Whispers from the Antebellum House

In the heart of a forgotten town, where time dances to a spectral tune, stands an old colonial home that was built in 1811. Its weathered facade, etched by centuries, tells stories of bygone eras.

Nestled among century-old oak, black walnut, and pecan trees, the house exudes a quiet dignity. The land around it stretches like an ancient quilt, stitched together by fields that sway with the rhythm of seasons. The air smells of damp earth and memories, as if the very soil holds secrets.

Two stories tall, the house wears its age with grace. Its timeworn wooden siding bears the scars of countless storms, yet it stands proud. The two historic hand-stacked stone chimneys reach toward the heavens on either side of the home. They’ve witnessed generations gather around crackling fires, sharing tales of love, loss, and longing. The front porch spans the entire width of the house like a weathered stage where life’s dramas unfold. Here, rocking chairs creak in harmony with the wind, inviting visitors to sit and listen.

Locals murmur about its hidden history. Once a thriving stagecoach hub, the old house extended open arms to road-weary travelers seeking solace from the dusty trails. But behind the veneer of hospitality, shadows clung—a clandestine past woven into its timeworn walls. Some say it harbored secrets as a speakeasy, where laughter and jazz notes danced through dimly lit rooms. Others insist it moonlighted as a jail, its heavy doors concealing stories of transgressions and whispered confessions.

Two hundred feet from the back door, nestled within the property, lies an ancient Civil War cemetery—a patchwork of forgotten souls. Here, the air trembles with echoes of cannonfire and tearful farewells. The spirits of soldiers, long departed, roam these hallowed grounds, their ethereal forms seeking solace or perhaps unfinished battles.

The old stone building from the original kitchen, still stands behind the home. The old walls bore witness to culinary triumphs and mishaps, the burnt crust of a forgotten loaf, the alchemical fusion of spices in a stew. When storms raged outside, the kitchen remained a sanctuary, a refuge where hunger was tamed, and camaraderie flourished.

Within the aging home, the creaky stairs murmur secret echoes of hurried footsteps etched into their timeworn wood. In the dead of night, unseen hands trail cold fingers across skin, leaving shivers in their wake. Ascending the staircase, a spectral Victorian figure glides like a veiled silhouette whose gown rustles like autumn leaves caught in an eternal breeze.

The kitchen, a place where mundane and ethereal converged, holds its own mysteries. Thin wisps of smoke dances, defying logic, even when no appliance stirred. The doorbell chimes at odd hours, yet no visible visitor stands on the threshold. And the pet dog, ever vigilant, barks at shadows sensing what human eyes could not discern.

But most peculiar of all is the inexplicable drain on new batteries. As if the house hungers for energy, it devours their charge, leaving them lifeless. Was it a mere quirk of fate or evidence that the house itself pulses with an otherworldly appetite?

And so, the dwelling stands, a crossroads of realms, where memories whisper, and the veil between the living and the spectral grows thin.

For Sale: The sign stands discreetly near the dirt drive, weathered like the house itself. A chance for a new chapter, a brave soul to step into the echoes of history. Will you be the one to unlock its secrets? Perhaps, if you listen closely, you’ll hear the whispers that bind past and present.

Featured on “A Haunting” 2007

The Ellis House

The Ellis House, constructed in 1886, was commissioned by Colonel John Fremont Ellis, MD. Dr. Ellis, a practitioner of homeopathic medicine, was drawn to Eureka Springs, Arkansas by its renowned “magic curative waters.”

The Ellis House, situated next to the historic and very haunted 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, is a single-family home that has been fully renovated and is available for nightly lodging. Currently, the house is up for sale.

The house is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of Dr. Ellis. 👻

The Silent Watcher

The Mathis-Hyde House in Augusta, Arkansas stands as a silent sentinel, its timeworn facade concealing secrets that defy explanation. As a photographer, I ventured there one early morning, my camera capturing the play of shadows on the peeling paint.

The Mathis-Hyde House in Augusta, AR built 1865

The air felt unusually thick, laden with whispers. I adjusted my lens, framing the beautiful old details and the ancient oak tree beyond. But something shifted—a chill that crept up my spine. I glanced over to the barn, expecting to see a caretaker standing near.

Yet, the door hung askew, its rusty hinges protesting. And there, I glimpsed a figure—an otherworldly silhouette against the darkness of the early morning shadows.

The Mathis-Hyde House and Barn in Augusta, AR built 1865

My breath caught. The figure stood motionless, eyes fixed on me. Was it a trick of the light? Or had the past awakened, reaching across time to watch me?

As I hurried away, the whispers followed—the soft rustle of long-forgotten letters, the echo of laughter, and the weight of unspoken stories. The Mathis-Hyde House held its secrets close, and that day, it shared them with me.

So, fellow wanderer, heed my tale. When you visit, know that you’re not alone. The house remembers, and it watches.