Step Inside One Of The Most Haunted B&Bs In Mississippi
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published August 16, 2016
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Vicksburg is a city full of history, antebellum architecture, and more than its fair share of hauntings. Many of the town’s historic mansions have supernatural stories associated with them, and that’s exactly the case with Anchuca. Considered one of the most significant antebellum homes in Vicksburg, the Greek-Revival mansion’s name is Choctaw for happy home; however, that wasn’t always the case for its residents.
In 1837, Richard Archer and his family moved into the Vicksburg mansion. A wealthy businessman, Richard Archer was described as eccentric, stubborn, and extremely strict when it came to the upbringing of his five daughters.
Among the five Archer girls was Archie. Described as a "carbon copy" of Richard Archer, Archie was known to be her father’s favorite; however, their relationship drastically changed when Richard Archer refused to let her be with the love of her life. From that point on, Archie wouldn’t speak to her father and ate by herself, standing at the fireplace in either the Ladies Parlor or main dining room.
Even though it’s been years since the Archers lived in Anchuca, many believe Archie's spirit is still in the mansion. Throughout the years, the ghost of Archie has been spotted in the Ladies Parlor (pictured), at the very fireplace she ate countless meals in solitude.
The heartbroken spirit has also been frequently spotted at the fireplace in the main dining room, but according to employees, that’s not the only strange occurrence that’s taken place in the room.
On one occasion, the housekeeper heard what sounded like glass breaking in the dining room. When she went to investigate, she discovered the glass bobeche (used to catch wax drippings) of one of the candlesticks, which are located on the mantle in the photo above, had been broken into two.
One such sighting took place around midnight, when the owner of the bed and breakfast was returning to his room. From the foot of the stairs, he could see a strange light that seemed to pass through the upstairs bedroom door and out onto the balcony area. Suddenly, he saw "the form of a woman with long hair in a long flowing dress" hovering at the top of the stairs. Then, almost as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared, and the light made its way through the bedroom door on the right.
Aside from Archie, employees believe other former residents haunt the home. On one occasion a staff member heard water running in the upstairs area of the house; however, nobody else was there. Not long after, signs of a water leak led the owner to search the attic for a source. While no source for the leak was found, several portraits, dating back to the 1880s, were. The portraits were immediately hung in the entrance hallway, and there has been no leaking since.
One of the creepiest occurrences involves the brass chandelier in the dining room. Originally a gaslight, the fixture was converted to electricity several years ago; however, when the chandelier’s shadow appears on the wall of the stairwell, it’s a perfect silhouette of the chandelier in its original gaslight form, complete with shadowy flames and smoke.
Ready to book your stay at this haunted B&B? Anchuca is located at 1010 1st E St. in Vicksburg. For more information, click here.
