ghost girl myrtles plantation

Chloe, Slave Ghost of Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana

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Tragic ghost story of Chloe, a slave girl said to haunt Louisiana’s Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville.

Our story is an adaptation of what is believed to be a true ghost story. Read on after the story to learn more about Myrtles Plantation and the ghost of Chloe.

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Chloe, slave ghost of myrtles plantation, louisiana – audio story, where did “the slave girl of myrtles plantation” come from, where is myrtles plantation, story credits.

When folks think about the American South, one image that always comes to mind is the old plantation house. Before the Civil War devastated the South, its plantation homes were about the closest thing America had to magical European palaces.

But what some folks don’t know – or maybe don’t care to think about – is that many of these plantations were built upon the backs of slaves. These slaves toiled under the whip of the white plantation owners, harvesting cotton and sugarcane for days, weeks and months on end. Some were literally worked to death, only to be replaced like an old shoe when the next boatload of captured slaves came into port.

So while the plantations may have been wealthy palaces to some, they were places of misery and death to others. So it should come as no surprise that many of the plantation homes remaining in the South are rumored to be haunted. This is the story of one of those houses:

Back in the 1800s, many plantations were located north of New Orleans along the banks of the Mississippi River. These plantations fueled the national economy with cotton and sugar cane, and their owners were some of the richest men in America.

Myrtles Plantation, located a few miles outside of St. Francisville, Louisiana, was one of these homes. It was a beautiful example of Old South Antebellum architecture. Upon arrival, a visitor would be greeted with the magical sight of Spanish moss swaying in the breeze, sweeping wide verandas with ornamental ironwork, and the sweet smells of pink-blossomed myrtle trees. Inside, one would find a lavishly decorated home in the Gothic style, with ornate plasterwork, European antiques, winding staircases and sparkling, crystal chandeliers.

But all this beauty hid a very sinister history – which many believe started with a Myrtles Plantation slave girl named Chloe.

At that time, Myrtles Plantation was owned and operated by Judge Clark Woodruffe and his wife, Sara Matilda. The Woodruffes had two young daughters, with a third child on the way. The judge was well respected in the community as a man of integrity, and a staunch upholder of the law. But he also held a dirty secret – he was a compulsive womanizer.

Whenever he had the opportunity, the judge would sneak around and have relations with his female slaves. Chloe, a slave of mixed blood who served as governess to the Woodruffe children, eventually became the target of his advances. Chloe was disgusted with the thought of the judge having his way with her, but knew if she didn’t follow through she would probably be sent back out to toil in the fields with the other slaves. Working in the “big house” was as close to freedom as a slave could expect at that time, so Chloe did what she had to do.

But after awhile, Chloe began to suspect that the judge was getting tired of her, and would soon be looking for a new lover. Terrified of being sent back to the fields, Chloe began eavesdropping on the family’s conversations to find out if her fears were true. One day, the judge caught her and was so enraged that he grabbed her and sliced off one of her ears. From that day forward, Chloe wore a green turban around her head to hide her shameful wound.

With the judge now furious at her, Chloe knew she had to do something fast to prove her worth to the family – but what? Her opportunity came one day when she was directed to help set up a birthday party for the Woodruffes’ eldest daughter. The judge was away, and his wife and daughters planned on celebrating the birthday by eating cake in the dining room.

Chloe came up with a plan. She crept outside and picked one of the oleander plants growing beside the house. The leaves of this plant contained a small amount of poison, which she secretly added to the birthday cake. She figured if she made the family sick, she could nurse them back to health and prove herself invaluable to the family. She cared for the children, and was careful to only add enough poison to make them slightly ill.

As the family ate the tainted birthday cake, Chloe soon found out she had made a terrible mistake. One by one, they dropped their utensils and began writhing and moaning in agony. Chloe helped them to their beds and tried desperately to save them, but it was too late. Soon the young girls, their mother and her unborn child were all dead.

As word spread throughout Myrtles Plantation, the other slaves were terrified that the judge would take his anger at Chloe out on them. To save their own hides, they knew that they had to do something to prove their loyalty to their master. So one night, a lynch mob grabbed Chloe while she slept and hanged her from one of the oak trees. After she died, they cut her down, weighted her body with rocks and tossed her into the Mississippi River.

The judge promptly sealed off the dining room and never used it again. In later years, the plantation house was turned into a bed and breakfast, with many visitors attracted to its beauty and Old South charm. But visitors and future owners alike would soon discover that they were not alone in the house.

One day, one of the new owners of Myrtles Plantation snapped a photo of the front of the house. When the picture was developed, she could see a shadowy figure standing near the veranda; her head wrapped in what appeared to be a turban. At night, some of the guests reported hearing restless footsteps wandering the hallways of the house. Others said they were jolted from their sleep by a black woman in a green turban, who lifted up the mosquito netting around their beds, as if looking for someone.

Soon other strange incidents were reported in the house. Some guests claimed to have seen the images of small children in the hallway mirrors. Others heard their names called out from distant rooms, only to find they were alone in the house. And others spotted two playful little girls in white dresses playing in the hallways, peeking through the windows, bouncing on the beds – even swinging from the chandeliers!

Is the mysterious woman in the green turban the ghost of Chloe, searching for the judge who caused her such grief? Are the mysterious little girls the ghosts of the Woodruffe children, forever trapped in the home where they died? We’ll leave that up to you to decide. Or, better yet – next time you’re in Louisiana, spend a night in Myrtles Plantation near St. Francisville, and find out for yourself!

Our story is just one of many ghost stories based on mysterious happenings at Louisiana’s Myrtles Plantation. While the story of Chloe and Judge Woodruffe is certainly the most popular Myrtles Plantation ghost tale, there have been at least 10 homicides and suicides on the plantation during its turbulent history. Thus, multiple ghosts haunt Myrtles Plantation, according to legend.

In the early 1990s, Myrtles Plantation’s owners photographed the property for a new fire insurance policy. They spotted something strange. Standing in a breezeway between the General Store and Butler’s Pantry buildings was an unknown, shadowy figure. Researchers carefully studied the photo and concluded it wasn’t doctored. It showed a human, feminine figure dressed as a slave would be – like, say, Chloe. Subsequently, the owners distributed the picture as a “Chloe Postcard.”

Look closely at the photos below. The mysterious figure stands between the two buildings, just behind the third pillar from the left. Do you see Chloe?

Why does Myrtles Plantation have such a checkered past? Some believe the original owner, David Bradford, built Myrtles on top of some Tunica Indian burial mounds. Bradford had previously fled to what was then West Feliciana (Spanish territory) from Pennsylvania. He had a price on his head due to his leadership in the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. Bradford died in 1817, and the property was passed on to different people, including his daughter, Sara Matilda. Whether Bradford knowingly built the home on the Indian mounds is debatable.

