Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana

The Myrtles Plantation is a notable landmark in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Constructed in 1796 by General David Bradford, it is touted as "one of America's most visited homes." It is also famed as a haunt for ghosts.

Features of Myrtle's Plantation

The Myrtles Plantation is built in the Creole style, characteristic of many Louisiana plantations of the 19th century. In the mid-1850s, the one-and-a-half-story home was expanded, doubling its size. The entrance doors are surrounded by a transom and sidelights, showcasing hand-painted stained glass. The plantation's main feature is a 125-foot-long veranda that stretches across the entire length of the facade, supported by decorative cast-iron railings beneath a wide entablature.

The house consists of 22 rooms spread over two floors. A spacious vestibule runs the length of the house and includes moldings, a French crystal chandelier weighing over 300 pounds, and a console staircase. To the left of the hall is a music room, which adjoins the only bedroom located on the first floor. The main rooms of the house are situated to the right of the hall. The walls of the original house were removed and relocated to create four large rooms.

The second floor features five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The largest bedroom is the only room accessible by the main staircase in the vestibule. The other four bedrooms, which are divided by a common living room, are accessible via a staircase from the back loggia.

At the rear of the main house is the property's oldest building. It was previously the residence of General Bradford while the main house was under construction. Today, this space serves as a gift shop. Two outbuildings are connected to the main house by an old courtyard.

The history of the mystical estate

The Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 by General David Bradford on 2.5 square kilometers of land. Bradford lived there alone for several years before moving his wife Elizabeth and their five children to the plantation from Pennsylvania. Following Bradford's death in 1808, his widow continued to manage the plantation until 1817, when she handed over management to Clark Woodruff, one of Bradford's former students who had married her daughter.

When Elizabeth Bradford died in 1831, Clark Woodruff and his daughter Mary Octavia moved to Covington, leaving a manager in charge of the plantation. In 1834, Woodruff sold the plantation, land, and slaves to Ruffin Stirling and his wife. They undertook extensive renovations of the house, nearly doubling its size and filling it with imported European furniture. Stirling died in 1854, leaving the plantation to his wife.

In the 1950s, the house was sold to Marjorie Munson, who claimed to see ghosts within its walls. Thus, the house once again changed owners frequently. One of the owners even wrote a book about the plantation, calling it the most visited in America. The current owners, John and Teeta Moss, have opened the house for tours and guest overnight stays.

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the plantation continues to be a popular tourist attraction due to its association with paranormal activity and has been featured in numerous books, magazines, newspapers, and television shows.

Mysteries and legends of the estate

• Touted as "one of America's most visited homes," the plantation is said to be the home of 12 ghosts. Reports often claim that ten murders have taken place in the house, but historical records only confirm the murder of William Winter, a former owner whom we mentioned earlier.
• According to tales, his ghost walks up the house's staircase, always stopping on the 17th step. It's said that Winter was shot on the porch and attempted to climb the stairs for help but collapsed dead on the 17th step.
• The most famous urban legend is that of Chloe, a slave belonging to Clark and Sarah Woodruff. According to one story, Chloe often eavesdropped on the couple's conversations through keyholes. After she was caught, Clark cut off Chloe's ear, and she started wearing a green turban to cover the mutilation. Chloe is said to have baked a cake containing extract from oleander leaves, which are highly poisonous. She intended to serve it to Clark and Sarah, but things didn't go as planned. Only Sarah and her two daughters ate the cake, and all died from the poison. Chloe was supposedly hanged and thrown into the Mississippi River afterward. Some believe that the woman in the green turban still roams the plantation. However, this story should be approached with skepticism. Historical records do not support this legend. Historians believe that Sarah and her daughters were killed by nothing other than the common yellow fever.