Both the man and wife are much in earnest, and they are careful to say that the noises and other strange doings were not caused by human agencies. They think it was the ghost of their landlady’s second husband, who, when dying, said he would haunt the place.
191. “A Ghost Story”
Fayette County
An old substantial brick residence, located on one of the principal thoroughfares of Lexington, has been considered a haunted house ever since the war. Old citizens claim that during the war a wounded Union soldier, who had met his fate in the battle at Richmond, Ky., and who was being taken care of by the family that then lived in the house was brutally murdered by a Southern sympathizer in the cellar of the residence. Ever since then, the story goes, there have been unhuman doings and mysterious noises seen and heard in this old mansion at regular intervals of six months apart. At these times, when the families occupying the house would be at supper, lights left in the living room and other parts of the house would be extinguished and sounds very much like the groans of a person in agony could be distinctly heard.
No one ever saw anything other than this until a few evenings ago. The family that has been occupying the house for the past three months, and who did not know of the supposed existence of this peculiar ghostship, were sitting at their table eating supper about a quarter to 7 o’clock. The parlor had been lighted up, as there was some young company visiting the house and the lamp was brightly buring in the sitting-room. The servant girl had occasion to go into the parlor and living room during the process of the meal, and when she returned, she exclaimed, “Miss Sallie, who done blode out dem lights in yor room and in de parler?” Miss Sallie did not know of course, and before the astonished household could recover from their surprise, deep groans were heard as if coming from the living room, which was separated from the dining-room by folding doors. The groans grew louder and more agonizing in their tones, until suddenly the folding doors opened backward and in the center of the threshhold the now thoroughly frightened family and friends beheld a sight which is usually supposed to freeze the blood with terror. There stood the form of a man with his hands uplifted, and he seemed enveloped in a white gauze, through which could be seen a bloody and apparently bleeding breast. The apparition only remained in sight of the terror-stricken people but a few seconds, and slowly disappeared into the gloom of the darkened room behind it. The supper was left unfinished and there was no sleep in that house that night. The next morning the head of the household notified his business partners that he would not be at the office that day, and before night he had secured another house, into which he moved his family the next day. This story was told to the Commercial Gazette correspondent by a neighbor and a friend to the family, who is a thoroughly reliable man, and says that every word of the above story is true.
192. “Spirit Land”
Fayette County
… Certain old houses in Lexington in which murders have been committed are known to have been re-visited by the spirits of the murdered men, and during the small hours of the night many strange sights have ben seen and hundreds of strange noises heard. In one of these houses, which is located on East Third Street, just beyond the city limits, the unearthly visitors play curious pranks. About once a month, and a few minutes after the town clock tolls out the hour of midnight, his ghostship removes the bed clothing from off all the persons that may be sleeping in the haunted building. In each cited instance the sleepers have been awakened with a start and a sudden feeling of chilliness as if a cold wind were blowing. The present occupant of the house, who, it should be stated, does not believe in ghosts, has used every means in his power to discover the agency by which the bed clothing is so systematically removed, but although he has lived there more than ten years, he has so far been utterly unable to find any trace of the disturbing element.
Perhaps, however, the most pleasing ghost that has ever seen fit to visit a Lexington home, is that of a former prominent merchant who departed this life about six months ago, and who lived on one of the principal business streets of the city. He left quite an interesting family that occupies the old residence, and among its members is one small child who has for months been holding convers in an upper room of the residence with the departed father. The deceased was a first-class performer on the piano, and now nearly every night the keys which he formerly touched with so much precision are played on by invisible hands, the airs produced being the selfsame ones the departed was wont to play when he was one of nature’s visible forms.
This spirit music has been heard by persons who do not belong to the family while passing along the street, but of course such listeners did not know the form of the sweet player was unseen by mortal eyes. The members of the family, not caring to court notoriety, having refrained from allowing these strange facts to come to light and it is in deference to this desire that The Leader omits names and location.
Here is a question for those learned in mediumistic lore: Does the spirit of the dead merchant really return to its former home and play favorite numbers on the piano for its own edification, or does it play to let the family know it is still watching over them and has a warm interest in the welfare of those dear ones left behind? Who can answer?
193. “Little Girl’s Ghost in the Window”
Butler County
There’s an old, old house in Woodbury that is located close to the Green River, a river that’s got a lot of history associated with it, especially back when steamboating was a big thing around here. The Woodbury village itself is involved in a lot of history, and some houses that were built back in the early to mid-1800s are still standing. One of these old houses was built in 1821; at least some parts of it were. This is the one that is haunted by a little two-year-old girl that was killed in the house.
We don’t know who she was, and don’t know the full story of what happened to her. Anyway, the people that lived in the house across the years said they’d seen her in the windows and on the staircase. Said this little girl would usually walk toward them, and sometimes she would make a hissing sound as she looked at them. They said because of the way she acted, they always felt that she was just playing with them, because she would grin after she did the hissing. She would travel throughout the house. Said that many times when they would leave the house and go outside, they would look back at the house and would see her in the window looking out at them.
