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| Oak Alley Click to enlarge |
Oak Alley is known for its almost 300 year-old 28 oak trees that evenly line the entrance to the home. This home and its surrounding grounds are a National Historic Landmark.
Today this plantation is a popular destination for both American and European tourists. It is one of the few plantation homes in Vacherie in St. James Parish that has been restored to its original splendor.
It is also known to be haunted.
Some attribute this ghostly activity to Jacques and Celina Roman’s first daughter, Louise Josephine Roman. She became the caregiver for her mother for many years after her father died.
Louise never married. When a drunken sailor visited the mansion unannounced, Louise, a young woman at the time, was home alone. She was forced to attend him. This sailor tried to kiss her at which point Louisa fled. She then tripped over her iron-framed hoop skirt.
Her leg was badly cut and later gangrene set in. Her leg had to be amputated. Louise then became a nun.
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| Widow’s Walk on roof. |
An apparition that has been spotted by many is seen on the mansion’s widow walk on the roof—where the Roman women watched boats return from New Orleans. This ghost is believed to be Jacques’ wife, Celine.
The Oak Alley web site has a page devoted to the ghostly sightings that have occurred at this plantation. Several staff and visitors have noticed mysterious activity over the years.
The plantations assistant house manager, Denise Becnel was leaving the plantation with her daughter and two tour guides, Connie Donadieu and Billie Jo Bourgeois one evening when they noticed a light on in the Lavender room.
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| Lavender Room |
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| Mrs. Stewart at plantation. |
They were surprised for they had checked to make sure all the lights were out. As they looked up at this window they spotted a figure of a woman. She looked like Mrs. Stewart who was the last resident of the mansion.
The lights blinked and they all rushed to their cars. Looking back Becnel saw all the windows were now dark.
Other incidents include, a maintenance worker, Mitchell Boone had his arm touched when he was the only one in the mansion and an office assistant, Louise Boone found items mysteriously moved.
Another tour guide, Juliette Temple saw a female figure sitting on one bed in the Lavender room and on another occasion she saw the apparition of a man wearing dark clothing and boots fade away in the kitchen area.
Many witnesses over the years, including tour guides Helen Dumas and Theresa Harrison have heard the sounds of a horse drawn carriage traveling up the plantation’s graveled road. These two guides have also seen dust billow in this area when they heard the carriage.
Yet another tour guide, Peggy Rodrigue has heard this carriage as well as a baby crying in the mansion.
Thirty-five Grey Line bus passengers while touring the plantation home saw a candlestick fly across the room.
Oak Alley after the Civil War like many southern plantations fell into disrepair. A series of owners tried to restore it but failed.
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| Slave quarters at Oak Alley |
In the mid 1920s a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart succeeded in restoring the mansion and its surrounding buildings, slave quarters etc. to their former condition.
When Mrs. Stewart died in 1972 she endowed the plantation as a non-profit in order to maintain the home and the 25 surrounding acres. Tours are offered year-round.
