The Myrtles is considered one of American's most haunted locations and is on many ghost hunter's bucket list. The plantation has been featured on numerous television shows including National Geographic, SyFy's Ghost Hunters and Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures.
HISTORY
This historic antebellum mansion was built in 1796 by General David Bradford. The General, after being pardoned by President John Adams for his role in the Whiskey Rebellion, brought his family to the mansion (then called Laurel Grove).
Bradford died in 1808. Clark Woodruff, married Bradford's daughter, Sara Mathilda, and took over management of the plantation. Clark and Sara had three children, Cornelia Gale, James, and Mary Octavia. It is believed that Sara and two of her children died in 1823 and 24 from oleander poisoning from a slave named Chloe.
According to legend Chloe, a slave that served the family, was caught eavesdropping on family business. Clark Woodruff punished her by cutting off her ear. She was then assigned to kitchen duty.
Chloe wanted to regain her reputation and thought, if the children were sick, she might cure them and regain the favor of Woodruff. To do this, she added the toxic plant oleander to a cake she was making thinking, once the children were sick, she should provide the antidote. It backfired, however, and two of the children along with Sara died. Again, as the legend goes, Chloe was hung in the front yard.
We should note, there is no record of Woodruff having a slave named Chloe. Of course, back in those early days, good records were not kept and truth lost to time. Also, according to records, Sara, James and Cornelia died from yellow fever not poisoning. They did, however, die at the planation.
It was in 1834 when Ruffin Stirling took ownership of the planation and changed the name to Myrtles. Ruffin and his wife, Mary Catherine Cobb, did the first major renovations to the home expanding its size. It was sometime in 1865 that Ruffin and Mary's son-in-law, William Winter, was hired to help manage the plantation.
William Winter and his wife Sarah (the Stirlings' daughter), came to live at the plantation. in 1871, William was shot on the front porch of the home (suspected shooter was E.S. Webber) and is said to have died on the 17th step of the stairway leading upstairs.
THE GHOSTS
It is believed 10-12 people died at the plantation and their spirits continue to roam the home and grounds. One of the entities seen is a woman wearing a turban. Many believe it is Chloe. Another spirit said to remain is that of William Winter. Some say you can hear his footsteps on the stairway. During our visit, we may learn the name of the other spirits that remain.
THINGS TO DO DURING THE DAY
There is much to do during the day! Just a few things, include:
... Explore downtown New Orleans and the historic French Quarters
... Airboat ride through the bayou (just minutes from the Myrtles)
... Historic cemetery tours, including a visit to the tomb of voodoo queen, Marie Laveau
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