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The Myrtles Plantation
| Location:7747 U S Highway 61 St. Francisville, LA Directions: From Baton Rouge head north on Highway 61, drive for about 25 miles through the town of St. Francisville. The Myrtles Plantation is just north of St. Francisville. |
History: General David Bradford arrived in Louisiana in 1794 and obtained a Spanish land grant of roughly 650 acres; he built a plantation in 1796 and named it Laurel Grove. He lived there alone until 1799 when he moved his wife Elizabeth and their five children to the plantation from Pennsylvania. He died in 1808, and Elizabeth sold the land to her son-in-law, Clark Woodruff. Clark Woodruff chose a house slave, Chloe, to serve as his mistress. One day he caught her listening at keyhole and had her ear cut off as punishment. From that day forward Chloe always wore a turban to cover the scar. In an attempt to regain her good name with Clark, Chloe laced a birthday cake with oleander flowers. Her plan was to regain favor by nursing them back to health. Unfortunately, she used too much oleander and everyone except the Clark died. She was captured, hanged, and left in the tree for several days. Clak would not allow her burial on the grounds and had her thrown into the Mississippi River. Woodruff sold the plantation to Ruffin Gray Stirling, in 1834. Stirling and his wife, Mary Catherine Cobb, remodeled the house; nearly double its original size. They changed the name to The Myrtles. Stirling died in 1854 and left the plantation to Mary; she hired her son-in-law William Drew Winter to manage the plantation. William and Sarah Winter lived at the Myrtles and had six children. They were forced to sell the plantation in 1868, but were able to buy it back two years later. In 1871, William Winter was shot on the porch by an unknown man; he managed to get back inside the house and climb to the 17th step before he collapsed and died. Mary Cobb died in 1880, and the plantation passed to her son Stephen. He sold the plantation in 1886; the house changed hands several times until the 1950s. In the 1950s, Marjorie Munson owned the house and started noticing odd things happening around the house. This is possibly the beginning of some of the legends surrounding the Myrtles. The plantation changed hands several more times before being restored in the 1970s, by owners Arlin Dease and Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ward. The plantation was eventually sold James and Frances Kermeen Myers; they believed the house was haunted and it began to be featured in books and magazines about haunted houses. The house is currently being operated as a bed & breakfast by John & Teeta Moss. They offer historical and mystery tours. The plantation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Haunting: The Myrtles is believed to be the most haunted house in America. The number of ghosts is thought to be between 10 and 15; there have been at least 10 murders or suicides on the property through the years. Strange sounds have often been reported at the Myrtles. The grand piano has been known to play by on its own and visitors have heard crying babies. The ghost of William Winter has been heard staggering up the stairs and collapsing on the 17th stair. The ghost of a turbaned woman, believed to be Chloe, has also been seen on the Plantation. The ghosts of the Woodruff children have been seen and heard laughing and playing on the property. |
