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Here are 5 articles in “Haunted New Orleans” for you to check out:

1. Chretien Point Plantation

2. Loyd Hall Plantation

3. Rosedown Plantation

4. Parlange Plantation House

5. USS Kid

Jason Haunted New Orleans, Haunted Places

Chretien Point Plantation is located in Sunset, Louisiana, and was originally built by Joseph Chretien. His son Hypolite whom was married to Felicite, died in 1839. This left Felicite to do a job that no other female had to do. She became the overseer for this 640-acre plantation by mounting on a horse and keeping the slaves in the field. She became obsessed with her new role in society and began doing things that traditionally only males would, such as smoking cigars, playing cards, and starting up some business deals. It turns out that Joseph had been doing some business with the famous pirate Jean Lafitte. It is unknown how this relationship started or why Lafitte traveled so far inland.

Felicite then in turn let Lafitte use her plantation as a place of staging sales of stolen goods, including undocumented slaves.  By 1839 Lafitte had moved on but his followers still used the plantation to conduct business with Felicite’s approval, or without regard for her own wishes. These men noticed that Felicite was rich and all alone on this plantation without any protection. In the middle of night one night, pirates descended upon the plantation to steal some of her riches, including her jewelry. She walked down the steps towards one of the pirates with his eyes on the beautiful necklace she held in her hands.

The pirate was so focused on the necklace that he did not even realize what happened when Felicite pulled out a gun from underneath her night gown and shot the pirate to death on the 11th step. The rest of the pirate’s fled upon this courageous act from Felicite, and her slaves ran to the house to bury the body and clean the stairs to get the blood stains off. The body of this pirate was buried somewhere on the plantation in a unmarked grave. People who work and stay at the house, which is now an inn, have reported seeing the ghost of this pirate. The footsteps of this ghost are heard as he makes his final climb.

The sounds of the pirate are also heard in the dining room and parlor. This pirate ghost seems to enjoy playing with the coins of guests that are left out in the room. The ghost of Celestine, Felicite’s daughter-in-law, is also seen at the plantation. Her portrait can be seen hanging over the fire place since 1846. Her ghost is dressed in a white gown and appears mostly in the dining room. She sometimes appears to the staff during stressful times to give them words in an effort to calm them down during a situation. The ghost of Felicite also haunts this plantation and is seen in the Magnolia room on the 2nd floor. She has been seen in the window here holding back the curtains.

Felicite’s ghost is seen wearing a wide-brimmed hat with black netting that hangs all the way down to her waist. This was the traditional attire of Creole women who were in mourning.  A Civil War battle called “The Battle of Little Crow Bayou” is replayed in a ghostly form at the plantation. The battle took place in 1863 and the plantation became caught up in the crossfire. The plantation was almost destroyed but then saved by Hypolite II, Felicites son, who sent out a Masonic distress signal. The Union commander at the battle was also a Mason and he stopped destruction from happening after internalizing the distress signal. Felicite fed the Union soldiers and had her slaves bury the dead Confederate soldiers. The apparitions of the soldiers involved in this battle can be seen walking across the grounds of Chretien Point Plantation.

(Source: Dwyer, Jeff. Ghost Hunter’s Guide to New Orleans. 2007.)

Chris Haunted New Orleans, Haunted Places

William Loyd was originally a member of the Lloyd’s of London insurance dynasty in England. He embarrassed the family so much that he was forced to move to America. They gave him a small amount of money to start a new life, but he was never again to return to England, nor was he allowed to use the 2nd l in his last name. This was the final installment to complete separation from the family. In 1820, William purchased a piece of land in Cheneyville, Louisiana and built Loyd Plantation on it. He stocked the plantation with 60 slaves and established tobacco, cotton, indigo, and sugarcane. He began to get involved in the affairs of the local Indians, resulting in Coctaw attacks on his manor house.

During the Civil War, Loyd spied for both the Confederate and Union armies. He played both sides of the war, but most probably to protect his manor house. In 1864, the Union army caught on and found Loyd guilty of counterespionage, placing him under house arrest. After a few days of isolation, he was dragged from his house and hung on an oak tree where he could still view his family and slaves. William’s brother James took over the plantation following his death until 1871. After selling the plantation, he was followed by 21 owners of the next 71 years. None of these owners turned a profit for some strange reason.

The ghost of William Loyd is quite active, opening the front door to the mansion, making footsteps, playing the piano, and opening and closing the cabinets in the kitchen. William has been known to breathe on guests necks or touch their shoulders as they eat a meal in one of the rooms. Inez Loyd, William’s niece, also haunts Loyd Hall. Inez was set to be married at the plantation, with a grand party set up. As she walked down the aisle with everyone watching her, she noticed that the groom had not arrived, nor was he going to. She began to cry and scream, running upstairs to her room. She then jumped out of the window and killed herself.

