictly out of revenge. But one day Chloe put a tiny bit of poison into a birthday cake meant for Woodrooff's oldest daughter. Sarah and her two kids all ate a slice and later on that day, became very sick. Chloe tended to their needs but before the day was over, all three were dead. Other slaves, afraid for their own lives, dragged Chloe to a nearby tree and hung her. A few days later, she was cut down, weighed down by rocks and thrown into the river. Since that day, the dinning room has never been used for eating meals.
It's obvious that this story has many holes and is more than likely not true, but the ghost of a slave girl does often appear and is even been photographed. As of now, the Myrtles Plantation has been turned into a Bed & Breakfast.
More Info: http://www.prairieghosts.com/myrtles.html
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