East Texas Home and Haunts, Not To Be Missed!

Exploring the Majesty and Mystery of the Grove

After an exhaustive day of tracking down local tall tales and ghost stories, the comforts of home might seem very appealing for any researcher. For acclaimed author Mitchel Whitington, however, going home means returning to his very own haunted house. If you have ever been to Jefferson, Texas, you are possibly quite aware of the abundance of historic homes throughout this quaint little hamlet. Perhaps the most interesting though is Whitington’s pride and joy, The Grove. Nestled along shady Mosley Street, not far from the center of town, The Grove sits as a living example of the hard work and love that Jefferson’s founders put into creating this eclectic little East Texas town.

Built in 1861 by the Stilley family using Greek Revival architecture on the exterior, the interior is predominantly of Creole influence with the entrance of each room leading directly into another. The Whitingtons are the eighth owners of the house, and it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours of the home are daily pleasures for Mitchel and his wife Tami. Not only do they revel in preserving the history of their own abode, but they are commonly spotted at any festival being celebrated in Jefferson including playing a large role in the annual pilgrimage tour of homes.

With ghost stories trailing back over one hundred years, The Grove has seen its share of love and heart ache. Perhaps the most interesting owners of the house were Mr. Charles and Daphne Young. Born as slaves, the Young’s moved into the Grove in 1885 to start their lives together as free people of color. Charles became a first-rate barber in the town of Jefferson. Operating his business using bankers hours while wearing the finest Prince Albert suit were just a couple of his captivating quirks.

Daphne, on the other hand, was an avid gardener and devoted much of her time planting the gorgeous bed of lilies to the west of the house. Amongst all of their projects, The Youngs had three children, one of whom having committed suicide at a young age. Interestingly enough, it is not the young man who currently haunts The Grove today, but Mr. Young himself. With a generous collection of antiques in the house once used by his family, it is quite possible that Charles just stops by every now and then to keep an eye on his belongings. As for the garden of lilies, the bulbs of Daphne’s flowers continue to grow year after year.

As for the other spirits at The Grove, I prefer not to give away all of their secrets. However, when I took the tour of the house several months ago, I could have sworn that the Whitingtons owned a cat. Knowing that they have other furry friends (i.e. basset hounds), I just assumed that they more than likely had a kitty cat running around outside. Not thinking anything about it, I received Mitchel’s current monthly newsletter called the Grovezine in my computer’s inbox. Reading so as to catch up on the latest spectral activity at The Grove, I was quite stunned when there was mention of several tour attendees experiencing the feeling as if a cat had brushed up against them. Mitchel, however, will testify that all he owns are the bassets. Could this ghostly feline have belonged to one of the previous owners of the house? Regardless, he makes for an interesting encounter on a truly splendid tour of this grand and historic residence.

For more ghost stories about The Grove, Mitchel has quite a book collection including Ghosts of East Texas, Ghosts of North Texas, and A Ghost In My Suitcase. The books can be picked up at most book stores or ordered directly from him and signed online at www.thegrove-jefferson.com . The Grove was also featured on HGTV’s “If Walls Could Talk”. Tours of The Grove are given daily, mostly by appointment. Admission is $6 per adult and child over 8 years of age. To make your tour reservation call (903)-665-8018. (this article was written by Carey Weeks and published in Louisiana Road Trips Magazine)

28th Annual Mudbug Madness Festival - Shreveport

Memorial Day Weekend

May 26-29, 2011

11:00am-11:00pm

Festival Plaza, downtown Shreveport

Free till 5 Thursday and Friday.
Thursday- Free from 11am until 5pm; $5.00 per person after 5pm
Friday- Free from 11am until 5pm; $5.00 per person after 5pm
Saturday & Sunday- 11am until closing $5.00 per person
*Children under 12 are free at all times
**Mudbug Salutes the Military! Show your Military ID and get in free at all times

Crawfish, crawfish, crawfish! Doesn't get much better than this...an entire extended weekend of good food, good music, and fun! See the entertainment line-up HERE!

