Ti West's 2011 horror film "The Innkeepers" is based on the story of this inn. Your CommentsHave a photograph taken from this location? Theres also a very fascinating plaque that explains how the freed-slave colonies worked, with a little history about the one that was temporarily set up on the Lee Hall Mansion grounds. Wow. . Or perhaps Squire Graham, a rumored alcoholic, was simply too busy drinking and dealing with his depressed wife, Martha Bell, to care. Completed in 1859, Lee Hall was home to affluent planter Richard D. Lee. But the apparition most frequently seen at the house has to be Clara, one of the little girls who Major Grahams sister, Bettie, secretly tutored in one of the mansions bedrooms. And because this house played an important role in the history of the Hampton Roads area, I wanted to share it with you today. What began as an eight-room farmhouse was added onto for 26 years between 1886 and 1922, becoming a 160-room mansion with 2,000 doors: all in an effort to confuse pursuing spirits. After Union Forces got control of the city and railroads, General Lee surrendered; ending the Civil War. Voice your opinion here! Stay warm and have an amazing holiday! It's the age-old tale of neighbors at war: a woman named Kate Batts believed her neighbor, John Bell, cheated her out of some land. Lee Hall Mansion is a must-see attraction for Civil War historians for several reasons not associated with the fact that it has no relation to the famous Lee family of Virginia. The medieval-style castle is rumored to be haunted and is open for tours and overnight stays. Lee Hall Mansion 4.5 66 #8 of 25 things to do in Newport News Historic Sites Visit website Call Email Write a review What people are saying " Could not understand our guide. If youre dying to see the Lizzie Borden House, aim for the anniversary reenactments every August. The year is 1826, and Squire David Graham, a prominent figure in Wythe Countys iron industry, has just bought 2,000 acres of land from the Crockett family. Camping And Lodging Along The Blue Ridge Parkway, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Micro-Brasseries et Cidreries Artisanales, Spend a History-Packed Weekend in Fredericksburg, Abingdon: Your Gateway to Southwest Virginia. After the event, Clara's white dress was stained by Lincoln's blood, so upon returning home to this cottage, she had a special closet built for it, then had it sealed up. If SyFys team ofGhost Huntersdeems a house worthy enough to be featured on an episode, then you know itmustbe haunted. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Guided tours are offered of the period rooms. I cant believe it was only recently restored after all those years. Houghton Mansion North Adams, Massachusetts 28 miles from Lee, MA At this mansion where Mayor A.C. Houghton and his family lived, a ghostly chauffeur lingers. In 1970, two teenage girls Marrianne Weaver and Cara Lee Knoche were slain in the building. This house is the site of a grim murder where in 1974 a son killed his parents and four siblings by gun. In 1851, Richard Decatur Lee decided to build a beautiful antebellum-style home on his family farm. Perhaps the whispers tourists have heard are the voices of these two Confederate officers, brainstorming ideas of how to defeat the Union Army. Knoche was strangled . Sometimes claw marks are left behind. Today the beautiful Georgian-style house sits on six acres and is apparently haunted by the soldiers who fought and died during battle. Do you love 1,000 Island salad dressing? In my opinion, this should be on everyones list of things to do in Newport News and Hampton Roads. Then youll have a great time touring the Lee Hall Mansion, the only antebellum mansion left in the peninsula! I love buildings like these. American Horror Story: Coven reignited interest in this famous French Quarter haunt. Weve got you covered. The holiday tour is included with regular admission throughout the month of December. A door creaking open with no one pushing it, a sudden blast of chilled air, a murmur in your ear: these are all elements of haunted houses. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, I hope the next couple of days are filled with wonderful memories and time with those you love! But when it comes to lodging, price is often just a secondary consideration; whats more important to travelers is theexperience. Read all about our perfect weekend getaway there on my blog! He and his wife were considered a power couple and hosted many VIP parties. The Whartons sold the house in 1911, after which it was used for the Foxhollow School for Girls and later as a theater. He devotes his time to building his fathers booming iron business, running the familys forge store with his brother-in-law, and further renovating his childhood home. Check out the bonus eighth gable as well as the secret staircase replete with stair-climbing ghost, the giggling ghost boy in the attic and a woman who peers out the windows, said to be Hawthornes cousin Susannah. The house and village are located near the junction of U.S. 60 and VA 238, in Newport News, Virginia . So of course I couldnt pick just one view as