Myrtles Plantation is located in Louisiana just outside the tiny community of St. Francisville ( Google Maps ). St. Francisville claims to have more haunted plantations per capita than any other Southern city. While the the plantation is primarily a bed and breakfast, the owners actively promote the house’s haunted past . In fact, it is known as “America’s Most Haunted House.” Numerous travel TV shows have featured Myrtles Plantation, including the popular Travel Channel series Ghost Adventures .

For more information on touring, booking a room or dining at Myrtles Plantation, visit their  official site.

Adapted from Folklore by Craig Dominey

Told by Veronica Byrd

Chloe Postcard provided courtesy of  Myrtles Plantation

Sound Design by  Henry Howard

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Slavery was an atrocitie no doubt! But there isn’t a African American alive today who was ever a slave, nor has anyone alive today lived through slavery. Bottom line

Mz. Lori: NEVER let yourself get so badly confused or sadly mistaken! Slaves got abused physically, sexually or mentally for the same reason you claim white “masters” wouldn’t do valuable “property.” The driving motivation for slavery is pecuniary gain. So, captors tried to retain control by intimidation or force maximum output from captives at minimum cost to themselves. Nevermind a prime “justification” of slavery is “inherent superiority” of white skin. Thus, any slight ‘infraction’ perceived by self-deceived idiot racist bigots was cause to put Black slaves back in line. Had “masters” shown any tolerance or leniency, their own unfair position was compromised. And slaves did NOT “take” the name of their enslavers. White captors imposed their surname and new first names on fresh African captives as part of a “break in” process that might take 2 years after forced arrival in this strange land. Grossly deficient food, clothing and housing was part of the deal to make slaves feel less self-sufficient or subhuman.

Thank you for this story with no old south lies told even now about how “benign” or paternalistic human chattel slavery was. Chloe’s ordeal echoes more real-life Black ex-slave women who gave their firsthand account of sexploitation than I care to recall. Much less try to count.

Maybe the other slaves executed Chloe because they couldn’t stomach the murdr of children, regardless of their race. Does anyone seriously believe it was an accident?

For Chloe, and for her many brothers and sisters…

I know moon-rise, I know star-rise, Lay dis body down. I walk in de moonlight, I walk in de starlight, To lay dis body down. I ‘ll walk in de graveyard, I ‘ll walk through de graveyard, To lay dis body down. I ‘ll lie in de grave and stretch out my arms ; Lay dis body down. I go to de judgment in de evenin’ of de day, When I lay dis body down ; And my soul and your soul will meet in de day When I lay dis body down.

I’m not sure, but ummm an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth. Even Chloe felt the wrath of those words; along with the judge!

I’ve actually been on the Myrtles tour, and I just went yesterday, and the tour guide said that the Woodruffe children were two twin boys, not girls. Also, the judge was out of town on business when the murder happened, and when he got back he told the slaves to hang her and then weigh her down with bricks and throw her into the Mississippi River so she could never return to the plantation (but her spirit did).

There are no doubts that the Myrtles are haunted. That place has seen much tragedy. Sarah Mathilda was not murdered. She died from yellow fever (according to historical record) in 1823. Her children, a son and a daughter – not both daughters, died more than a year after she did. They certainly did not die from the result of a poisoned birthday cake. Also, with this legend, Octavia would not have existed at all (her mother was supposed to have been pregnant when murdered) but we know that she lived with her father, got married and lived to a ripe old age. In addition, Woodruff was not killed either. He died peacefully at his daughter and son-in-law’s plantation in 1851.

I once had a cat named Chloe but he was a male. I think the name “Chloe” resonates firmness and resoluteness. No wonder, my cat used to be hard headed and unbending. He was sweet quite a few times.

I think slaves were treated badly. I found out that my family in the pass own slaves, I cry most of the time now. I am ashame of my history that my family own slaves. My family lie to us saying they work so hard. Well, I am upset of this because they didn’t work at all. It was the poor slaves that work on my family farm. How dare they lie to us & how dare they own slaves. This is totally wrong of them. But their is a God & I don’t think he slept. God Bless all the slaves.

Yes this story is true, but also there were a lot more deaths in the house other than this story. When you go and get a tour, you find out about other people that have died there. I myself went, nothing happened until I looked at my pictures on a computer.

A cool story based on fact. Happy Halloween!

im doin this project

Oh, dont you just love a true ghost story!

Just thought I would comment here. This story has no proof whatsoever!! I have been to Myrtle’s multiple times. Of course they like this story it reels visitors in which creates revenue. The wife did not die and if the children did it was not because of this said slave woman. Please please research before believing everything you read. Not to mention many posters need to learn to spell

Okay I wasn’t going to comment but after reading some of the other comments I felt as though it was my moral obligation.

To Lori- You sound absolutely stupid. Do your research sweetie. Most slaves were brutalized whether it was physically, sexually, mentally or spiritually although it was often times all of the above. And the slaves did not WANT to take their master’s last names, those names were given (forced upon) them. Duh! They probably didn’t teach about slavery in what I am assuming to be your suburban school but look online, read a book or better yet find some older African Americans to talk to so you can get a clue since you are obviously clueless! To Deathwish- You must have one. It doesn’t matter how long ago slavery was it was wrong, it was brutal and it never gets easier hearing how your ancestors were abused in so many ways. It is forgivable (just barely) but it will NEVER be forgotten. You and Lori need to get together and get a clue. smh To Virginia- I love you. You said exactly what I wanted to say in a more sophisticated way. I wanted to go that route but I guess that is not going to happen now. To John- Virginia said MOST slaves which is probably true. Of course there were other slaves who were treated well throughout the Earth but there are still slaves (unpaid servants, captured workers, SLAVES) to this day that are being brutalized. It is not as prevalent and it is not to the extent that slavery was 400 years ago but it is still going on. To Gin- You go! 🙂 To Fran- My sentiments exactly! lol Love it! To Laura- I was with you until your last statement… o.O

Overall, it was a sad story but a good ghost story, I guess. I am interested but I can’t see myself going to LOOK for Chloe or the children’s ghosts. I’ll pass on that one!

I bought the secret of laurel oaks at my book fair and I never read it. I picket it up 2 years later and I just finished it! I am so surprised that the book is exactly similar to this and I can not even believe this is actually a real place!

