Happy Halloween!

One of my favorite times of year is here! I thought I would share some of the tales I have heard through the years about ghosts in Ouachita Parish.

Judge J.N.T. Richardson is said to still haunt Ingleside Plantation. He tends to play the piano. Chains rattle throughout the house and the plantation bell rings from time to time by unseen hands. A woman was once said to haunt the plantation, wringing her hands and weeping. She was said to be waiting in vain for her lost love to return from the Civil War. There was also a legend among the enslaved residents that lived there, that a headless, armored knight, on a pure white charger, carrying a lighted lantern, galloped back and forth in the slaves’ quarters to see that they were properly treated and cared for.

On South Grand street downtown, is the ghost of a Native American, said to be from the Ouachita tribe, who still guards the site of the old fort Miro. No one has seen him for a while now.

The Cooley House is said to be haunted by the spirit of a woman in a long flowing white gown. People late at night have seen her staring out of the windows on the second floor, looking towards the river. A crying baby has also been heard.

Going further down South Grand to the old E.A. Conway hospital, explorers have seen the ghosts of former patients roaming the halls, heard doors slam and the sound of old hospital beds being rolled down the corridors.

Limerick Plantation, which once stood at the site of the Sherrouse House behind Tennille cemetery, had a very playful ghost. He would take down the spindles of the staircase and send them rolling down the stairs at night. He was there up until the home was torn down.

The girl in the iron coffin which was dug up in Lakeshore, was rumored to haunt the spot where her coffin was found. I found only one news article that referred to this particular ghost!

The Copley-Keys-Mize home in West Monroe has a poltergeist who likes to flip on lamps after the resident has just turned them off. It is not known who it is.

The bridge on New Natchitoches Road in West Monroe just before Puckett Lake Road is said to be haunted by the spirit of a hermit who once lived in the area. He is seen usually at 11 at night.

An abandoned home called the Hilltop House near the Cheniere Shack restaurant in West Monroe was said to be very haunted. It was rumored to have been a covert abortion clinic. Trespassers who explored the building have seen orbs, heard babies crying, have been touched and even possessed! This is private property and those found trespassing will be severely punished.

Former Little Theater Director Chris Ringham is believed to haunt the theater. It makes sense, because he was such an integral part of the theater during his thirty-five year career and his ashes were buried in the courtyard next to the building. The sight and smell of tobacco smoke is noticed from time to time (he was a heavy smoker) and doors have been slammed when no one was near! Two other ghosts are said to be here. Doug Pauli, former lighting director, turns on lights when staff are ready to leave and former costume designer Michael Hollier seems to move around the costumes. Lastly, a woman has been seen in the women’s bathroom and humming is heard.

The Main Library branch of the Ouachita Parish Public Library has a ghost. She seems to dwell in the Special Collections department. My boss hasn’t seen or heard her, and doesn’t believe such nonsense, but I have heard first hands stories and had her act up once behind my back! I was sitting in a chair with my back to two fellow employees, politely arguing with one another. I was trying not to listen, when I heard something slam to the floor and then dead silence. When I turned around, the two were staring at a box which was on the floor between them. One remarked, “Boy, she’s pi**ed!” Apparently, the department ghost was annoyed by their argument. A long newspaper box slid straight out from the top of a shelf and landed right between them. People have heard knocks and bangs, had computer problems and cabinets unlocked and opened when the area was locked up with the only key safely in a Branch Manager’s pocket! One person saw her walking around the corner. Her hair was up in a bun and she wore a long skirt. Two other employees were scared out of their wits one morning, when they exited the elevator to turn on the lights and heard a woman’s screams coming from the end of the hallway where the department was. Nothing was there. They both ran and refused to go up there again. I wonder if she will follow us when the library moves? We have no idea who she is. Some employees swear she is a previous head of the department, but the activity started long before their demise. She may have come downstairs briefly once. An employee, who was the first inside the building one morning, heard voices coming from the locked and very dark Genealogy Department!

First Glimpse Ultrasound and Boutique on Trenton Street in West Monroe has a ghost. He is the original owner of the building, W.R. Mitchell. It is the second oldest building in that area, once known as the town of Cottonport. The sound of old nail bins turning has been heard (there are no nail bins). The sound of shelves full of glass crashing to the floor has been heard too, but no damage was found. He seems to show himself to women mainly, and has shown his displeasure to store owners by not allowing the door to be locked.

The Roland Filhiol home on Stone Avenue has a little girl ghost, who loves to play. Previous home owners have left out toys for the little girl to play with. She likes to pull pranks and can be very temperamental. One person, conducting business at the residence, saw a baby doll carriage glide out of a side room and down the hall, with no one pushing it. They left in a big hurry! There is a second ghost upstairs of an elderly apartment tenant who once lived in the home. They call him, “Little Larry”. The hospital bed he died in was kept upstairs for a long time until it was thrown out by new owners. He made his displeasure known for a long time!

I was told by a patron once, that out of the corner of their eye, they caught sight of a little boy sitting among the tombstones of Old City Cemetery. When they turned to look, no one was there.

Lastly, the ghost of little Georgette Layton has been seen haunting Layton Castle. She died at the turn of the last century, but shows herself to guests from time to time! I also remember many years ago one Halloween season, a local TV station did a story on the many ghosts of the area. A psychic was brought to Layton Castle, and she felt there was a residual haunting of a carriage coming down the driveway and pulling up to the door. People who have lived at the castle report hearing lots of walking around, doors slamming, lights turning on, etc. when no one is there!

Happy haunting!

P.S.: If you want a safe place to bring your children tonight to trick or treat, come by the Krewe of Janus Krewe Den on Louisville Ave. and trick or treat among the parade floats! I will be one of the ones passing out candy! There is no charge, but donations will be accepted.