the best! Would not mind taking a Tour of it myself, and see what used to be a long time ago. Earlier this spring (literally the day before everything shut down for Coronavirus), Daniel and I took a visit to one of Newport Newss most charming historic attractions: The Lee Hall Mansion. Thanks for sharing! Some include a hitchhiker ghost in a prom gown, a phantom mad horse who died when from hitting its head on a monument while running away, and a sad apparition of a gray-haired woman whose body was found after dragging the Local lore has it that there is a "ghost beast" that lives at Frear Park. Admission to Lee Hall Mansion includes access to the Peninsula Campaign Gallery as well as a guided tour of the historic house. Consequently, between April and May of 1862, it served as a Confederate headquarters for Major General John Bankhead Magruder and General Joseph E. Johnston. I still recall that sadness I felt that day & nothing in my life so far compares to hiw strong that emotion was. During World War I6, [Simon Reid Curtis] rented rooms to Army officers and their wives [] He continued this practice during World War II. The current 12.29-acre (4.97ha) property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. All the beer in the world won't lead to happiness. Photograph: Shutterstock. Is this place really haunted? Visitors can book tours, and some have noticed an eerie feeling of being watched. Love the old homes with lots of interesting history. Immortalized in the novel of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne (who changed his surname from Hathorne to avoid connection to his ancestor who had served as a Salem witch trials judge), this 1668 seaside house was built for a hat and shoe merchant. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! What does your new year look like? The Lee Hall Mansion also frequently has special events on the grounds, and you can check their calendar of events here. " Sep 2022 I love history and my wife loves old homes, so we really wanted to like this. 60. Nannie Cooke Curtis was the wife of Simon Reid Curtis, the wealthy businessman who built the house in 1897. Hed risen to great wealth over the years when he used the latest scientific developments in agriculture to make his farm a prosperous plantation with innovations like rotating crops. Once completed, the Simon Reid Curtis House became Lee Halls first true dwelling, though many of its sections (a dry goods store, a post office, a tax assessors office, etc.) Soon, the war grew closer and closer to the Virginia Peninsula, and the oldest Lee boys were sent off to war. If you take a tour, bring your compass. Apparently, the ghosts of Benjamin Franklin likes to make sure things are running smoothly at the place where he signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Mr. Boldt was proprietor of New Yorks Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where Waldorf salad was invented). Subsequent residents have been awakened late at night to footsteps and voices on the stairs that lead up to the room. No word yet on whether the ghosts will stick around, post-opening. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What a beautiful old house. The Deer Tracks Junction Adventure Park Took Me By Surprise! As legend has it, ghostly Nurse Betsy of the psych ward sometimes plays the piano, as she used to do to calm her patients. The couples background in the catering and bartending businesses has made the Boxwood Inn a top choice for gourmands and wedding planners. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The private Country Club of Troy was established in 1925 and is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a waitress who worked there in the 1970s. I am alumni of LMU and yes Grant Lee is haunted. The home is now vacant but its a popular pick for paranormal researchers, and even regular folks can book the house to stay the night for about $100 per person. Phones and cameras are not allowed during the tour! Colorado's Stanley Hotel. Folks have seen the ghost of a little girl who moves objects or "borrows" them and returns them later. She was the sweetest lady and so patient with all our questions. Now, the Van Schaick Family Cemetery contains more than 50 relatives are buried in the cemetery near the historic house. Same goes for Benedict Arnold. . The history of this mansion goes back to its very construction, with periods of dormancy followed by horrific events. >Lincoln Memorial University - Grant Lee Hall. Where the spirits of murderers, a mad woman, and a smelly professor reside. I have got to go visit. I just felt sad and couldnt move. This gorgeous house museum belonged to the Hall []. This is because the house is equal partshistoric2and officially haunted3, and everyone wants to see if they can connect the two. Monthly Newsletters for the Travel & Christian Industry, How To Spend A Day In Barcelonas Montjuic District, The Barcelona Cathedral: What to Know Before You Go, On the Move: Where To Live As A Digital Nomad And Business Owner. Several apparitions and even a ghostly tour guide have been reported, screams have been heard, and guests have described