A little girl’s spirit haunts this old house in Woodbury. (Photos by Bridget Childers)
They never did find out who she was.
194. “A Hunt–Mornan House Ghost Story”
Fayette County
Our ghost story concerns an African-American slave named Bouviette James (also known in the family as Aunt Betty or Mam Bet) who was the nursemaid, or mammy, to the Morgan children. It is said, in fact, that when-ever she heard that Southern troops were coming into Lexington, Aunt Betty would fill a silver pitcher with ice water or lemonade and stand on Main Street hoping to hand a drink to one of “her” boys. In Basil Duke’s book, Reminiscences, he speaks of Aunt Betty and of her great love for the Morgan children. He describes, too, how Mrs. Morgan treated her far more like a friend than a servant. When Aunt Betty died after the Civil War (the date is uncertain), her casket was placed in the parlor of the Hunt-Morgan House and four of the surviving Morgan sons (Charlton, Calvin, Richard, and Key) and brother-in-law Basil Duke were her pall-bearers. She is buried in the Hunt family plot at the Lexington Cemetery where her head-stone reads, Bouviette, Ever Faithful.
The traditional story relates that, in later years, one of the children of the family was ill and being looked after by a nurse who began to doze as she sat up with the child late at night. The nurse suddenly opened her eyes when she heard someone softly humming a nursery tune. It was not, how-ever, the boy who was humming. Sitting beside the boy’s bed was a black woman dressed very plainly except for a brightly colored turban over her hair and a pair of bright red leather shoes. The woman continued to hum a t
une and gently stroked the boy’s forehead. As the nurse stood up and crossed the room, the figure quickly vanished.
The next day the child took a turn for the worse and died. In the ensuing weeks, the nurse never mentioned what she had seen to anyone. Then, several months later, she mentioned the incident to the boy’s mother, who was enormously cheered by the news. The mother declared that the black woman was Aunt Betty, who would always appear when one of her children needed her. She said that this was obviously Aunt Betty s way of letting the family know that she would look after the children in heaven as she had on earth. [This presumption certainly indicates the mother s assumptions concerning ones divinely ordained place in society] When asked about the red shoes, the mother replied that Aunt Betty had been very fond of bright colors, especially red, and that she had often talked about how she would love to have a pair of red leather shoes. So, during one of John Hunt Morgan’s visits during the war, he brought everyone in the family a special gift—including a pair of bright red shoes for his beloved Aunt Betty.
Family Ghosts
1. “A Dead Mother’s Return”
Jefferson County
My aunt Ann worked at St. Mary’s Hospital for some thirty-three years. During her last year there, my great-uncle Burl had to be hospitalized, and he nearly died before the doctors were able to determine what was ailing him.
One night after Ann s shift was finished, she popped by his room to say good night, and at the end of his bed stood a frail little, Indian woman dressed in a black dress. She had the snowiest white head of hair that you ever saw. My aunt said, “Excuse me, ma’am, but I believe visiting hours are over.”
The little woman just looked up at my aunt and smiled warmly. She then walked around behind the draw curtain that hung around the bed and vanished. My aunt was totally convinced that she had personally been working for too many hours and needed a rest.
The next day before her shift began, she went back to the room to say good morning. My uncle was feeling so much better that the doctor had said that he could go home in probably a day or so. They still had not discovered the reason for his sickness at that point, nor his rapid recovery from a terribly high fever. He told my aunt, said, “I had the nicest dream last night. Mama came by to see me and told me that I would get well now, and she told me that she loved me.”
Aunt Ann just stood there for a second, then asked, “What did Grandma Long look like? She died while I was very young. I don’t remember her all that well.”
He responded to her, “She was a tiny little woman, part Indian, with the whitest head of hair that you ever saw.”
Uncle Burl quickly recovered from his sickness and was allowed to go home.
2. “The Spirit of a Deceased Aunt”
Simpson County
My aunt Lisa Weissinger died a year ago. Things got weird when that happened. One night about three weeks after her death, when I was going to bed I began to cry. Oh, I missed her so very much. I then began praying that I would see her again. Almost immediately, I sensed a cool wind with a sweet fragrance. I went on to bed about ten o’clock, sensing a presence there in the room with me. I opened my eyes as a white figure was approaching me. I then saw the kind and gentle face of my aunt smiling at me.
Then, the next thing I knew, my aunt was standing there looking down at me. She bent down over me, and I began to shiver with fear, but I didnt chicken out. I just closed my eyes. The next thing I remember is a gentle kiss on my right cheek. I opened my eyes in time to see her walking out of my room on her way to my brother Travis’ room. I went back to sleep hearing a sweet humming sound downstairs in the living room, as the rocking chair rocked.
I was no longer afraid, for I knew that it was the spirit of my aunt. She loved us as much as we loved her.
