Magnolia Mansion
Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Magnolia Mansion seems to be a place back in time, a place in the pre-Civil War era that represented the richest city in the country at the time – New Orleans. As one visits the mansion, you feel a presence of people from years past that seemingly haven’t left. The feeling of grandeur and luxury enter as you look through the rooms and parlors. The mansion was built in 1857 by Alexander Harris for his bride Elizabeth Johnson Thompson. Yellow fever then struck the family, killing Alex a mere 24 hours after his brother suffered from the same fate.
For the next 10 years, there was much fighting and lawsuits between the widows, and the estate eventually broke up. Red Cross volunteers spent time at the mansion from 1939 to 1954, helping the World War II and Korean War effort, as well as schooling nurses, and preparing bandages. In October of 2001, Hollie Diann Vest bought the mansion and along with a construction crew made renovations to open it to the public. It opened back up in 2002, and has been a success ever since. One spirit however didn’t like the renovations that were taking place.
One day during renovations in November 2001, the crew witnessed an unexplained oily substance all over the walls and floors. Hollie then announced to the spirit or spirits that she was making the mansion better. Things then stopped after this for a while, until a 300 pound door slammed to the floor at such a high speed that it was mistaken for a gun shot. The dining and downstairs area seem to be the place where the spirits are most present. However, spirits have also been reported in the guest rooms upstairs, with people experiencing chills down their spine and pressure on their chest.
There have also been reports of a ghost maid who has tucked people into bed and a little girl walking around the halls.
(Source: Belanger, Jeff. Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. 2005.)
