FALL 2024 (2) - Flipbook - Page 17
Sarah Woodruff and two of her children.
The other slaves, fearing retribution,
hanged Chloe and threw her body into
the Mississippi River. Today, Chloe's
spirit is often seen roaming the
grounds, wearing her distinctive green
turban.
This curiosity sparked the ghost
stories that would come to define
The Myrtles. Subsequent owners,
including Arlin Dease and the
Wards, continued to share these
tales,
adding
their
own
embellishments. When James and
Frances Kermeen Myers purchased
the property, the legend of The
Myrtles went national, appearing in
the November 1980 issue of Life
magazine. The stories of hauntings
spread far and wide, capturing the
public’s imagination.
The Ghost of Chloe
One of the most famous ghosts is
that of Chloe, a slave who was
brought in from the fields to work
inside the house. According to
legend, Chloe was forced into a
relationship with her master, Clark
Woodruff, and after being caught
eavesdropping, had her ear cut off.
To cover her disfigurement, Chloe
wore a green turban. In an attempt
to secure her place in the
household, Chloe baked a birthday
cake laced with poison, intending to
cure the family and earn their
gratitude. However, the plan
backfired, resulting in the deaths of
Other Haunted Tales of The Myrtles
The Haunted Staircase: Visitors report
hearing phantom footsteps on the
staircase, believed to be the dying steps
of William Winter, who was shot on the
front porch and staggered inside to
collapse on the seventeenth step.
The Everlasting Bloodstain: During the
Civil War, three Union soldiers were
shot in the gentleman’s parlor, leaving a
bloodstain that reportedly cannot be
removed, no matter how hard one tries
to clean it.
The Ghost of Lewis Stirling: Lewis
Stirling, a family member allegedly
stabbed to death over a gambling debt,
is said to haunt the house, adding to
the eerie atmosphere.
The Haunted Mirror: A mirror in the
house is said to hold the spirits of
Sarah Woodruff and her children.
Visitors often claim to see ghostly
figures or unexplained handprints on
its surface, making it a popular
attraction for those hoping to capture
paranormal phenomena.
A Perfect Halloween Destination
With its tragic history and ghostly
encounters, The Myrtles Plantation is a
top destination for a haunted
experience,
especially
around
Halloween. Guests can stay overnight,
join guided ghost tours, and try
capturing a spirit in the infamous
mirror
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