3. “Mom”
Caldwell County
Three years ago I experienced the most terrifying dream that I will hopefully ever have. I woke up with a taste of salty tears in my mouth, and with sweat running down my face and neck. I was walking through a field of flowers, flowers of all varieties. I bent down to pick a yellow rose, which was my mom’s favorite flower. As I did so, I heard this creaking sound. I turned to look, and would you believe it, I saw this casket over in the middle of the field of flowers. I walked over and opened the top, and there lay Mom inside of it. She looked as if she were in a very peaceful sleep.
I picked a yellow rose and tried to awaken her. When I touched Mom, she was as cold as ice. I began screaming for her to wake up, but she would not open her eyes. Then, the casket lid started closing of its own accord. I was terrified at the thought that I would never see Mom again. Upon awakening, I went to check on Mom and found her in a deep, peaceful sleep.
I never told anyone about my dream. I was afraid that I was somehow the cause of my mom’s death. This dream occurred only once, but two years later we found out that Mom was terminally ill from a brain tumor. One year ago, Mom died.
I have seen Mom several times during the past year. I cant decide whether I have been seeing her due to being upset emotionally or whether I have truly been seeing her. The first time I saw her like this, I was walking along outside the house and saw her image standing under her favorite tree. She had on a white, flowing dress that moved with the leaves on the dogwood tree. Her hair was pulled back at the top, but it was loose and flowing around her face. She made no attempt to approach me, but did hold out her hand to me. I was frightened, thus made no move toward her. She then spoke to me, “Liz, I love you.” Upon hearing those words, all my fears vanished. I started toward her, but she vanished right there before my eyes.
At another time, one night I was alone in my house when I heard a noise behind me. I turned in the direction where the noise came from, and there stood Mom. She looked beautiful, just the way she always did. This time, I was not frightened. She was just standing there near the corner of the room, beside the fireplace. She was moving, almost gliding, very gracefully, but her feet were on the floor. She held out her hand toward me and said, “Liz, I love you; everything is all right.”
I jumped to my feet to go to her, but again she was gone.
Another time, I was alone when I heard Mom laugh. I felt a very strong presence there in the room with me. The hair on the back of my neck and the hair on my arms stood straight up or out. I felt very warm and secure. I was not in the least afraid, but rather delighted to feel this close to Mom again. A cool breeze blew through the room, but no door or window was open. I knew that Mom had been there, but I also knew that now she was gone.
I feel as if Mom is still very much with me. A lot of times when I feel especially warm and loved, I know that Mom is there with me.
4. “Grandfather’s Ghost”
Simpson County
It was December 11, 1990, when my grandfather died. We Spent the night there at his house the night he died. Later on, my sister and I spent the night there with Grandmother. My sister was asleep in my aunts room, and I was sleeping in the room where my grandfather had died. I went to bed about 8:30 P.M.
I was fast asleep when I heard my name being called out, “Amy-y-y, Am-m-y-y, Aa-mm-yy.” Then the voice said, “Wake up, Amy; wake up.”
I woke up and I saw him. It was my grandfather, dressed in the suit that he died in. I began crying and thinking, “It cant be me; this cant be happening to me.”
I sat up in bed, and he came over to me. I was so very afraid and frightened. I tried to scream but could not talk at all. He said to me, “I love you.” Then he gave me a hug and a kiss and told me to tell the family that he loved them very much, then left the room.
After he left, I could talk again. The next morning I told my family what had happened, and they did not believe me at all, all but my grandmother, that is. She said to me, “I believe you. He came to my room last night before he came to yours.”
5. “Poor Susan”
Hopkins County
When my mother was a child, she lived on a farm in White Plains. Wh
en she was about five or six years old, her aunt Susan was about forty. Susan knew that she didn’t have long to live because she had a brain tumor. She told the family that she wanted to die at home, so they let her stay at home; hired a private nurse to come take care of her. My mothers two other aunts, Betty and Joyce, also took turns staying up and taking care of Susan.
One night when it was the nurse’s turn to watch Susan, Betty and Joyce were awakened by loud noises. They both walked to Susan’s room and found the nurse and Susan’s husband, Ken, giving her a shot to help her sleep. The next morning, Susan was dead. The family was almost certain that Ken and the nurse had purposely killed Susan, because they got married a few weeks later.
My mother would overhear the family talking about the situation, and she said that she hated Ken and she hoped that Aunt Susan would come back to haunt him.
At that time, my Mom was only six, and Susan was the first person she had known that died. But Susan had always said that she wanted Ken to remarry, and she didn’t want anyone to talk bad about him for doing so.
Like I said earlier, Mom lived in a farmhouse. Her and her sister’s room was next to the dining room, which allowed a lot of cold air to come through the windows. In order to keep the kids’ room warm, there was a doorway between my mom’s room and the dining room.
The night after Susan’s death, my mom awoke, and an inner voice told her to look toward the door. When she did, the door was opening, and there stood Susan wearing the dress that she was buried in. She walked toward my mom, holding a knife in the air. As she walked, she said to my mom, “I told you not to say bad things about dear Ken.”
Haunted Houses and Family Ghosts of Kentucky Page 30