Hi, my name is laura and my family on both my mother and father side endured slavery. My mother family the most as for me I was not born back in those day’s thank god, but my great great grandmother and grandfather would tell me storys and it would make me angery but it would exsplane alot of my history and what the black people before me went through. Now as for my father’s family my grandmother was half white and half black her mother was born into slavery at the end of it and was not a happy person because she was not excepted by either black nor white so it was hard for her and when I read some of these comments I laugh cause unless you know someone who was there or have family that can tell you about share cropping and all the vil and wrong dueing that black america went through your thoughts are just that thoughts. I don’t hate any white people for the past and I just wish they would stop trying to make us as black men and women feel better the past is the past lets go from the here and now some wrongs can’t be right and not all rights are make up for the wrong doing black people have endured so just live your life and teach your kids to work with us and stop your daughters from dating them damn no good black men that hurts your race not ours……

im doing a project on this and it gives me the chills i might go this summer hopefully i dont bump into chole……

To the Idiot Deathwish, Youre such an ignorant loser!!! Such a disgusting excuse for a human!

I assume youre a white male baboon!!!

Sincerely, The Mother of the Earth, The original, The Black One!!!!!!!!

The story is really interresting im reading all about i really wont to go to the house and see chloe.

The girls died..lol How can that be when Mary Octavia lived to be 78 and died at Oak lawn plantation near New Orleans,Also two slaves had taken care of the sick kids one was a girl and the other a boy who died of a fever years apart.And the plant Oleander is not harmful when cooked .Look it up

WOW sound s really cool im goona check it out but i hope i dont see chloe… lol

Lori please, what’s so brutal about Native Americans they were almost exterminated by whites. How can anyone minimized the injustice of slavery. Read your history.

I’m also reading The Secret of Laurel Oaks & it explains everything that went through Chloe’s mind. It’s so interesting & cooooool. I love stuff like this.

I Am Doing A Research Project On This House. This Subject Makes My Project Very Intresting .

i did not like that house

I’m probably very late to the party, but I saw this and had to comment:

Virginia: “I would think that most slaves were treated like livestock property-tortured/mutilated, dehumanized, and sexually assaulted at their owners’ whim (throughout history and the world; not just African Americans, and not just in America). ”

That is incorrect. Slavery has existed in many forms throughout history.

Some slaves in ancient Rome were well educated and performed highly specialized jobs. Slaves also worked as civil servants and politicians, some holding influential office. Slaves also had certain rights under legislation passed by the Senate.

In the Muslim world, there was a caste of warrior slaves called Mamluks who had a great deal of power and influence. Some Mamluks even attained ruling positions despite being property.

This post is not meant to condone slavery, but to offer some background information so you can be more informed.

My mother and father told me this story and I got chills… I love hearing a good ghost story…!

I’m sorry, but I really feel compelled to make one more comment towards one of the commenters (and I’ll totally understand if this one does not pass moderation). Also, I apologize beforehand if I come off as rude/disrespectful (for making social debates on this site). I found what DeathWish said extremely upsetting, and I don’t think it’s his place to proclaim that African Americans should just “get over themselves” about slavery. If you went through even a fraction of the discriminatory injustice that African Americans had to undergo throughout the centuries, shared similar history of oppression, and had to deal with the racial discrimination – however mitigated – they are still facing today, maybe you’ll be a lot more open minded and empathetic (unless of course, you’re closed to any arguments that racism is all but dead). About the liberator of the slaves being white, I wonder if it occurred to DeathWish how long and how much it took to happen: Someone with the unique mix of adequate influence and authority, along with tremendous bravery, conviction, and sense of morality (not to mention intelligence and pragmatism). And most importantly, someone who was white, so his voice would be heard among enough of the masses to gather sizeable support. If Martin Luther King, Jr. was sent back in time of American slavery, how much difference do you think he could make despite all his extraordinary brilliance and courage, simply because he was black? I truly hate to ruin the quaint atmosphere of this website library full of lovely, charming stories. I’ll make it a point to resist reading other comments, and just enjoy the story themselves.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Virginia.

I find this story so heartbreaking. Of course Chloe willingly put the children’s well-being at stake for herself, but under the circumtances, I can’t help feeling deep sympathy for her, and downright contempt toward the judge. I also want to point out that I find one of Lori’s comment about slaves being brutalized the “exception, not the rule” extremely odd. I would think that most slaves were treated like livestock property-tortured/mutilated, dehumanized, and sexually assaulted at their owners’ whim (throughout history and the world; not just African Americans, and not just in America). I suggest Lori should do a lot more (non-biased) reading on the subject of slavery before commenting on it. Also, I really don’t feel that a victimhood contest between African Americans and Native Americans is productive in any way.

Im reading a book called The Secret Of laurel Oaks and it has a similar storyline.It is a good ghost story and it explains what the slavee woman was thinking when she did what she thought was right.

wow that was interesting and that was the first time that ive heard of this story and since the first word i couldnt stop reading it. It was amazing and sad i mean the girl was trying to make her life easier but i guess she tried to hard to make it easier that she ruined it completly. what a shame and i dont agree with slavery its not right to MAKE someone do the work for u and even if u do u dont want to hit them because 1) thats mean 2) its going to make the slaves weaker 3) u are making ur property look bad. I totally dont agree with slavery its making a person feel ashamed because they get there name changed there family taken away most of the time and they have to move somewhere else. I liked the story though.

Yes, Slavery was very real, and in some countries it’s still going on behind close doors; my great grandmother, has mention about how cruel and rude some of the masters were!

” I can recall one of the stories, how my grandmother had worked in the fields for over twevle hours, on more than several occasions she needed water to drink, and how thet refused her; ‘ They tied her to a tree and beat her with a whip till she pissed on herself, and they caught the piss in a container and made her drink it since she were thirsty.

” Nevertheless, she forgave them, because she was taught that forgiveness was divine, so she did!

I want to visit, but 1) No way my mom would go to Louisiana just to stay in a haunted place and 2) No way would my mom believe me. My dad will but we’re tight on money… :/ I’ve heard of it before, I heard some audio stuff of foot-steps and children giggling. Gave me chills 😀

Hello been there first time in 2009 and The kids and Mother died in their bedroom even when they got sick in the dinning room. It was fun when i gone there. all the story is true of course.

