I’ve been fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time in Tennessee due to the number of family members I have there. This article just scratches the surface on haunted places and ghost stories in the state.
First up is the Carnton Mansion in Franklin, Tennessee. This house was located in such a position that when the Civil War came to Franklin, the owners could literally watch the battle from their back porch. Caroline Carnton watched the battle and then helped wounded Confederate soldiers in her own home. Those that didn’t survive and those that died on the battlefield were literally buried right beside her house.
Today people report hearing the sounds of someone walking around the house and yard. There are also some who have seen the ghost for themselves. He’s always dressed in his uniform and he always walks from the back porch to the house or plants himself on the edge of the lawn. There’s also the ghost of a woman wearing a white dress inside the house that has occasionally showed herself in photographs.
Franklin is also home to the haunted Carter House. The house was used by Union soldiers during a bloody battle that left thousands of men dead. With the fight taking place right outside their home, the Carter family was forced to hide in the basement. One of the family son’s had fought in the battle and several people went out with lanterns to find him. They did manage to find him still alive, but he died just a few days later.
Visitors claim to have seen the ghost of a little girl or feel the little girl trying to get them to play and messing with their clothes. There are also stories of people hearing a woman talking and seeing the Carter son who died in the house.
Nashville is the biggest city in the state and has some not-so-surprising ghost stories. One haunted place is the Ryman Auditorium. In 1892 the building opened as the Union Gospel Tabernacle and the Confederate Gallery was a balcony area where the wilder patrons could sit during performances.
The Ryman has a ghost known as the Gray Man because of the gray uniform type outfit he wears, similar to a Confederate soldier. The man is often spotted sitting in the Gallery, watching the shows. The original owner Captain Ryman is also rumored to haunt the auditorium. This ghost has been making regular appearances almost since his death in 1904! Some also believe that country music legend Hank Williams haunts the Ryman. The ghost once stopped power when someone was performing a song he liked.
Nashville is also home to the haunted Capital Building. The Capital Building was designed by architect William Strickland, who died before construction was complete. He fought often and loudly with Samuel Morgan who controlled the funds for the project. Oddly enough the two men were both interred in the Capital and some believe their fights continue even today. Police have been called to the site after complaints of two men shouting at each other, but they always arrive to find the building empty.
Country music superstar Loretta Lynn has her own haunted house in Hurricane Mills. Lynn knew the house was haunted from the moment she moved in along with her family. There were stories told of Civil War era women watching over the kids while they slept. The property also has many graves of Confederate soldiers and some of those soldiers still haunt the house. They’ve also experienced strange footsteps and cold spots in the house.
Screaming Rock or Fiddler’s Rock in Johnson County is also haunted. Supposedly a man by the name of Martin Stone once lived in the area and was the greatest fiddle player around. The man played all over town, but his favorite place was Fiddler’s Rock. Since his death people claim to hear the sounds of someone playing the fiddle.
In Cleveland, Tennessee the most haunted site is the Craigmiles Mausoleum. This mausoleum is located at the Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church and the pale marble is marked by blood stains. John Craigmiles was a wealthy local businessman who was devastated when he lost his young daughter. The Church was actually built in honor of that little girl. The mausoleum was then built for the girl.
Not long after John and his wife lost a little boy, then John died of blood poisoning. His wife too died, though it was years later and after she married another man, but she was laid in the mausoleum along with her children and first husband. Some say that the bloodstains first appeared when the little girl was placed inside and grew darker each time a new body was added.
You can also see the haunted East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Gilbreath Hall is haunted by the first president of the school who has been spotted by some students and likes to play with the doors and windows. Burleson Hall is haunted by a former lit professor named Christine Burleson. Supposedly the eyes of a portrait in the building follow students from place to place. There’s also Mathes Hall where people hear footsteps and strange noises late at night.
Rotherwood Mansion in Kingsport is also haunted. The original owner had a daughter named Rowena who lost the love of her life in a tragic accident. She later married, only to lose that husband. When she married a second time, the couple had a daughter but she too died. Finally Rowena killed herself. Following that even people began seeing a ghostly Lady in White haunting the old house.
Visit Memphis and you can find the haunted Orpheum Theater. Supposedly the theater is haunted by a little girl who was killed in the area. Many people have either seen the girl for themselves, or heard her laughing and running down around the aisles.
You’ll also find the haunted Tennessee High School in Bristol. One ghost is a former student by the name of Agnes who was killed while heading to the school for a dance. Supposedly the girl wears a white dress and is often seen or heard walking late at night. There are also rumors of a ghost train passing through the school and a student who died in a car accident and now haunts the Field House.
Did you ever realize there were so many haunted hot spots in Tennessee?
Sources:
http://johnnorrisbrown.com/paranormal-tn/index.htm
http://theshadowlands.net/places/tennessee.htm