The ghost of Anne Loyd calls out the names of the staff at times. Her apparition has also been seen on the first floor near the kitchen. Anne’s appearance is of a tall and slender woman in a black dress. Nanny Sally Boston also haunts the plantation, seen in black and white dresses with a long apron. She is a kind ghost even though her death was due to an intentional poisoning. Candles placed in the back parlor have been knocked on the floor by Sally because she does not like when this is done. Also in the back parlor is the ghost of Harry Henry, who was a Union soldier. All that is seen of Harry is his polished black boots. In other areas of the house however, his full apparition is seen.

During the Civil War, the Union army would take over the house and entire plantation. Despite the execution of William, a woman in the Loyd family fell in love with this Union Soldier, Harry Henry. When it was time for the army to leave, he could not leave his love, so he stayed hidden in the attic. When his food and water ran out, he went downstairs at dark. However, he ran into Grandma Loyd, who had no idea of this arrangement. Startled, she pulled out a pistol and shot and killed Harry. He was buried in a grave under the house, and his desire to stay at the house has stayed with him, even through death.

Currently, Loyd Plantation is a bed-and-breakfast inn. It is also a place for special events to be held, such as weddings. Tours of the grounds are administered hourly, but the best experience at the plantation is by staying overnight at the guest cottages. Some of those who stay overnight report hearing the sounds of screams. On the occasion, lights are also turned on for those who have fallen asleep.

(Source: Dwyer, Jeff. Ghost Hunter’s Guide to New Orleans. 2007.)

Chris Haunted New Orleans, Haunted Places

Rosedown Plantation is located in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and it was originally constructed in 1834 by Daniel and Martha Turnbull. It contained 3,455 acres of land that was worked by a group of 50 slaves. Today, the plantation is about 371 acres of land with thirteen historic buildings. William Turnbull was one of the children of Daniel and Martha. By the beginning of the Civil War, Daniel has become one of the richest men in the country due to his cotton empire. In 1856, William started a plantation of his own on DeSoto Island. This was a good start in the cotton business, of course, no where near the estate of his father at that point however.

Even though he had started his own business, William would return to the Rosedale Plantation almost every weekend to see his family. William traveled by skiff across the river to get to the plantation from Desoto Island. Things were going pretty smoothly until one night the riverboat, Bella Donna caused the skiff to tip over into the water and as a result he was killed. Daniel and Martha were never fully able to bear the loss of their oldest son. The ghost of William is now believed to haunt the plantation. This ghost seems to be a fan of playing with the electrical system of the house. William always likes the place filled with light, so many times staff have had to turn off the lights at night two times. Furniture in the house has been mysteriously moved with dried mud on the floor. In the beautiful gardens on the plantation grounds, people have seen the apparition of William running through the hedges.

Images of William’s arm and neck have been depicted in a photograph taken by a visitor. It appears that the ghost of William Turnbull was placing his arm around the woman who was in the picture on the porch. Cold spots are felt throughout the grounds and sensations of the presence of spirits are in the kitchen and barn. The spirits in the barn may be dangerous and tend to push those who venture inside.

(Source: Dwyer, Jeff. Ghost Hunter’s Guide to New Orleans. 2007.)

Chris Haunted New Orleans, Haunted Places

The Parlange Plantation is located off Highway 78 in New Roads, Louisiana. Julie de Ternant once lived on the plantation with her father Claude de Ternant. Her father was raised by strict French traditions in which the father chose what would be best for his children. Julie was the youngest of his five children and he wanted to specifically make sure she was taken care of by choosing a husband for her. Claude picked a man for Julie that she found repulsive and that she knew could never love. The man was much older than her and had heaviness that caused much sweat to his body. However since the year was 1790, the daughter had to abide by the father’s decision.

This was especially prevalent when the social status of the daughter and her family would increase as a result of the marriage. The wedding took place on the plantation which was beautifully transformed into a wedding hall. Legend has it that Julie held back from crying during the ceremony and went through with it for her father. Later that night as they went up to bed, Julie panicked and started to run away from the upstairs bedroom. She made it to the outside of the house and slammed into one of the oak trees in the darkness. She was killed at the scene and buried the following day in her wedding dress. The ghost of a young lady in a white gown has been seen running from the house into a tree. Upon impact of tree, the ghost disappears. The ghost is most often seen after sunset when there is little moonlight.

(Source: Dwyer, Jeff. Ghost Hunter’s Guide to New Orleans. 2007.)

Chris Haunted New Orleans, Haunted Places