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.

Haunting

The Klein family sold the mansion in 1919, but apparently did not totally leave. John Klein often enjoyed smoking his pipe in the library, where guests have reported the smell. Elizabeth, too, has been seen throughout the house carrying out her daily chores.  The apparition of a young girl descending the main staircase, and footsteps on the back porch stairs have also been reported as paranormal activity.

According to housekeepers, the children make appearance, too. Ghosts of a young girl and older boy have been seen, and giggling and crying is sometimes heard. Also, it is not uncommon for the bed shown below to suddenly appear as if someone has been laying in it after it’s been made.

Additionally, several guests have experienced hearing a buzzing sound and seeing soldiers roaming the house and grounds, most likely ghosts from when the home was utilized as a Union hospital.

 Vicksburg has some of the most well-known haunted houses, but Cedar Grove Mansion is perhaps the most haunted in the state. It most recently was named the top haunt in Mississippi. Unfortunately, in September of this year, the Cedar Grove Inn sold, the employees were laid off and events canceled. The good news, however, is that after being on the market for six months, the home was sold to Vicksburg natives and descendants of the Klein family. The family ghosts had the mansion all to themselves for quite a while, so we shall have to see how they react to guests again.