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Gaineswood mansion was built in 1842 by General Nathan Whitfield. The mansion is said to be haunted by the sister of General Whitfield’s second wife. Her name is Evelyn Carter and she died at the mansion due to some undetermined illness. Since she died in the winter, her body was stored in a sealed pine box under the cellar stairs until the ground thawed in the spring. Apparently she didn’t like this very much and she began haunting the house almost immediately after her body was placed under the stairs. Although she was finally buried, her soft footsteps and melodious singing can still be heard to this day. Gaineswood is in Demopolis and is now a house museum operated by the Alabama Historical Commission.
FAQ
Can I visit Gaineswood?
Yes. It is a National Historic Landmark open as a house museum. Check the Alabama Historical Commission for current hours.
Who haunts Gaineswood?
Evelyn Carter, the sister of Nathan Whitfield’s second wife. Legend says her body waited under the cellar stairs until spring, and she has haunted the house ever since.
What do people report?
Soft footsteps and a woman singing.
More haunted houses
Read about Captain Mull’s house in Arkansas or Hull House in Chicago.
Shop the gear
- Haunted Mansions in the Heart of Dixie (book)
- Haunted Castles, Haunted Mansions, Haunted Houses (book)
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