Kentucky’s Home to the Largest and Most Haunted Victorian Neighborhood in America
By Jenn Shockley|Updated on September 09, 2022(Originally published September 03, 2022)
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Old Louisville Victorian homes are the largest section of preserved Victorian homes in the world. Each one of these houses is an artistic work of architecture with a story. Sometimes these tales are told by the original occupants, as they appear and disappear around current residents. Belgravia Court began in the late 1800s with land owners building Victorian mansions in a variety of unique styles, uncommon in Louisville at the time. As a matter of fact, some of the original landlords loved the designs so much, they decided not to leave.
In most cases, the unique presence just adds to the ambiance of the beautiful community.
However, modern owners/renters might find these residential spirits disquieting as they go along their daily routines. Odd things are relatively common all throughout the area. Lights go on and off, shadows appear where they should not exist, and people appear and disappear. This is a neighborhood with an unusually intense energy and both a festive and dark past. Not far from the river, Old Louisville was the gathering place of new and old money, creating a thriving community of designer Victorian mansions for the era. River trade was at an all-time high and celebratory parties and balls were frequent, at least till Tuberculosis struck.
This disease was unkind to Old Louisville, like anywhere else. Entire infected families were moved for treatment. Meanwhile, their glorious mansions were re-occupied or just sold. Perhaps that is why some spirits tend to linger.
This 1891 pale Chateauesque detailed, Eclectic Victorian mansion mimics the beautiful French Chateaus of that era, including the pointy steeples protruding from the scalloped roof. Inside one will find a double arch framed staircase connecting all floors, beautiful Victorian designs, parquet floors, and observation windows with a panoramic view of the area.
It began as a Gentlemen’s Club and Casino in red brick, not a pale pink mansion. Locals could sit, smoke cigars, drink brandy, and converse. The more unscrupulous men could enjoy local ladies of the evening in one of the upstairs rooms. A few years later, a southern gent named Avery bought it as a private family home. He sold it in 1910 and the new owners painted it pink. Avery decided to stick around, but he doesn’t come out often.
He appears as a white-haired gentleman, seemingly right before tragedy strikes. One woman reported Avery appearing while she bathed, causing her to spring from the bath just as a cinder block burst through the window. Another tale has Avery appearing in a kitchen moments before it burst into flames due to faulty wiring. People flee when they see him, which tends to save them from disaster. Though he appears to be a harbinger of disaster, often lives are saved by Avery's presence.
This beautiful mansion is part of Millionaire’s Row and has obscenely beautiful architecture. It also had at least one body buried in the wine cellar during recent years. Now some people are comparing it to American Horror Story’s Hotel… however, I find that a bit of a stretch. Though beautiful, this home does have a dark history.
There is an ominous energy at 1435, and some locals won’t go near it at night, according to WHAS. In the early 1900s, a doctor with questionable ethics purchased the property, turning it into a sanitarium. Inadequate care was a disease, causing several residents to die during the 1920s and 1930s. During the 1960s, a nurse purchased 1435, leasing rooms to the local unsavory, drug addicts, and prostitutes. She was beaten near death by a tenant in the early 90s, later dying from her wounds. Her spirit, along with several shadowy figures are said to frequent the property. The man who purchased it around 2006 brutally killed a sex partner, burying him in the wine cellar. The last death took place in 2012 when a homeless man was found propped nearby.
The owner found a hidden panel near the fireplace, revealing an old photo of a young girl in white. Not long afterward, there came a pounding on the door. Oddly, no one was there, but footsteps were heard pattering past them into the mansion. Since then, a girl of about 8 years old can be seen sprinting about the St. James area. Soon thereafter, an elderly woman visited, claiming to have grown up there. Her family had once owned the mansions and rented rooms during the Depression. She entertained the newest owners with tales, including that of a young mother and her 8-year-old daughter. The girl was said to have "problems," and was kept locked in her room. However, one day, the child sprinted past her mother, running into the street. She was struck by a car and died. Now she runs wherever she wants in Old Louisville.
During the winter months, a small boy appears around the Belgravia area, often times near the fountain. He is said to be in poor attire, likely from the Cabbage District (what was once the poor part of town), and his face is covered in soot and ash. A six-floor building was built in 1897 for high-end apartments, but the elitist of the area felt their own property value would decrease. Complaints were adamant, but on February 4th, 1912, a questionable fire struck St. James Flats. The damage was severe, but all the wealthy apartment owners got out safely. One young delivery boy who’d brought groceries to the top floor was found dead in a corner. The building owner only renovated a portion of the building back, leaving off the top three floors to appease the local upper class. The delivery boy is still trying to run those groceries, though he’ll never get paid.
A lovely woman clad in the finest of Victorian attire will sometimes appear on the corner of 4th and Hill, by Belgravia Court. She simply looks about and continues on her way, not speaking or bothering anyone. This is fine until you happen to be working in a business on that corner and she dashes right in through a locked door before fading away. (She's probably off for tea and cakes with some of the socialites of her time.)
Strolling down Belgravia it is not uncommon to see shadows appear and disappear without reason. These are just the spirits of those who once walked these courts as the highest of high society. It is also not uncommon to see a few orbs, especially if you happen to be snapping pictures like we were on this day. The orbs do not always come out in the day, but we were blessed this day.
Old Louisville has been featured in multiple books, such as “Phantoms of Old Louisville,” and on shows such as Ghost Hunters. It has also been featured on the news and in other media, and for good reason. It is beautiful and it is haunted. Occasionally, people live in the neighborhood and don’t experience anything odd. However, most of us have seen or felt a few out-of-the-ordinary moments over the years. This community is a vortex of unique spiritual energies, Kentucky history, and beautiful architecture. There are many stories to tell and incredible works of architecture to be seen in Old Louisville — so expect more in the future.
Have you, or would you ever want to visit the Old Louisville homes? We love the ambiance of the area and many of these images were taken during a recent visit. Please feel free to share your own Old Louisville experiences or photos.
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More to Explore
Haunted Places In Kentucky
Chris Dodge|September 08, 2022
What are the buildings like in Old Louisville?
Apart from the creepy stories that come out of the neighborhood, Old Louisville is filled with historic and beautiful buildings. Check out the amazing buildings in the article above and prepare your trip to view these preserved Victorian structures.
What are some other haunted places in Kentucky?
With Old Louisville being one of the most haunted neighborhoods in the country, it might seem like all of the ghosts hang out there. However, we still have plenty of other creepy places if you are not too scared to jump in. First off, there is a tunnel in the middle of the woods with a dark story. The back story is interesting enough, it involves outlaws, a witch, and cursed money. The tunnel is on private property so you will have to seek permission to use it but the pitch-black tunnel is creepy all by itself. You can go for a drive down a beautiful road during the day, but at night everything changes. What starts as a pretty fall foliage drive takes a sinister turn. The section of the road is even nicknamed Sleepy Hallow and it is said to have a horse-drawn buggy appear out of thin air. The driver will often send frightened people off the road. So, go for a ride, if you dare.
Back in Louisville, there is an old abandoned Sanatorium. During an outbreak of sickness, this place experienced lots of death, however, tales of mistreatment within the walls have now broken out. Weird experiments may have been a factor in many untimely deaths, but now those lost souls haunt the Sanatorium. If you want to make a day trip to all the bone-chilling locations in Kentucky, then we suggest you start with this haunted road trip. You will begin in Louisville and continue from there. Take to the road and happy hunting!
