The Most Haunted Place in Louisiana–The Story of The Lalaurie Mansion

At dusk, gas lights flicker in historic galleries along Royal Street in the French Quarter. The darkened skies offer little relief from the heat and humidity, but somehow enhance the magical atmosphere of New Orleans. Wrought-iron balconies feel like time has stood still, curling ferns and greenery make you feel like you’re encountering the supernatural at every turn.

Louisiana’s most haunted places

At the corner of Governor Nichols Street stands a 200-year-old gray three-story building surrounded by various groups of tourists accompanied by guides. They all watch their guides spin eerie tales and wonder if they can catch a glimpse of a ghost, their eyes fixed on the quiet house and they listen intently. That place is the LaLaurie Mansion, the reason why its tragic past has been the subject of paranormal investigations and the reason it captures the imagination of all who hear its story.

LaLaurie House in New Orleans

The LaLaurie Mansion is a privately owned mansion in the heart of New Orleans French Quarter. When I first heard this story, I thought it was made up to scare people, but after doing a little research, I realized that this is a piece of history that makes you stop and think about what’s wrong with humanity. It turns out that

The neoclassical building on the site dates back to 1838, although another house had been built before that. The house belonged to Mrs. Delphine McCarthy LaLaurie, who moved here in 1832 with her third husband, Dr. Leonard Louis Nicolas LaLaurie. In 1834, she hosted a party during which a fire broke out in her kitchen. A local newspaper reported that firefighters had found seven “more or less severely mutilated” slaves trapped inside the building. The newspaper also reported that the report infuriated the townspeople, with at least 4,000 people gathering outside the compound and rummaging through the remains of the burnt homes.

Dr. and Mrs. LaLaurie had a good reputation.

The fire was recorded as being caused by an enslaved cook chained to the stove, in a suicide attempt to free her from the LaLaurie family. Misconceptions and accusations were directed against Mrs. LaLaurie because of evidence that she had been previously indicted for atrocities against enslaved workers. But little is said about her husband, who was present at her party. Cruel medical experiments in the guise of science were common even before the 20th century. Some speculate that the real culprit here is Dr. LaLaurie. But if this is true, there is no excuse for his wife to turn a blind eye.

legacy of bad luck

The LaLauries fled New Orleans and never returned. Madame LaLaurie and her husband died in Paris in her 1849. They were never persecuted for their crimes. The New Orleans site was sold to Charles Cuffin and rebuilt in 1838. Over the next 100 years, it served as a school, conservatory, furniture store, apartment building, and many other uses.

Actor Nicolas Cage bought the property in 2007 and was forced to foreclose just two years later. Another story I heard about this actor is that he consulted a fortune teller who advised him to build a pyramid mausoleum in the local cemetery to appease the spirits in his home. He still owns the cemetery, but not the house. The people who currently own the property live there all the time, and the house is not looked after by a janitor or housekeeper.

fact or fiction

Of course, the actual history of the LaLaurie Mansion is so fantastic it makes people question reality. And while it inspires the creatives among us to glorify facts and create new stories that fascinate us, sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s true and what’s not. is sometimes difficult. The house has been the subject of paranormal investigative shows, documentaries, non-fiction and fiction books.

2021 will see screenwriters Chad and Carrie Hayes. magic ]Announced a new series of series LaLaurie House, But how it all goes is still a secret. However, if the name “Madame LaLaurie” sounds familiar, you may recognize it from the film’s third season. American Horror Story: Coven — A 19th-century socialite appears as a character played by Kathy Bates.

ghost story

Given its grisly history, one would expect numerous tales of haunted encounters, and the reports do not disappoint. Shortly after Mr. and Mrs. LaLaurie left, various ghost stories began. Local residents reported hearing screams coming from the property late at night.

Chris Falvey of Unique NOLA Tours said several people believed they saw an enslaved man climbing the stairs. There have been repeated tales from people who lived on the property, of instances when they looked in the mirror and saw what they thought was Mrs. LaLaurie instead of themselves. “We saw random black shadows all over the house and the current owner has pictures of the shadows,” he shares.

Condominium managers and residents talk about their experiences

The photo was exhibited on a paranormal investigation program. entrance to hellon the travel channel. Its shape is indistinguishable, but it appears to have two pairs of peeking eyes. Lisa Hadley, the mansion’s current housekeeper, said she avoids entering the house at night. “I’m scared. I just have an eerie vibe,” she says.

Her mother, Caretaker Carol Williams, has lived on the property for 13 years. she says: “I don’t like standing alone in the kitchen. That door flaps open and closes on its own. I feel like I’m getting in the way. I don’t know what.” .”

“And you can see doorknobs turning on their own,” Hadley added. The housekeeper also saw a little girl standing in the window, she says. Another Annie, who she lived with in the 60s, also saw a little girl sitting on the roof, she said. Like the first people to report hearing screams from the property in the 1800s, Annie would sometimes be awakened by screams at night.

Is LaLaurie Mansion really haunted?

the equipment is entrance to hell Detected some sort of humanoid form in the area where Annie’s former apartment was. Presenter Katrina Weidman said she felt something cold as she leaned forward to touch where the foam should be. Stories about hauntings in this house abound, but there are bound to be skeptics and skeptics alike. However, regardless of your beliefs, LaLaurie Mansion The story stays with you for life.