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Description:
New Orleans is a city that has a unique
historical blend of mysterious voodoo and slavery in its past, which means
that many of its haunted places, houses, and ghosts are created as a result
of this colorful, if macabre history. Almost all of the old houses in
the city have a ghost or two hanging around. The attitude of the people
who live there was expressed by an owner of a haunted house: "In
New Orleans, the ghosts are a part of the package. We just move in and
they usually make room for us."
Well - known Haunted Places
I) St. Louis Cemetery, Saint John's
Bayou and Laveau House - are the favorite haunts of the famous voodoo
priestess, Marie Laveau, who practiced her craft, as early as 1830, in
the Congo square area.
Location:
The French Quarter
History:
Marie led voodoo dances in the square,
and sold charms and potions from her house on Saint Ann street. She also
held rites at Saint John's Bayou, that included naked dancing around bonfires,
orgies, and animal sacrifices. Some say she had power over some police
and judges, and was able to save some criminals from the hangman.
Manifestations:
Place: Saint John's Bayou -
* On Saint John's Eve, her spirit can
be heard singing there.
Still Haunted?
Yes.
Place: At the Laveau House - Location:
1020 St. Ann Street, New Orleans, LA. 70116.
*Some people report that the spirit
of Marie and her followers still conduct wild voodoo ceremonies this
house.
* Her detailed apparition has
been seen walking down St. Ann Street, attired in a long white dress,
wearing her tignon, which is a scarf with seven knots in it.
* In a drug store on St. Anne
Street, her apparition slapped a man in the face when he failed to
acknowledge her presence. She then floated to the ceiling. The owner
of the store witnessed the whole thing.
Still Haunted?
Yes.
  
Place: Saint Louis Cemetery
Marie Laveau died in the late 1880's
and was buried in one of two places, a marked tomb or an unmarked grave.
Her daughter is thought to be buried in the marked tomb.
* Her distinctive apparition has
been seen in the area of the unmarked grave.
* She slapped a man who was passing
by her grave.
* Some say she turns herself into
a black crow or a big black dog. Both such animals have been seen
roaming the cemetery.
* Many believe that her death
didn't stop her from practicing her black magic, using the powers
of darkness. Many people leave notes, requests, and offerings on her
grave and tomb.
Still Haunted?
Yes
 
2) The Beauregard - Keyes House -
Location:
Can be found across from the Convent
of Ursula in the French Quarter. Address: 1113 Charles Street, New Orleans,
LA.
History:
This grand mansion, built in 1812,
is a strong candidate for being the most haunted house in New Orleans.
A General Pierre Gustave Toutant de Beauregard lived in this house until
1869. General Beauregard was the commanding officer of the southern troops
at the bloody battle at Shiloh.
* At 2:00 in the morning, on foggy,
moonlit nights, General Beauregard and his troops materialize out of
the wood paneled walls along the hallway near the ballroom. The living
are treated to the clattering footsteps of his entire phantom troops.
All the soldier apparitions and the General appear in full Confederate
dress uniform, and then slowly turn bloody and tattered, as if they
are revisiting their bloody battle.
* Also, an apparition fiddler player
and dancing entities have their own dance party in the ballroom, complete
with fiddle music, perhaps reenacting a happier time.
Still Haunted?
Definitely yes!
3) Madam Lalaurie's Mansion - ( Warning
- This story isn't for the sensitive, but must be told. The actions of
one woman put a stop to a horrid situation. One person can make a difference.)
Location:
1140 Royal Street, New Orleans. LA
70116.
Description:
The outside of this three story, 40
room mansion is very plain, except for the delicate lace ironwork placed
around the 2nd floor balcony, and the first floor arched windows. The
inside of the mansion was excessively and lavishly decorated with only
the best of the very best. The outside of this three story mansion is
very plain, except for the delicate lace ironwork placed around the 2nd
floor balcony, and the first floor arched windows. The inside of the mansion
was excessively and lavishly decorated. The portico near the entrance
had marble floors and gold gilded mirrors. The mahogany doors of the parlors
and dining rooms had hand-carved panels of flowers and cherubs' faces.
