The Story Behind Mississippi's Most Haunted House Is Beyond Terrifying
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Behind the wrought-iron gate at 1445 Harrison Street in Vicksburg sits the notorious McRaven home. Since being built in the late 1700s, ownership of the home has changed numerous times but one thing has remained the same – it appears to be a magnet for paranormal activity. From unexplained occurrences to malevolent spirits, McRaven has definitely earned the title “the most haunted house in Mississippi.” Take a look:
When McRaven was originally built in 1797, it was a simple two-story home, consisting of only a kitchen and bedroom. At the time, the home belonged to Andrew Glass, a criminal known for robbing travelers along the Natchez Trace. According to local legend, Glass returned home one night after being shot and had his wife "finish him off" so he wouldn’t be hung – making him the first of many to lose their life in McRaven.
By 1836, Sheriff Steven Howard and his wife Mary Elizabeth had purchased the home. The couple made several changes to McRaven, including the addition of a second upstairs bedroom, which according to records, is the very room in which Mary Elizabeth died after giving birth.
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In 1849, McRaven was acquired by John H. Bobb. The Philadelphia businessman owned the home during the Siege of Vicksburg, at which time it was transformed into a makeshift hospital. According to local legend, Bobb caught some Union soldiers tampering with his crops, became enraged, and threw a brick at one of them. Seeking revenge, the soldiers returned later that night and killed Bobb, making him the third resident to die at McRaven.
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William and Ellen Murray purchased the home in 1886, and according to records, are the only residents known to have raised children in McRaven. Ella and Annie, two spinster sisters, were the last of the Murray family members to reside in the home.
After the Murray sisters left, McRaven remained vacant for quite some time. By the time it was put up for sale in 1960, it was so overgrown with weeds and vines that many Vicksburg residents were completely unaware of its existence.
In 1984, Mr. Leyland French purchased McRaven, making him the first to reside in the home in over two decades. While living in McRaven, French had several frightening supernatural encounters.
In one instance, he was chased by the ghost of former resident Mr. Murray. Not long after, he was pushed by an unseen force. As a result, he fell down face first, broke his glasses, and required stitches. Another time, a drawer mysteriously slammed on French’s hands with such force that it broke both of his thumbs. This last instance persuaded him to leave McRaven for good.
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In the years that followed French’s departure, the Vicksburg home became the site of a number of inexplicable occurrences, such as doors slamming, lights flickering on and off, alarm clocks going off in the middle of the night, and, things moving on their own. The dominoes pictured above were left stacked up at closing one night and by morning, they were scattered about.
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Sightings of former occupants are also a common occurrence at McRaven. One of the home’s most haunted rooms is the upstairs bedroom, where Mary Elizabeth passed away. Witnesses have reported the lights in the room turning on and off by themselves as well as an impression of a body suddenly appearing on the bed. For quite some time, Mary Elizabeth's wedding shawl was on display in the home. Several visitors claimed to feel a presence pulling the shawl from their hands.
Another hotspot for paranormal activity is Mr. Glass’ old room. In one instance, a tour guide was in the room when a chair suddenly slammed to the ground on its own.
Mr. Bobb (pictured) has been seen on several different occasions, even appearing in the middle of a tour.
The spirit of a teenage girl has also been seen by several witnesses. She is commonly spotted in one of the bedrooms as well as on the staircase (pictured).
Since McRaven played such an important role in the Civil War, several spirits are believed to be fallen soldiers.
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Want to explore Mississippi’s most haunted home for yourself? McRaven is open for tours Monday-Saturday, from 10 am-5 pm and on Sunday, from 1 pm-5 pm and 7 pm-9 pm. For more information, click here.
Looking for another creepy spot to visit? Check out “Driving Down This Haunted Mississippi Road Will Give You Nightmares.“
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