I LOVED IT!!!!!! AMAZING story

i find it very interesting coz i can actualy see ghosts and not be afriad unlike other people(look above)

okay, look…slavery was done wayyyyyy back then, there are no slaves now! get over it, okay? and just think for a second…It was white men that imprisoned you, but it was also a WHITE man that set you free. THINK ABOUT IT. anyways. good story:D

I toured the Myrtles a couple of years ago. While on tour I was allowed to take a photo of the famous mirror that has a handprint on it even when the mirror was replaced. When I blew up the photo on my computer I saw what looked like two children faces on the stairs as it reflected in the mirror. It was very creepy. maybe it was an optical illusion but I think it was something supernatural. My son and I have toured many antebellum homes in Lousiana and Mississippi and find it an enjoyable hobby. We have had other experiences of a ghostly nature at Merrehope plantation in Meridian, MS. Yes many of these old homes are haunted and sometimes if you are lucky enough you will encounter something extrodianry as we have.

i loved this

i really must tell ms. lori that while she thinks cruelty was the exception, not the rule of slavery, let’s see how many lashes with a whip she could endure. Anyone forced to do anything against their will is a form of mental torture and I think it’s a cop-out used by whites to justify slavey. I can’t count the number of times i’ve heard whites say that the slaves would have died earlier had the whites not provided them with a better way of life. what total crap. by the way, i am white. Chloe was wronf for the poisining, but I’ve never walked in her shoes, so I can’t say I would’nt have done the same thing. God rest her soul.

Creepy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is really a terrifying story…really cool..sad that people back in the old days are into slavery. Famous ghost appearances in my country Malaysia, is usually the angry spirit of women whom dies while at childbirth, also called the Pontianak..really freak me out!! there are also others, but not as creepy as the pontianak.

Peace out!!!!! This is d very first time i have heard this story and I”m real thrilled and practically after reading Lori’s comment i swear I’m never gonna slave somebody……

I’ve heard this story before. I think slavery is WRONG! No human should “OWN” another. That being said, I would like to point out that the slaves that the South bought were sold by their own people.(1) The slaves were expensive property. Would you destroy your valuable property? The fact that all you hear about slavery in the South is all negative, is typical. The slaves that were brutalized were the exception not the rule. Most plantation owners treated them so well, that the slaves took the last name of their owners.(2) Still, I don’t like the thought of slavery. If you want to talk about ‘Whites’ being brutal, lets talk about Native Americans. No, don’t get me started….

That is so creepy. If I visit I sure don’t want to bump into Chloe! I am going to tell my friends.

Wow! I heard this story before and this is just unbelievable! I wanna travel to Louisiana and the Southern states to learn more about the culture. Very fascinating!

The Haunted Myrtle Plantation

The Myrtle Plantation is over 100 miles from the lively streets of New Orleans, but it’s so full of ghosts that it might as well be in the heart of the French Quarter. Today, it’s a bed and breakfast, and is touted as one of the most haunted houses in America. It was built in 1796 by David Bradford, one of the leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion, and happened to conveniently place the plantation on a Tunica Indian burial ground. The ghost of a Native woman who is believed to be buried there is one of the many ghosts seen on the plantation. Then there’s the spirit of Chloe, a slave who poisoned her masters for revenge. Her fellow slaves killed her, and now her ghost appears in the middle of the night, eerily standing over the beds of unsuspecting guests. The spirit of one of her victims also appears in the house. The young girl has been spotted peeking through the second-story windows. William Winter is the most famous ghost of the Myrtle Plantation. He was shot dead on the porch by an unknown assailant, and now his ghost can be seen crawling up the stairs, begging for mercy.

Early History of the Myrtle Plantation

General David Bradford was the lawyer and Deputy-Attorney General for Washington County, which at the time was claimed by both Pennslyvania and Virginia. He had become a prominent figure in the Whiskey Rebellion, primarily a protest against the high taxes on Whiskey. The fiasco was one of the first tests of the power of the newly formed American government, and so George Washington sent troops to arrest the leaders of the rebellion.

One of the arrest warrants was for Bradford. Well aware of his situation, he fled, making his way to the Spanish territory of Louisiana. He built a home and plantation, then called Laurel Grove, where he lived alone for several years. He was eventually pardoned by President John Adams, then sent for his family to move onto the plantation.

Bradford died in 1808, and his wife Elizabeth took over the plantation. She sold it in 1817 to Clarke Woodruff, a close family friend of the Bradfords who had married their daughter, Sara Mathilda. The Woodruffs themselves had three children; Africa Gale, James, and Mary Octavia.

In 1823, tragedy struck the Woodruffs. Sara Mathilda, Africa Gale, and James all died of Yellow Fever. Some rumors say they were actually poisoned by a young girl named Chloe, one of their slaves. Clarke and Mary Octavia, the last two surviving members of the family, left the plantation in the 1830s, selling it to Ruffin Gray Stirling. Stirling died shortly after, and control of the plantation was passed down to his wife. The property was renamed the Myrtle Plantation after the many crepe myrtles that grew in the area.

The Indian Burial Ground

The Myrtle Plantation is rumored to have been built on an Indian burial site. Specifically, it was built on a burial ground of the Tunica peoples, who were known to live in the Mississippi River Valley. Many say the paranormal activity at the home is due to the spirits of those who are buried underneath the plantation. The ghost of a young Indigenous woman has also been spotted around the plantation property.

The Legend of Chloe

While records indicate that Sara Mathilda and two of her children died of Yellow Fever, legends have it that they were actually poisoned by a slave named Chloe. Clarke Woodruff had taken a liking to Chloe and began to force himself on her. Chloe had no choice; if she didn’t give in to his demands, she would be publicly flogged.

Chloe wanted revenge. She listened in to Clarke and Sara Mathilda’s business dealings, hoping to catch secrets that could be used against them. Either Clarke or Sara caught her eavesdropping while looking through a keyhole, and they had one of her ears cut off as punishment. Afterward, she wore a green turban to cover up her missing ear.

Chloe formulated a plan. She baked the Woodruff family a cake. She also boiled down some oleander leaves, which are toxic, and poured the extracts into the cake mix. She wanted to get the Woodruffs sick, then nurse them back to health, which would once again put her in good standing with the family. Although, some say that Chloe wanted to kill them outright.

Whether or not her plan backfired depends on her intentions. If she wanted them dead, then Chloe sure did succeed. Sara, James, and Africa Gale all died after eating the cake. The other slaves, not wanting to get in trouble for “harboring” Chloe, kidnapped her in the middle of the night. They killed her by hanging and tossed her into a nearby river.

While some say the story of Chloe is a work of fiction, many swear by it. The ghost of Chloe has been seen around the house at night, usually standing over the beds of sleeping guests. Several visitors to the Myrtle Plantation have reported seeing the ghost of a young Black girl wearing a green turban in different areas of the house. One photographer even caught a photo of her while surveying the property for an insurance company. The photographer insists that nobody was standing in that spot the day he took the photo.

The ghosts of the children who were poisoned have also been spotted in the house. The daughter, Africa Gale, appears in the room where she died. Other guests have seen her from outside the house, staring through the upstairs window. Some say she bears an uncanny resemblance to the young girl who is the subject of a painting in the game room.