Crystal chandeliers provided light in the rooms, with hundreds of candles.
Big, taller than a man stone fireplaces could be found in every room.
Satin and velvet hung from the walls, and guests ate off of the finest
china.
History:
Louis and Delphine Lalaurie bought
this huge, elegant 40 room mansion from Mr. Soniatdu Fossat, on August
13, 1831. High society of New Orleans were happy to have such a grand
place to hold their gala balls and social events. While Delphine Lalaurie
was a marvelous hostess, and knew how to entertain, she also was proven
to be an evil, cruel, sadistic psychopath when it came to the treatment
of her slaves. She had to flee New Orleans, in 1834 when fire fighters
discovered how she had tortured, maimed horribly and killed many of her
slaves in slow and agonizing ways in her torture chamber located in the
garret apartment, the attic and other places throughout the mansion, thoroughly
enjoying the sadistic cruelty of her actions.
Thanks to the brave actions of the
house cook, who started a fire in the kitchen, while she was chained to
the kitchen floor, all this barbarity was stopped when firefighters rescued
some of the victims that were still alive in the torture chambers, which
in turn brought to light Delphine Lalaurie's secret, sick passion. The
cook was the one who pleaded with the firemen to go to the garret apartment
to see for themselves how Lalaurie had cut off her victims' body parts,
cut open other areas of human bodies and pulled things out, removed smaller
parts, sewing eyes and mouths shut, etc. Years later, when workmen were
remodeling the interior, they found the skeletons of her torture victims
dumped in holes under sections of the mansion's floor, so she wouldn't
have to answer for their demise.
The mansion was sold in 1837, but
people didn't stay there long because of all the ghostly hauntings. An
eccentric, Jules Vignie, wasn't bothered by it at all and lived there
in the 1880's - 1890's. Around the turn of the century, the mansion was
turned into apartments for Italian immigrants. The owners had a hard time
keeping renters. Finally, in the 20th century, the mansion was renovated
to its former splendor and is a favorite place for touring visitors.
Manifestations:
Throughout the years, many incidents
have been reported.
* Tortured screams and groans have
been heard from the attic.
* A servant sleeping in the barn
awoke to find a pale, black-haired woman choking him. A black apparition
took the woman's hands off his throat, and they both vanished, to the
astonishment and relief of the servant.
* A large black man wrapped in chains
on the main stairs confronted an Italian tenant, but disappeared on
the last step.
* Sounds of an invisible chain being
dragged down the staircase.
* Shrouded figures flail at the
living with riding crops.
* Terribly maimed, translucent apparitions
have haunted the living, showing them the results of their torturous
ordeal.
* A young Italian mother found an apparition of a wealthy white woman
bending over her sleeping baby, who was later identified as Delphine
Lalaurie herself.
* Neighbors have reported throughout
the years of the mansion's windows opening and closing by themselves,
and the front door opening by itself.
* Some passing by at night have
seen the reenactment of the young slave girl jumping off the roof to
her death to escape her crazed mistress and her merciless whip. The
girl had escaped from her chains and ran onto the roof, with her mistress
not far behind. Her dying screams are chilling to all who hear them
now, as it must have been to the neighbor who saw the original incident
in 1833 and reported it to the police. This was a real event that started
to show others what was going on in the house.
* The heart breaking cries of a
little slave girl has been heard near the cherub fountain in the courtyard.
Still Haunted?
Yes.
4) The Hermann-Grima Historical House
-
820 St. Louis Street, New Orleans,
LA 70116.
Manifestations:
* Pleasant, cordial ghosts, with
southern manners live here and do their best to help the living, who
they graciously share this house with. Obviously, they are pleased with
the renovation job done on their precious home. Caretakers find that
these unseen presences like to scatter fragrant rose and lavender around
the rooms to freshen and air.
* On cold winter mornings, the living
often find that the ghosts have lit the fireplaces to warm the rooms,
and keep them cozy.
Still Haunted?
Yes.
These manifestations are still
happening.
Photo Sources include: Hgghh.org * NewOrleansOnline.com
Explore-New-Orleans.com* DigitalCity.com * Inetours.com * Whatwasthen.com |