being touched by something unseen. Moonshine & Madness. Season 8, Episode 5 Recap. She is said to be still watching over her former workplace. She was witnessed at the fourth-floor window yelling for help. Besides the beauty of the mansion, its greatest appeal is its enthralling story. Copywriting & Editing Solutions Tailored to You. Lee was a prominent local planter. Unfortunately, the Union soldiers showed little respect for the abandoned home, and the property was damaged significantly as fences were torn down for wood on winter nights, and the rooms were used to escape the cold. Featured on TV's Ghost Hunters, the estate and museum of artifacts relating to novelist Edith Wharton is said to be home to the ghost of Wharton herself. I love old mansions too. The Bellaire House sits on what is known as a Leyline. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Freedom never comes for free! The Cliveden, or the Benjamin Chew House, was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of Germantown in 1777. . While the Lee-Jackson Foundation officially denied that the house was haunted, past owners, visitors, neighbors and probably some tour guides have experienced the above manifestations. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. Very few will have experienced his hauntingthe First Bank has been closed for 30 years. The site is known to be a hot spot for paranormal happenings. Private tours are held every 30 minutes, although ours lasted a bit longer due to the quiet day and our many questions! Lee Halls evolution from a quiet suburban community to a hub of colonial commotion can thank theLee Hall Depot5, the train station created in 1881 that became an important stop along the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway line. The quaint little village of Lee Hall gets its name fromLee Hall Mansion4, another antebellum building rumored to have frequent supernatural visitors. It has been used for burials as recently as 2005, although it stood neglected for a period between 1975 and the 1990s. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The site has been converted into a Masonic temple and has been featured on At the 1787 inn many friendly ghosts are said to reside. I try to find British clips of the Manor Houses throughout England. Built way back in 1744, this was the home of John Wister, a Philadelphia merchant and wine importer. There are possibly three haunted buildings: the Blair Residence Hall, the Mary Lyon Residence Hall and the Samuel Read Residence Hall. But when she moves in with her nine-year-old son, Travis (Chase Dillon . Note: If you dont like historic houses and tours where youre not allowed to touch anything, this probably isnt your ideal day trip lol I had a fantastic time, but some people may not enjoy the focused history on the house and the battle that happened there. For the first time since my honeymoon, I was able to leave the country and visit 2 brand new destinations: Costa Rica and Spain! Warning! The result was mayhem for the Bell family, which said they experienced physical attacks and heard chains dragged across floors and noises in the walls. Good job, Carrie. This explains why so many of its bed and breakfasts are known for being both hospitableandhaunted. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. After breaking a fingernail, Barbara Lucas, the houses first innkeeper, remembers: I am standing there looking out the window, and there is a brand-new emery board crisp, clean, and never used in a house that has two layers of coal dust everywhere.3. Blair: Originally built in the 1960s it's said to be haunted by a male spirit, who legend says was Mary Lyon's lover. Witnesses claim to have seen mutilated apparitions and heard screams of the patients who passed away there long ago. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for children ages 7-18. Gettysburg. A New Crop of Bed and Breakfasts.. One of the many apparitions seen here is a person in a black hooded robe, and phantom smoke sometimes fills the halls. We could tell she loved the house, too, and we had such a wonderful time hearing her bring the mansions story to life! Thankfully, after seven years in prison she was released, and in 2006 she was officially exonerated. Among the several ghosts that live here include that of Thomas Jefferson. Your email address will not be published. Of course, the houses tenancy didnt end with the Graham family. Best Things to Do at Northwest River Park, Best Guide to the Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, The Ultimate Guide to Touring Hampton Roads, VA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO-IiTQYngA. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! Learn about the origins of holiday traditions while exploring nineteenth and early twentieth century period decorated rooms set amidst the splendor of the Victorian era. Visitors say theyve seen apparitions in the dining room, smelled mysterious pipe smoke from Margaret's husband, and noticed rearranged furniture and unscrewed lightbulbs. Required fields are marked *. Barry King/Getty Images. 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