Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Mississippi Day 4 (St. Francisville, LA): Myrtles Plantation, A Ghost Story and A Country Cabernet Show

The highlight of the day was The Myrtle Plantation which is known for its paranormal activity and ghost stories.

Our excursion was a hop off hop off excursion today. We got up super early to catch the first bus and stopped at many markets, boutique shops and Myrtles Plantation. Our first stop was Audubon Market where we got snacks and continued through all of the stops. A lot of the places were walking distance between each other so it was easier to just walk than wait for a bus.

Myrtles Plantation isn’t as big as the plantation we went to yesterday but it has more character. It’s considered one of the more haunted places in America and has been featured on many paranormal shows. Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 by David Bradford and was originally called Laurel Grove. Because of David’s involvement in the Pennsylvania Whiskey Rebellion he lived there alone until 1799 when he was pardoned by John Adams. It was then that he was able to bring the rest of his family to the plantation from Pennsylvania. Nine years after David died his wife, Elisabeth Bradford, hired Clarke Woodruff to manage the property in 1817. When Elisabeth died in 1831 Clarke took ownership the property and sold it 3 years later to Ruffin Stirling who completely remodeled the plantation which expanded the main house to nearly double its original size. Ruffin also changed the name of the plantation to what it is today, The Myrtles, after the flowers that grow there. Currently the Plantation is a functioning hotel and hosts special Halloween tours during Halloween.

It’s said that The Myrtles Plantation was built on top of an Indian burial ground, hosts at least 12 ghosts and is the site of 10 murders. The only documented murder is the murder of William Winter. William was an attorney who acquired the plantation in 1865. The murder came to the Myrtle Plantation by horse and called for a lawyer named William Winter. When William stepped outside the murder asked who he was and after confirmation, shot him twice. William staggered up the stairs yelling his wife’s name, Sarah. Sarah ran to William meeting him on the 17th stair of the main staircase where William died. Occupants have reported to hear gun shots, staggering foot steps on the stairs and the ghost of William yelling for Sarah. 

After the stop at the plantation we continued our hop on hop off tour to the rest of the markets and boutiques. Then it was back to the ship for lunch.

We had some down time after lunch. I used that time to catch up with my blog, email’s and social media. I was also able to sneak in a nap before dinner. The cruise line also hosted a champagne reception for people that have traveled the cruise line in the past. Those are always fun. We canceled our reservation at the specialty restaurant and ate at the regular sit-down restaurant tonight because we liked their menu better. Maybe we’ll go another day.

Tonight’s show was a country cabaret show. It was a lot better than I thought it would be. I was pleasantly surprised. There set list consisted of Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Your Cheating Heart, It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels, Oh Lonesome Me, Tennessee Waltz, Coal Miners Daughter, Walk The Line, Ring of Fire, Two Doors Down, Here You Come Again, The River, Friends In Low Places, Is There Life Out There, Yakety Sax, Take Me Home Country Roads, King of The Road, On The Road Again, The Gambler, Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, Sixteen Tons, Rose Garden, Stand By Your Man, Achy Breaky Heart, Harpe Valley PTA, Fancy, The Way You Love Me, Islands In The Stream and ended with 9 to 5. It was a very cool show.

After the show I ordered room service then went to bed. Tomorrow we go to Natchez, Mississippi. One of the highlights of our trip.


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