Magnolia Mansion- 2127 Prytania
It is one of the most magnificent homes in the entire Garden District. The Greek Revival mansion was built in 1857 by James Calrow and owned by Alexander Harris, a very prominent Sephardic Jew that lived in New Orleans. It was in this period of our history that religions outside of Catholicism and Protestant began to thrive in the city. He had the house built for his wife Lizzie. In 1869, a massive yellow fever epidemic hit the city of New Orleans. Yellow fever was a very mysterious disease. Doctors of the time still had no knowledge of tropical medicine nor had realized that mosquitoes breeding in the water supplies were the cause.
The fever is a volatile disease attacking the liver. Victims of the fever become jaundiced and run high temperatures. Eventually, the victim begins to vomit up blood and a black grainy substance, then falls into a coma and dies. Should one survive the disease, they become immune to it. There were over 27 massive yellow fever epidemics in New Orleans. Because yellow fever was so uncontrollable, victims were quarantined in their homes, which is where most of them died. Mr. Harris was one such victim. This could explain why his spirit still wanders through Magnolia Mansion.
His wife sold the property to a Mr. Maginnis ten years later. On July 4, 1889, a major hurricane hit the Gulf Coast area. Mr. Maginnis was staying on the Missisippi Gulf Coast during the storm. He was killed by a bolt of lightening as he attempted to get a tree branch from the top of the house. His funeral was held in his New Orleans home, the mansion. His sister later gave the house to the Red Cross. In the 1040’s, the Red Cross used the home for wounded pilots and service men.
Guests at the Magnolia Mansion report feeling someone “tuck them into bed” at night as well the feeling of someone watching over them during the night. During thunderstorms, the sounds of footsteps can be heard walking on the roof. Some even describe the smell of burned flesh being present in the upstairs. Others see a yellow, misty fog moving around corners. Numerous guests have gotten images of ghosts on their photographs inside the home. Late at night, the sounds of creaking doors and footsteps walking about are noticed. In spite of the numerous spirits who dwell in the mansion, they are all friendly.
During a recent renovation, the owner returned from an errand to find the entire work crew outside not working. When she inquired as to why they were not on the job, they directed her to the dining room. Upon opening up a wall, the workers found oozing ectoplasm leaking from within. Also, one day her contractor was in the kitchen talking on the phone with his girlfriend. The door was sitting in the doorway, not attached, and just leaned up in the doorway. Well he said the door opened and slammed shut, then he felt a cold breeze—he left.
Today, the home remains vacant as the lawn overgrows outside. The ghosts remain locked inside unaware of the emptiness that surrounds them; or are they?
Kalila Smith, from New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo, & Vampires, 1997