In our series of haunted houses during Halloween month, this is the tragic tale of Cedar Grove Mansion. This home is NOT currently for sale, just an interesting haunted house for those who enjoy ghost stories.
Cedar Grove Mansion appears normal on the outside, but things are not always as they seem. The mansion was built in 1840 by John Klein, a wealthy entrepreneur, for Elizabeth Bartley Day. When John met Elizabeth, a pretty young woman from New Orleans, he instantly fell in love. The two married in 1842 and subsequently spent a year-long honeymoon in Europe. While in Europe, the couple purchased many of the furnishings found in Cedar Gove today.
Deaths
The mansion operated as an inn until September 2020, was restored and is currently open again, but when the Klein family owned it, several unfortunate deaths occurred. Elizabeth gave birth to 10 children, but only four survived. Two infants died of unknown causes, a daughter passed away at a young age from a childhood disease, and their 15-year-old son, Rudolph was killed after he accidentally shot himself in the eye with a Winchester rifle. Elizabeth herself, an invalid by this time, died in the home at an advanced age in 1909.
The War
Elizabeth was yet pregnant again when the Civil War started and John set off to fight. Elizabeth’s uncle, General Sherman, moved her and the children to a safer location during this time. Sherman also kept the mansion safe by employing it as a Union hospital – although it does have a cannon ball embedded in it.