Today I got an early start and went to the laundromat to wash two loads of clothes. After taking Maggie out to read her P Mail we took off for the Garden District of New Orleans. This part of town bears little resemblance to the French Quarter. Americans started arriving in New Orleans after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and set up their own encampment, and today we know it as the Garden District. The houses are a blend of wrought iron, graceful balconies, and Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns in the theme of "bigger is better" to compete with the Creole houses in the French Quarter. For lunch Billy and I continued our regular "vacation" alien/"true story" routine and went to Voodoo Barbecue for lunch in the Garden District. It is almost across the street from Emeril's restaurant, and it was very very good. I brought home a white chocolate bread pudding for my midnight snack.
Before lunch we went to the oldest cemetery in New Orleans - St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. It is considered to be the most haunted cemetery in the United States. As we all know, New Orleans is situated well below sea level, so the dead are buried in above-ground tombs or vaults. Most of the tombs at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 were designed to house many generations of a family or society group in the same tomb through multiple, sequential interment. Traditionally the dead were placed in wooden coffins in one of the vaults. The vault opening was loosely closed with mortared brick, and a stone closure tablet sealed the tomb. If the space was needed for another burial, the vault could be re-opened after at least 1 year and 1 day, the coffin removed and burned, and the decomposed remains pushed to the back of the tomb or placed beneath the vaults in the caveau below. This custom of multiple burial seemed strange to most Americans, particularly from the Northeast, but was familiar to French and Spanish settlers.
The closure tablet often names many names and dates from within the same family. If a closure tablet became full, it was usually mounted permanently to the side of the tomb and a new closure tablet of white marble was installed. One can read the history of many generations within the family, just by reading the tablets on the tombs. One of the tombs was adorned with many angels (see photos). We called Nanna to see if there was one she wanted. Just kidding!
Many tourists flock to this haunted cemetery because it is the actual reported burial site of the legendary Grande Voodoo Queen of all times Marie Laveau. Local legend says that when you are at the Voodoo Queen's tomb one should knock three times (to wake the dead) upon the face of Marie's tomb. Mark the face with chalk or brick with XXX and then knock three times again and turn around three times. Leave your offering and your wish will be granted. I left an Atomic Fire Ball. Think it worked? Marie Laveau and her daughter's ghost have been spotted floating down Bourbon Street from St. Anne's Street wearing long white robes. Her spirit has also been reported inside of the cemetery, walking between the tombs wearing a red and white turban with seven knots in it, and mumbling a original New Orleans Santeria Voodoo curse to Cemetery trespassers. Her Voodoo curse is loud and very audible, heard often by passerby's on nearby Rampart Street. Locals say this has started in recent years for she is alarmed by the many vandals and state of the cemetery. I keep looking at my photos but I don't see her in them. Voodoos of the New Orleans Secret Society report that her soul appears here in the cemetery as a shiny large black Voodoo cat, with fire red eyes. If you see this Were cat run! One New Orleans Voodoo Manbo suggests that upon seeing this Devil cat, cross your self three times and back away. One should never let the cat see your back. If Marie's spirit, or Devil cat sees it... you will be cursed for ever to do her bidding.
Often stories are told of Ghostly nude Voodoo Probationers in an eternal dark secret Ritual. Always after midnight and well into the early morning hours. With Marie Laveaus' ghost dressed in white presiding over the ritual. Nude Voodoo Ghost dancers, male and female can be seen and heard in an orgy of spiritual Voodoo calling down the power.
Many times fine china plates and cups and saucers and ornate silverware are found through out St Louis No.1 graveyard. Paranormal Investigators say this is part of the ancient wiccan practice of the occult. It is called the" Dumb Supper". This is a old ritual, a mock table setting of a meal and two empty plates filled with invisible ghostly food. It is usually a setting for the ghost and the a setting for the person who questions the ghost. This is to call the dead to answer your most sought after questions. Sometimes wine glasses or even bottles of rum and or wine, cigars or packs of cigarettes, bags of chips, or candy or even many times a loaf of french bread. All this can be found placed before many of it's tombs. Visitors think it's litter, but if you look at how it is placed you then realize it is a special ghost offering to the spirits of the cemetery.
Other known and unknown ghosts haunt this cemetery. There is a ghost called by some Henry. This haunted Cemetery Ghost story tells that he gave his tomb to the lady who owned a boarding house to keep the papers for him if he died. Local workers for the cemetery say she sold the tomb when he was away at sea. When he returned he died and was buried in potters field. Every day his ghost is said to walk up to someone visiting the cemetery asking if they know the where abouts of the Vignes' tomb. Many a tour guide has related the tale of Henry and have said how he appears ragged and lost. And his blue eyes will look right into yours. The tall white shirt dressed man seems very real. Until he walks away into thin air. Sometimes he will tap you on the shoulder, or lead you to a lone tight alley between tombs asking " Do you Know anything about this Tomb here?" Then he disappears. Henry has also been known to have walked up to people at burials and asked if they think there's room in the tomb for him! His voice often appears on EVP's saying I "I need to rest!" And in ghost Photos he appears in a Dark suit with no shirt.
Another well known ghost of St. Louis No.1 is that of Alphonse he is a lonely young man and will take you by the hand telling you his name and asking can you help him find his way home. He is also known by some to be seen carrying flowers and vases from other tombs and placing them on his own. Those who have seen him say he is afraid of a tomb with the name Pinead on it and is said to warn visitors to stay away from it. He always has a smile on his face but is said to start crying then just disappear. Alphonse has been known to turn up in many of a ghost photo. Do you see him in our photos?
Ghost cats and dogs are said to prowl the cemetery daily. Very near the great walls of oven tombs. None of these ghost animals have ever shown signs of meanness. Several Tour guides say these are the animals of an 1800's cemetery keepers guard dogs and pets. Often they lurk the cemetery waiting for their owner who was buried in St. Louis No.2 to return to feed and care for them.
I hope that these ghost stories entertain you for the month of October. Billy and I were certainly entertained for the day. Now we will relax some as we depart for Pensacola tomorrow. Life is Good Today.
Denise and I took a tour of St. Louis #1 while we were there as well. An interesting side trip full of stories and local legend. Glad to hear you had a good time!
ReplyDelete