Vicksburg is home to some of the country’s most notorious haunts. In addition to Mississippi’s most haunted home, McRaven, the city also includes Cedar Grove Mansion. The inn has long had a reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in Mississippi, and it’s recently been named the top haunt in the state. Take a look:
Situated on Oak Street in Vicksburg, Cedar Grove Mansion looks like a typical inn on the outside; however, things aren’t always as they appear.
Over the years, both staff and guests have experienced all sorts of supernatural phenomena – from hearing phantom footsteps to seeing apparitions move about the home.
Cedar Grove has a long history that dates all the way back to the mid 1800s.
John Klein, a wealthy entrepreneur, commissioned construction of Cedar Grove in 1840. He had the home built for Elizabeth Bartley Day, a young woman from New Orleans who he met and immediately fell in love with. The two wed in 1842 and left for a yearlong European honeymoon. While away, they purchased many of the furnishings and décor found in Cedar Gove today.
Despite their wealth and fortune, the Kleins were no strangers to tragedy.
Sadly, four of the couple's 10 children passed away. Two infants died from unknown causes, one daughter passed away from a "childhood disease," and the Klein's 17-year-old son was shot in the back when a gun he was carrying fell and accidentally discharged.
Cedar Grove didn’t escape the Civil War unscathed, either.
Once the war began, a pregnant Elizabeth found herself home alone as John went off to fight. As a favor, Elizabeth’s uncle, General Sherman, moved her from the home to a safe location. He also promised to save Cedar Grove from being destroyed by using it as a Union hospital. A promise he kept – minus the cannon ball, which became embedded in the wall after a Union attack.
The Klein family sold the home in 1919; however, it appears they’ve never left.
Many visitors claim to smell pipe tobacco near the Gentlemen’s Parlor – a room John Klein frequented. On several occasions, the ghost of Elizabeth Klein has been seen coming down the steps pictured above. It’s said that she moves about the house as if she’s just going about her day.
And it seems the Klein children are not shy about making their presence known.
Ghosts of a young girl and an older boy – believed to be the Klein children - have also been spotted in Cedar Gove. According to the home's housekeepers, it's not uncommon for the bed pictured above to suddenly look as if someone has been laying in it right after it's been made. Phantom giggling and crying are also common occurrences.
But the Kleins aren’t the only phantom residents of Cedar Grove.
The home’s role as a Union hospital during the Civil War seems to have brought on some of the paranormal activity experienced today. According to numerous witnesses, phantom soldiers wander both the grounds and the house.
Watch the video below to learn more about the notoriously creepy home.
So, did you know that Cedar Grove was one of the nation's most haunted places? Ever visited or stayed the night? Know of another good haunt? Tell us in the comment section!
Enjoyed this? Be sure to check out "The Story Behind Mississippi’s Most Haunted House Is Beyond Terrifying."
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