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Delphine
01-25-2010, 12:53 AM
The McRaven Home

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Located in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the McRaven House is reputed to be the most haunted house in Mississippi. Experts have been studying paranormal activity here for 25 years.

The house was built in three primary sections. The first, a brick structure, was built by Andrew Glass in 1796.

The grounds surrounding McRaven House are a literal jungle of Magnolias, ferns, crepe myrtle, and assorted southern flora. The approach to the house is through thick greenery on a brick path.

Today the home is owned by Mr. Leland French who, for a refreshing change, freely admits to the house being haunted. The home is the site of just about every type of paranormal phenomena there is, including orbs, mists, sounds, smells, and full-figure apparitions.

The home was expanded twice (1836 & 1839), and has seen it's share of violent history.

One section of the home was built in the Empire period around 1836 by Sheriff Stephen Howard. The bedroom pictured below belonged to Howard's wife, Mary Elizabeth Howard. She died there in 1836, and stange images have been said to appear in photos in the room.



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Mary Elizabeth Howard's funeral notice is framed and hangs on the wall of the bedroom. It is said that she haunts this room and other areas of the house.


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The Greek Revival section of the house, shown in the first photo, was built about 1849 by John H. Bobb. John Bobb was murdered on the grounds of his own home in 1864.


William Murray, who acquired McRaven in 1882, is also a frequent paranormal "visitor," along with his daughters, Ella and Annie, on the staircase and grounds.



It is believed that at least five of the inhabitants of the house died in or near the house.

The house was a stop on the Trail of Tears, when as ordered by Andrew Jackson, Indians were herded like cattle towards reservations in Oklahoma. Many died along the way.

During the Civil War, the area in the immediate vicinity of the house was the site of the bloody Siege of Vicksburg, and the back yard served as a make-shift War Hospital. Many of the dead are buried within the grounds around the house.

It's no wonder that there are so many verified sightings at the McRaven House.

(An interesting item, shown, below, is the courting candle. When a young man came to court, he found a "courting candle" on the porch. He could stay as long as the father had cranked up the candle. If he arrived and the candle had not been raised, he might as well go home, because he was unwelcome.)



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The hauntings have been written up in the national press and have been investigated by experienced ghost hunters, who have been quite successful in capturing photos, temperature fluctuations, and other spirit energies here.

maryals
01-25-2010, 03:04 AM
Fascinating ... thanks. I love the pictures!

Mary and Bessie :umbrella:

Alpha
01-25-2010, 09:42 AM
What a beautiful estate with more than a rich history Delphs!! Thanks for putting it up. :notworthy

I love the "courting" candle...that is very cool and I wonder if this was a usual Southern Practice way back in the day.

I've always loved the South.....there's a different energy there.

Is this close to where you live? Would be interesting to try to get some EVPs there.

Delphine
01-27-2010, 11:50 PM
What a beautiful estate with more than a rich history Delphs!! Thanks for putting it up. :notworthy

I love the "courting" candle...that is very cool and I wonder if this was a usual Southern Practice way back in the day.

I've always loved the South.....there's a different energy there.

Is this close to where you live? Would be interesting to try to get some EVPs there.

Vicksburg is northwest of me, along the Mississippi River. One of the things I chose to get away from was the Mississippi...no matter how beautiful and romantic. It's a water thing, you know.