The Ghost of William Winter

Mrs. Striling hired attorney William Drew Winter during the Civil War to help handle the plantation’s finances. After the war, they found themselves dead broke. Their assets had been based in Confederate currency, which had become worthless after the war. They had to sell the plantation but were able to buy it back two years later.

In 1871, Winter was mysteriously shot dead on the plantation. Rumor has it that a man named E.B. Webber was the triggerman, though it’s unknown why Winter was targeted. Winter was shot on the front porch, but walked into the house while wounded and attempted to climb the stairs, dying on the 17th step.

The ghost of William Winter is one of the most encountered ghosts in the Myrtle Plantation. Many have heard his footsteps stumbling up the stairs at night. While some are fooled into thinking the sound is another guest, those who investigate are startled when they find nobody in the stairwell. Some have even seen a trail of phantom blood leading from the porch into the house. Some have even seen his apparition crawling up the stairs, begging for help.

More Spirits of the Myrtle Plantation

The ghost of a young girl who died in 1867 also haunts the Myrtle Plantation. She died of unknown causes, but a Voodoo priestess attempted to save her by performing magic rituals, which ultimately failed. Her ghost has been spotted in the room where she passed away, and guests claim to have woken up to a young girl practicing Voodoo on them while they slept.

During the Civil War, three Union soldiers attempted to loot the Myrtle Plantation. They didn’t last very long and were shot dead on the premises, purportedly by Confederate soldiers. Some years later, a maid attempted to clean the bloodstains from the floor, but the stain just wouldn’t come off. Some say they’ve seen the bodies of the three soldiers lying in a pool of blood on the first floor of the house.

Want to see more haunted NOLA?

New Orleans is a paranormal paradise. Behind the great food, lively culture, and colonial architecture, lies a haunted underbelly that keeps tourists on their toes. The ghost of Jean Lafitte roams around the city, still partying with his pirate cronies. He was known for his aggressive smuggling and pirating skills, which earned him quite a fortune. His old Blacksmith Shop is still standing in the French Quarter today. The ghost of Marie Leveau also walks the streets of New Orleans. This Voodoo Queen damn near ran the city, performing rituals in exchange for the secrets of the most powerful people in the city. Her ghost can be seen at the St. Louis Cemetery, hanging out near her grave. The spirits of both Marie and Jean can be seen having a drink at the Old Absinthe House in the French Quarter. Want to see more haunted Louisiana? Check out the top ten most haunted spots in the Pelican State right here!

Main Image Source: Wikimedia

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Paranormal Plantation: The Haunting of The Myrtles

By Mike Huberty

Spanish moss hanging from towering oaks, garden statues resembling a woman and children turned to stone, and a grand antebellum home filled with curious antiques, The Myrtles Plantation certainly looks the part of a haunted Southern plantation house. Located in Louisiana's West Feliciana Parish, in the town of St. Francisville. It's about 100 miles northwest of New Orleans and 30 miles north of Louisiana's capital, Baton Rouge.

It was built circa 1796 by General David Bradford, who was a leader in the Whiskey Rebellion, a protest against the newly-formed federal government's whiskey tax. After George Washington himself ordered Bradford’s execution, he fled to Louisiana, where Bradford eventually acquired the land that would become his plantation which he called Laurel Grove.

The Myrtles Plantation has been called the most haunted house in America. The first reports of paranormal activity likely originated long ago within the families of former owners but were first written about in the 1900s and some of the Myrtles' ghost stories were documented during the Federal Writer's Project in 1941 and in the 1948 photolog, "Ghosts Along the Mississippi," by Clarence Laughlin.

Many vacationers seeking a scare, including Hollywood luminaries Dan Aykroyd, Nicholas Cage, and Hilary Swank, have stayed the night. Unsolved Mysteries filmed there in 2002 and the Ghost Hunters shot an episode there in 2005 as well.

Chloe, a vengeful ghost?

While David Bradford died in 1808, his daughter Sara married one of David’s law students Clark Woodruff and they operated the plantation there until Bradford’s wife died in 1831. The most famous of the reputed ghost stories at the house comes from this time. A slave named Chloe there was reportedly pressured or forced Chloe into being his mistress. According to Hester Eby, who gave tours at the Myrtles for almost thirty years, in an interview that we did in 2012, tells the story:

The story of Chloe and the children began with the second owner Judge Clark Woodruff who supposedly took Chloe on as a mistress. She was caught eavesdropping some of the family's business that was not allowed. It was during the time that they believed whatever caused you to sin should be removed. So Judge Woodruff cut off her left ear.

That left her so upset that she baked the birthday cake for his oldest daughter and used the juices from the Oleander leaf in that cake, killing the judge's wife, Sarah, and 2 of her children. And there are 3 of the ghosts along with Chloe that are still seen and heard here. And, of course, Chloe is a slave, but a lot of guests that tell us they see Chloe from the shoulders down, they see nothing but a blue mist of a shade from the neck up. She's a black woman with the large earring on the right ear, the left ear missing, and, of course, she's wearing a turban.

This turban-wearing ghost, would come up in several pictures of the plantation, including the most recent one taken in 2017.

(source Facebook)

It’s a fearsome tale and a tragic one that sets up perfectly for a ghost story, but the problem is, according to researchers David Wiseheart and Troy Taylor, who investigated the historical record, never found evidence that she existed. But did discover that the children died, but of something very different than poisoning… we also interviewed Wiseheart in 2012 and he said:

In none of the paperwork for David Bradford, Elizabeth Bradford, for, Clark Woodruff, is there ever a name that's even close to Chloe… Sarah Matilda and the 2 kids, all three died at the Myrtle's, but they all died of yellow fever.

Sarah Matilda died July 21st 1824. And then the 2 kids died, Cornelia Gail, she died September 16th, 1824. And the other little girl, which happened to be a boy, died July 15th, 1824.His name is James.

So where did the name Chloe even come from? Well, according to former Frances Kermeen who owned the property in the late Twentieth Century and even wrote a book called The Myrtles Plantation: The True Story of America's Most Haunted House , it came from someone who took a tour of the place:

I always told that story by the owner, when I moved in. Now there's a very famous photograph at the Myrtles that does show of a lighter skinned slave. But that's definitely not a ghost that I saw. However, a ghost that I saw was was also seen by somebody on a tour and they saw her crying. And they said, well, why are you crying? And she said, she just learned that her father was white. And that's when this particular ghost said her name was Chloe. And that's how we got that name. It’s not really historically documented but that’s where we got the name.

