Karen Bacharach, the owner of the 1891 Castle Inn of New Orleans reports: When we first took over the 1891 Castle Inn in 1998, we had no idea we would be sharing our mansion with spirits -- at least the non flammable kind. When one of our staff repeatedly reported seeing a male apparition standing by the window in Room 11, we did not quite believe it. Then, when guests reported strange occurrences taking place fairly regularly, we began to think that there might be something to it. Our guests and employees reported strange and unexplained encounters: Objects moving by themselves, electric lights and appliances turning on and off on their own, unexplained sounds, lots of footsteps, water faucets turning on and off in empty bathrooms, and brief glimpses of a "transluscent man" standing in corners and on the front porch late at night. What we have learned about our spirits is the result of several ghost researchers' "readings" and testimonials of our guests, visitors and staff. Here is what we think we have: two ghosts -- perhaps more. Dates and names seem to be hard to nail down, but based on the "facts," both of our ghosts left this material world at least 100 years ago -- and probably even longer. Our first ghost was a paid servant, a horse carriage driver, who acted as a gentleman's gentleman. He was a very light skinned black man who spoke several languages, loved the ladies, loved music, drank far too much, smoked and was quite the prankster. Sadly he accidentally killed himself in a smoky fire set either through smoking in bed or by knocking over a heating pot. He was so drunk he did not wake and suffocated to death. His spirit remains in our mansion because it chooses to. After all, he always believed that his rightful place was in the main mansion and not in the servant's quarters. He is the one responsible for the coughing and whistling heard in the hallways, objects moving or being hidden (ask about the receipts in the microwave) and is the "transluscent man" often seen in mirrors or briefly seen out of the corner of guest's eyes. He loves to play with radios, televisions, ceiling fans, and lights. If you can't find an object in your room, look in a drawer or in a place where you would not leave it. (Like the guests who, upon checking out, could not find the receipts of the past four days of shopping and travel which the husband had collected in his wallet. His wife found them all in the microwave after they searched the room from top to bottom.) Our second ghost is a little girl who drowned in a small pond on the former grounds of the local plantation before it was subdivided to make room for a rapidly growing New Orleans. She was wearing a white dress and was barefoot at the time. She wanders the neighborhood in search of her mother and is a frequent visitor to the Castle Inn. She is the one responsible for water turning on and off, women being touched on the leg (as if brushed by a cat), beds bouncing up and down and little bare feet running up and down hallways.
If you're looking for a way to get closer to the colorful history of New Orleans, the landmark
downtown Le Pavillon Hotel might be just
what you're looking for. At least four ghosts have been identified enjoying the hospitality of
Le Pavillon Hotel. The hotel hired professional paranormal investigators at one point to identify
the ghosts. Some of the sighting include a teenage girl named Ada (or Ava), looking lost and
confused. The girl was reportedly set to board a ship when she was struck by a carriage and killed.
She is believed to have lived around the 1840s. An aristocratic couple has also been seen strolling
the grounds. They appear to be from the 1920s. A young man, also appearing to be from the 1920s,
has been reported playing pranks on the hotel cleaning staff. |
Cottage Number 4 in the Hotel Maison de Ville is said to be home to a country music-loving soldier. Dressed in military uniform, the man first appeared to a hotel employee twenty years ago. Reportedly, he changes the radio station to a country music channel and turns up the volume. Known as "One of America's most haunted homes," ghostly activity at the Myrtles Plantation has been widely discussed and documented. A number of theories abound as to why the spot is so haunted. For one thing, ten murders have been committed on this site since the late 1700s. Rumor has it that the site is on top of an ancient Indian burial ground, which of course always spells trouble. The most retold of the stories centers around Cloe, a slave who became the property master's mistress. When the relationship ended, she began eavesdropping on the family. She was caught and as punishment, had one ear cut off and was sent into the fields to work. Soon afterward, Cloe was baking a cake for a family birthday party. She put a small amount of poison into the cake. It is not known if this was for revenge, or if she hoped to make the children just a little sick so she could come back to the main house and take care of them. The family's two children and the mother all ate pieces of the cake, and fell instantly ill. Cloe was indeed asked to take care of them and nurse them back to health. Unfortunately, the wife and two children died. The other slaves, fearful of the plantation owner's wrath, dragged Cloe out of the house and hung her. The ghosts of Cloe, the two children and the mother have all been spotted in and around the house. Other ghostly activity noted at the plantation include the ghost of a French woman who wanders from room to room in search of something (or someone); a ghost at the grand piano who practices one chord over and over again; a portrait that changes expressions; and a young girl who only appears just before thunderstorms.
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