Secrets of the South: Nashville and New Orleans
The Southern US is full of intrigue and mystery. From the fog-laden streets of Savannah to the bayous of Louisiana, stories of restless spirits and mysterious encounters have been passed down through generations. Each tale adds to the allure of the South’s haunted past, inviting the curious and the brave to step into the unknown. The two most puzzling mysteries of the American South are the Grand Ole Opry Curse and the mystery of the “casket girls.” Let’s examine these two mysteries and analyze their origins.
The curse of the Grand Ole Opry
Throughout the 1900’s, numerous country music singers died unexpectedly, often in horrific manners. A series of car crashes and plane crashes killed several famed country singers, including Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hanks, Ira Louvin, Jim Reeves, and Jack Anglin. Texas Ruby died in a house fire while her husband, another star, was appearing on the Grand Ole Opry.
Was it a curse?
Even Hank Williams died under controversial circumstances. The original autopsy concluded that Hank died from a heart attack. This autopsy was conducted by an immigrant doctor from Russia who spoke little English. However, later investigations found that Hank died of an overdose of alcohol, morphine, and chloral hydrate, which, combined, caused his heart failure. Hank had met Horace Raphol Marshall, who falsely claimed to be a doctor and prescribed him drugs. Marshall later claimed that Hank overdosed on the drugs as an act of suicide, but this has not been proven. In either case, it is believed that at least three dozen stars met their deaths due to this curse.
But where did the curse come from?
For years, the Grand Ole Opry broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium, a popular venue for country music concerts and events. However, the Ryman Auditorium was built not to be a music venue but a house of God. Thomas Ryman, who built the auditorium, founded it as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Throughout his lifetime, it was indeed a house of worship and prayer: a holy place. After his death, though, people started using it for other things. According to legend, this upset the soul of Ryman, who laid a terrible curse on any singer or musician associated with the building. Since the Grand Ole Opry was housed in the building, it bore the brunt of the curse, along with the stars associated with it.
A very haunted building indeed
The Ryman Auditorium continues to be haunted to this day. From the stars of country music to Thomas Ryman himself, numerous apparitions have been spotted in this building, including that of a graying man constantly sitting silently on the balconies. Go on a Nashville ghost tour to experience the haunted side of Nashville, including the Ryman Auditorium, the Tennessee State Capitol, and more.
The Casket Girls of New Orleans
From as early as the 17th century, colonial France had a policy of sending young girls, called the “King’s Daughters,” to the area known as New France, which included Canada, Louisiana, and the West Indies. Due to a shortage of women, these girls were offered as respectable brides to the French colonialists who lived in New France. These women were allegedly prostitutes and criminals back in France. They were rounded up, put in mental hospitals that were more like prisons, and then sent on prison boats to the New World in an effort to get rid of them. The men awaiting them weren’t informed of that, of course.
Falsely accused
I say allegedly because, due to high corruption rates in France at the time, it is believed that many were falsely accused by jilted lovers. Due to the high levels of corruption in France at the time, it is very likely that at least some of these girls were falsely accused. They were called casket girls because of the caskets – or suitcases – that they took with them on their journey.
Vampire Girls
They were also nicknamed the vampire girls. Given that the girls were brought over on prison ships, suffice it to say that they were not treated so well. They suffered from a lack of sunlight and malnutrition. Other harsh conditions, giving them a pale appearance with bloodshot eyes as they stumbled off the ships onto the shores of New Orleans. Upon arrival, the Ursuline order of nuns cared for the girls. They were housed at the Ursuline Convent in New Orleans.
Dead men
After one such arrival of a group of “vampire girls,” though, rumors spread of a series of murders. Young men were found dead on the streets and alleys of the city. Some people started claiming that the men were drained of their blood. This lead to suspicion that this new group of vampire girls had something to do with it. According to local legend, the nuns decided to snoop around a bit, only to find the caskets empty upon opening them, despite their heavy weight. That frightened them, and in a panic, they shut the windows and doors of the attic, where the caskets were kept.
A curse will be unleashed…
In New Orleans folklore, it is believed that if the windows of this attic are ever to be opened, a terrible curse will be unleashed on the city. So they remain bolted shut to this day. Is there any truth to the story, or is it all a myth? While there is some evidence that the casket girls exist, it’s probably safe to say that some of the legends have been exaggerated. Nevertheless, it has inspired an entire legend in New Orleans. For example, a popular joint in New Orleans is the Vampire Cafe, which you can visit as part of a New Orleans haunted pub crawl, which serves cocktails based on your blood type.
Do you want to read more stories about haunted places in the USA? Please click here!
Cover photo: Yuliya Furman via Canva
Sources: US Ghost Adventures, nolaghosts.com and nashvilleghosts.com
Locations: Grand Ole Ophry – 600 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville, TN 37214, USA
The Ursula Covent – 1112 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