The Murder of William Winter

Clark Woodruff eventually sold the Laurel Grove Plantation to Ruffin Gray Stirling in 1834, whose family would own the house for the next several decades. Stirling renovated the property making it grander than ever and changed the name to “The Myrtles”, named after the beautiful crepe myrtles (shrubs with beautiful flowers) that populated the property. Stirling’s daughter married William Winter who eventually became the caretaker of the plantation (although losing it to bankruptcy for a short time, Stirling’s family repurchased the property a few short years later.)

While up to ten(!) murders have been rumored at the Myrtles, only one has been documented and that’s William Winter. According to the January 31st, 1871 New Orleans Times-Picayune :

Wm. D. Winter, residing about three miles from this place, on the Woodville road, was called to his front door by some person unknown, on the night of the the 26th at about 7 o'clock. And as he appeared at the door of his sitting room, there being no one in sight, he requested to know who wished to see him; and at that instant a double barrel gun was discharged at him loaded with seven large buck-hoot, six of which took effect upon his person - five in his breast and one through his neck - killing him instantly upon his stand, He fell and expired instantly, without uttering a word. It is supposed the party firing was on horse back-bringing his gun on a level with Mr. Winter’s body, as his gallery is quite elevated from the ground. This barbarous assassination has filled our whole people with horror and indignation. Suspicion is abroad, and it is hoped the guilty party or parties will soon be arrested. Mr. Winter was an eminent lawyer and most worthy citizen. He leaves a wife and five children to mourn this cruel dispensation of Providence.

While four black men and one white man were arrested for the murder in May of 1871, they were not convicted. Paranormal researcher David Young, who has spent a lot of time at the Myrtles and even had his supernatural experience there featured in the TV show, My Ghost Story, has a theory about the murder. We interviewed him about it in 2012 as well:

We kind of figured out how William Winter was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan and by looking through the historical documents the main suspect was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, but he was never charged in the case. It was at the time, the rising of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1871. there was a quite a controversial governor's race going on. It was the first and only, African American, former slave that became, governor of Louisiana (Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback who served for 60 days when the former governor was impeached in 1872.) He was kind of appointed there, which didn’t sit with the locals in Louisiana. The Klu Klux Klan, which was made up of former confederate soldiers started doing their night riding.

And some of the plantation owners just disagreed with it totally. And as I understand it, William Winter was a vocal opponent of the Klan. And we feel that's why he was killed. He walked out onto his veranda when he was called out somebody called out for a lawyer, and he was teaching his children at the time by reading to them. He was called out of the smoking room and right there on the side of the house, a man on the horse shotgunned him and and shot him the death right there. That was January, 26, 1871. so nobody was charged for the case and it remained a mystery all these years and we just kind of, you know, just putting stuff together and and some of the documents we kind of just came to the conclusion that he was killed by the Ku Klux Klan.

And of course, William Winter’s murder did lead to a ghost story according to Frances Kermeen:

He was shot on the North Gallery. He stumbled up to the 17th step of the main staircase and died in his wife's arms… but every single night We hear the 17 steps going up the stairs.

And of course, David Wiseheart throws a little cold water on that as well as it states in the newspaper:

When it stops being true is the part where he walks back into the house, he's on the stairs…. The guy shot him with the shotgun, and he fell dead right there on the porch.

So are there real ghost stories at The Myrtles?

Well, we probably can’t convince you that ghosts are real, but people have had many paranormal experiences at the plantation since it’s been turned into a Bed and Breakfast in the early 70s by Frances Kermeen and plenty of strange activity has been recorded. According to tour director Hester Eby, one of the most active rooms is the Ruffin Stirling Room:

The Ruffin Stirling Room has been referred to earlier as the children's nursery. A lot of guests have told us, they have heard children crying or child sounds like a baby crying. We had a group of nurses here, and there are four rooms on that side and Ruffin Sterling is one of them. And they had booked all 4, but unfortunately, one of the ladies could not come. And they said late night, they heard a child crying, and being in their profession, you know, of course, they knocked to see if they could help. And they said a lady answered and just told them to go away. But they said the cry upset them so that they went and got management. But when they went in, of course, no one was there. But the children’s nursery has always had stories behind it. They like to play in makeup in that room, so we've had a lot of ladies had their makeup kinda disturbed. They, for some reason, must think that, the tubes of lipstick may be some type of candy because they often will either bite into or break the lipstick. And when, our guests look for them, you know, I can tell them it it's chances are it's under the bed, and it is.

And according to Kermeen, that room was used for a much more sinister purpose:

That's an interesting room because the judge, Judge Clark Woodruff would take slaves there to rape them while the children were out playing, if that was his spot. And, that's where Sarah actually caught him one day. But single ladies who sleep in that room are often seduced…

I would have people occasionally, you know, I'd say, how did you sleep? They conversation at breakfast and they go, well, you know, the baby in the next room cried all night long. and then we'd have to tell them there was nobody else upstairs. You were the only guest, and that must have happened a hundred times while I owned the house. or or people would be working upstairs, and they would hear it. And then they'd leave the job, and I'd have to find somebody else.

One of my favorite stories there, though, comes from David Young, who heard about when Hollywood came knocking at the Myrtles door. In the mid-1980s, the film The Long Hot Summer filmed at The Myrtles and the cast list was impressive, including Don Johnson, Cybill Shepherd, Jason Robards, and Ava Gardner. According to David Young, even the cast and crew experienced some paranormal disturbances:

They were filming in the dining room. And if you've ever seen the movie, it's a scene where Don Johnson arrives, and he wants to talk to the former beau of this woman that has taken a liking to him. And, you know, Don Johnson is sort of a wandering kind of tough guy. And, Jason Robard's daughter was dating this man, a local lawyer or something. So the scene has Don Johnson goes to tell him “don't feel threatened by me. I'm not interested in your girlfriend or anything.” And it was really a short scene. They changed that dining room into a study or a library. And it took them forever to film that scene because every time they did, things would get messed up. Things were knocked over, moved around, missing stuff you know. And it got to a point they had to put somebody there in the room to make sure nothing changed so they can finish the scene. And then spooked Ava Gardner and Jason Robard so much, they were they were gonna stay in the house and they ended up staying outside in trailers. They didn't want anything to do with the house or go into it at all. And, of course, Don Johnson and Cybill Shepherd that didn't matter to them. They had a hard time getting them out of the bedroom!

We haven’t even covered the supposedly haunted mirror with the handprints of the child ghosts that people have also seen regularly, or the Confederate soldiers who seem to show up more in the Summertime, or the story Frances Kermeen’s husband was possessed by the old owner. Many EVPs and photographs have been taken at The Myrtles. Even Troy Taylor and David Wiseheart admit that there’s probably paranormal activity there, they just want to be sticklers for the history (a view that we endorse wholeheartedly on our tours, American Ghost Walks Number One Rule is that “we don’t make anything up!”)

My sister Allison and I spent a night at the house back in the Summer of 2000. While we didn’t experience any paranormal activity ourselves, there was a couple that was supposed to stay in the room across from us, but they left before the night even started. They were in their room with the door closed and they heard people talking and laughing in the upstairs, but when they came out, no one was there. They packed up and left. I didn’t sleep a lot that night, so I wandered around the house and the grounds, no supernatural unfortunately, but I did enjoy the ambience of the beautiful plantation.

If you’re interested in listening to our entire interview, you can hear Frances, Hester, and the Davids in this See You On The Other Side podcast we did a few years back.

And if you’d like to learn more about the haunted history of Lousiana, you can join us in New Orleans. Our French Quarter tours can show you the real haunted history (and separate fact from fiction, just like this article!) of the Big Easy.

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Incredible New Myrtles Plantation ‘Chloe’ Ghost Photo Taken By Lafayette Woman

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On a recent tour of the Myrtles Plantation , a Lafayette woman captured the most incredible, spine-tingling photo of what appears to be Chloe that you'll ever see.

Myrtles Plantation Ghost Picture Of Chloe

Lafayette Realestate Agent Denise Stutes Kidder was recently on a tour at the Myrtles Plantation and may have snapped one of, if not the best picture of Chloe's ghost that anyone has ever seen.

In case you don't know the story of Chloe , let's start there before we get to the photo.

The legend of Chloe via wikipedia.com -

"Chloe was reportedly a slave owned by Clark and Sara Woodruff. According to one story, Clark Woodruff pressured or forced Chloe into being his mistress.

Other versions of the legend have Chloe listening in at keyholes to learn news of Clark Woodruff's business dealings or for other purposes. After being caught, either by Clark or Sara Woodruff, one of her ears was cut off, and she wore a green turban to hide it.

Chloe supposedly baked a cake for one of the two daughters containing an extract of boiled and reduced oleander leaves, which are extremely poisonous. The reason she did what she did was to get work back inside the house."

According to the legend, Chloe's plan backfired. Only Sara Woodruff and her two daughters ate the cake. As a result, all three died from the poison made out of the oleander leaves.

We spoke with Denise to get her account of exactly what happened the night she took this photo at the Myrtles Plantation.

"I’m not sure how much I believe because, I have never had an experience, which I’m perfectly happy. So during the tour, I took very bad and random pictures with no flash at night. I was pretty let down after the tour because I didn’t feel a ghost, see a ghost, or get my earring stolen as they suggest.

Sunday evening while looking through our weekend pictures I saw this one. I immediately tried to find an explanation. I was the last to walk out of the room besides the host who locks the door. I reviewed everyone’s clothes in other pictures - nothing.

The size and clothing doesn’t fit anything that could have been in the room that I can figure out. They mentioned in the tour that people were small and there was a little tub that they used in the room which explains the size of this person."

Denise is a self-described skeptic and has tried for weeks to find an answer or an explanation that would explain the ghostly image in her photograph.

So far, no reasonable explanation can be found.

Below is the original photo Denise took at the Myrtles Plantation.

Take a good look at the mirrored paneled room divider.

Now, here's one we lightened up a bit.

What do you think is going on in this photo?

Is it just a strange incident with lighting?

Or...is it exactly what it appears to be...the ghost of Chloe?

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NOTE: The video above features 13th Gate, another "haunted" attraction in Louisiana.

There is nothing more ghoulishly satisfying than a good ghost tale.

The story begins with Gen. David Bradford, aka, “Whiskey Dave,” a leader of the Whiskey Rebellion who fled the 13 colonies to escape imprisonment. Bradford built “Laurel Grove” in 1796, moving his family along with him. Bradford sold the home to his daughter, Sara Mathilda Bradford, and her husband, Clarke Woodruff, in the 1820s.

In 1830, Sara and two of her three children died unexpectedly. Some say they died of yellow fever, others believe they were poisoned by the famous Chloe, a "ghost" who was reportedly once a slave owned by Clarke and Sara.

In 1831, Clarke sold the plantation to Ruffin Gray Stirling and his wife Mary Catherine Cobb. The couple would change the name to "The Myrtles Plantation," expand the home and fill it with furnishings from Europe. The mansion would undergo many different owners from the 1840s to the early 1900s who endured robberies, deaths and murders — ultimately filling with residents who would never leave.

In the 1950s, the first ghost sighting was reported by owner Marjorie Munson, who reported seeing a “ghost in a green turban.” In the 1970s, the home was bought by James and Frances Kermeen Myers who began to operate the lot as a bed and breakfast.

In 1984, a journalist with Life magazine visited to write on the architecture of the 222-year-old mansion that is encased in ornamental ironwork and shows some of the finest examples of frieze-work molding. Little did he know he would bring something more to the table: ghosts.

MORE : You could own the most expensive estate in Louisiana for $16 million

The journalist reported having been in the presence of two children who would “call him by name then disappear.” Frances confirmed the journalist’s suspicions in her 2005 novel, "The Myrtles Plantation: The True Story of America’s Most Haunted House," and so the haunting began.

Teeta Moss is an Opelousas native who currently owns The Myrtles Plantation along with her husband, John Moss. The couple purchased the home from Frances and James. 

"We had known The Myrtles was haunted," said Teeta. "Though, I truly believed it was just a marketing scheme."

MORE : Louisiana is home to one of America's most haunted spots

For the first seven years, the couple and their two sons lived on the top floor of the mansion while the bottom continued as a bed and breakfast for traveling guests. Teeta said that it was less than two weeks into their new life that she experienced her first taste of the supernatural when a ghost called out her name in her husband's voice.

 Her husband was not on the property at the time.

Teeta called her friend and supernatural expert, Mary Joe McKay, who explained that the spirits were welcoming her using a voice she was comfortable hearing. The next week, the same thing occurred, but in the voice of a dear childhood friend. 

This would be the first of many occurrences the family encountered. Teeta mentioned that her sons often saw apparitions of children around the home. She began to question their decision to move to The Myrtles until one moment that would change her life forever. 

"It was 1993. My youngest son Morgan was 10-and-a-half months old and in the care of his nanny, sleeping in an antique bed with iron railings. I was in my office typing the menu for the day for our restaurant," she said. "In this Lauren Bacall, raspy voice, I heard, 'Check your baby.' I disregarded it, thinking that my mind was playing tricks on me out of pure exhaustion, so I continued typing.

" 'Check on your baby,' the raspy voice said again. Then, I knew I couldn’t ignore it, so I went to Morgan’s room and sure enough, he wasn’t there. I ran around the house yelling his name and finally, heading out of the front door to the brick courtyard, there he was, toddling toward the edge of the pond. I screamed 'Morgan!' and swooped him up.

"When I held him, a warm blanket enveloped the two of us — so real that I could feel the fabric and warmth. Then that same voice said to me, 'You need not worry, your family will never be harmed here.' That was a transformation for me, and I truly believe the spirits here are angels here to protect us. Anytime I ever encounter them it is for a greater purpose.”

Hester Eby, director of tourism for The Myrtles Plantation for more than 30 years, also believes the ghosts are friendly.

One of her most memorable moments was the first time she met a ghost child.

"I saw a little girl coming up the walkway with her mother and father," said Hester. "The man asked for tickets for him and his wife and I asked, 'what about your daughter?' He quickly changed a smile to a frown to let me know they may never have children, but coming up the walkway behind them was a little girl, I thought.

"I was going to tell the little girl how pretty she was, she had long blonde hair and was dressed in an antique white dress skipping behind her mother. The father was very serious when I asked, and when the lady came up, of course, I didn’t mention the child who disappeared. 

"When they got in the house with the tour guide, I went outside to look for the baby. I walked up the porchway to enter the front and when I put my hands on the door to go in, she giggled from the north end of the porchway and said 'hello there,' then she disappeared again. She was playing tricks with me." 

These stories are few of the countless tales that have surrounded The Myrtles, which currently has 12 unique accommodations and daily tours for anyone looking to get spooked and see a unique piece of Louisiana history. 

You might even catch a spirit in a photograph! 

Learn more about The Myrtles Plantation by visiting  www.myrtlesplantation.com .

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Myrtles Plantation: The South’s Spookiest House

Tucked away among the giant oak trees dripping with Spanish moss in Louisiana’s Plantation Country is “one of America’s most haunted homes.”  The 10-acre, 18th-century Myrtles Plantation , featured in Traveler’s 2008 Stay List Traveler’s 2008 Stay List , charms visitors with rocking chairs on the cast iron porch and cozy French furnishings in its B&B.  But all the Southern charm can’t detract from the eerie feeling people get as they wander around the mansion and grounds. Rumor has it, ghosts abound.

The most popular ghost to haunt the Myrtles is Chloe. According to the legend, in the 1800s Judge Clark Woodruff, the plantation’s owner, had an affair with Chloe, the household servant. When Judge Woodruff began having an affair with another girl, Chloe feared that she would be banned from the house and forced to work in the fields with the other slaves. 

To prove herself worthy of remaining in the house, Chloe devised a plan. One night, she baked a cake and in the mix included some poisonous crushed oleander leaves, hoping to make his daughters sick so that she would have to nurse them back to health and secure herself a spot in the house. Her plan backfired, however, when the amount of poison caused the children to die. Fearing that they would be accused of murder by association, Chloe’s fellow slaves dragged her from bed that night, hanged her, then threw her body in the river. Some say that Chloe has appeared in their photos from the plantation and others hear the young girls laughing and playing at the Myrtles today.

You can hear these legends and others on a tour of the Myrtles. A walk through the house and stories about the history are offered on a daily basis. The Mystery Tours are held every Friday and Saturday evening, and guests sit around with a guide who tells about their personal experiences at the haunted mansion.  

And today at 6 p.m., tickets will go on sale for the Halloween Mystery Tours, to be held both tonight and Saturday night.  Tickets are $10 and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis at the plantation.

The Myrtles Plantation is located at 7747 U.S. Hwy 61, St. Francisville, LA, 70775.

Photo: Courtesy of Becky Pitzer , via flickr

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The Myrtles Plantation: A Haunted History

The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana is known for its rich history and, some say, its ghostly residents. Originally built in 1796 by General David Bradford, the property has changed hands several times over the years, each owner adding their own story to the plantation’s history. In this blog post, we will explore the history of the Myrtles Plantation and the haunted stories that surround it.

Ownership of the Myrtles Plantation

General David Bradford built the Myrtles Plantation in 1796, but he only lived there for a few years before fleeing to Louisiana to escape arrest for his role in the Whiskey Rebellion. The property was then sold to Ruffin Gray, who died in 1817, leaving the plantation to his wife Mary Catherine Cobb and their three children.

After Mary Catherine’s death in 1834, the plantation was sold several times before being purchased by Judge Clarke Woodruff in 1857. Woodruff and his wife Sara added several additions to the house, including a new wing and a second-story balcony. They also owned several slaves, one of whom would become infamous for her role in the plantation’s history.

The Story of Chloe

Chloe was a slave owned by the Woodruff family who was said to have been mistreated by Judge Woodruff. In an effort to get back at him, she supposedly poisoned his wife and two of their children with oleander leaves. Chloe was then hanged by the other slaves on the plantation either to punish or or to keep from being punished themselves by the Woodruffs for helping her.

Some versions of the story say that Chloe was not trying to kill the family, but rather make them sick so that she could nurse them back to health and regain favor with the family. Regardless of her intentions, Chloe’s story has become one of the most famous ghost stories associated with the Myrtles Plantation.

Ghost Sightings

In addition to the story of Chloe, there have been numerous other ghost sightings reported at the Myrtles Plantation. Some guests have reported seeing a ghostly figure of a woman on the balcony, while others claim to have seen ghostly children playing in the yard. There have also been reports of unexplained footsteps and doors opening and closing on their own.

Feelings on the Property

Visitors to the Myrtles Plantation often report feeling a sense of unease or being watched, particularly in the area where Chloe’s story is centered. Some have reported feeling a sense of sadness or despair, while others have reported feeling as if they are being welcomed into the home by the ghostly residents.

Bed and Breakfast

Today, the Myrtles Plantation is a popular bed and breakfast, with guests staying in one of the 11 rooms available in the main house or one of the nearby cottages. The property also offers guided tours for those interested in learning more about the history and hauntings of the plantation. The Myrtles Plantation is located in St. Francisville, Louisiana, approximately 26 miles from Baton Rouge, which makes it a great stop on your haunted vacation in Louisiana for the Fifolet Halloween Festival.

The Myrtles Plantation is a fascinating historical site with a rich and haunting past. From the story of Chloe to the numerous ghost sightings reported on the property, the Myrtles is a place that has captured the imagination of visitors for generations. Whether you are a history buff or a paranormal enthusiast, a visit to the Myrtles Plantation is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

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• March 15, 2023

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