Something Spooky in Waxahatchie, Texas

Mr. Ghost in the Dining Room with the Butter Knife It is a very remarkable occasion for one to visit a haunted house and actually get to experience the paranormal first hand. I, along with the help of a few ghosts, have been fortunate enough to have such an episode. If you have never had the privilege to have Sunday lunch at the haunted Catfish Plantation in Waxahachie, Texas, you are certainly missing out on some fantastic Southern home cooking. From the cornmeal battered fried catfish to the saw mill gravy-slathered chicken fried steak that is just a wee bit shy of the size of a Frisbee, there is certainly enough fare to whet anyone’s whistle. Not only does the Catfish Plantation take pride in its enticing food, but it is also very boastful of its resident spirits Will, Caroline, and Elizabeth. If you don’t have a chance to get acquainted with the three, you can certainly purchase an Elizabeth inspired t-shirt just inside the front entrance.

As for my ghostly encounter, it occurred as my travel companions and I were waiting patiently for our Southern fried feast. I had decided to change seating positions with my husband due to my toddler being…well, a toddler. After I sat down, I picked up his tea-soaked spoon from between the fork and knife in front of me and exchanged the used spoon for the clean one that had previously been mine. We all continued to chat and nibble on hush puppies until the waitress arrived with our plates. After Lissa sat down my plate of fried shrimp and catfish, I spent several moments playing doctor with the ketchup and the seasonings. When I went to pick up my knife and fork to cut into my fish, I realized that my knife was no longer lying on the napkin in front of me. I asked everyone at the table if they had seen or had confiscated my knife. With everyone being completely flabbergasted, I took to an uneventful search of the floor. Giving up, I leaned over to grab the knife from the vacant place setting next to me and yet again discovered that the same utensil had gone astray.

Thinking no more about the missing silverware, we finished our meal and promptly arranged for a tour of the house. According to Ryan Rodriguez, one of the restaurant’s owners, the house was built in 1895 and has seen its share of fires, deaths, and levitating fryer baskets. When news of the haunting acquired publicity, the house was featured on a variety of television news stations, an episode of “A Current Affair”, as well as the 2003 season premier of the animated “King of the Hill.” Quite impressed, I avidly asked Mr. Rodriguez the specifics in regards to the paranormal activity that commonly occurs in the building. He revealed goings-ons such as mysteriously stacked coffee cups, apparitions, cold spots, eerie footprints in a flour dusted kitchen floor, as well as…missing silverware.

Completely taken aback, I relayed my dining experience with Mr. Rodriguez and he confirmed that it was most likely the antics of one of the spirit inhabitants. Containing my excitement, the tour wrapped up and I snapped the last series of photographs. Taking a final look around, I exited the house knowing that on that particular day, the notorious ghosts of the Catfish Plantation preferred that I eat my fried catfish like a true Southerner…with my fingers.

You can find more information on the Catfish Plantation by logging onto their website at www.catfishplantation.com. Restaurant hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00am until 9:00pm, while closing at 8:00pm on Sundays. Children eat for free on Sundays as well. Reservations can be made by calling (972)-937-9468.

(This article was originally published by Carey Weeks in Louisiana Road Trips Magazine)

New Orleans Off the Beaten Path

It’s all too easy to get sucked into the usual tourist traps when visiting the Big Easy. Grabbing a hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s, scarfing down warm beignets at Café Du Monde, and listening to live music at the House of Blues are certainly activities not to be missed, however it is sometimes worth a little effort to go off the beaten path. It is also a sure-fire way to avoid the congestion that comes with trying to sight see amongst other vacationers.

The first key to visiting New Orleans off the beaten path is to eat like the locals. Sure, it’s a lot of fun to try fresh oysters at Acme Oyster House or to eat at a restaurant created by a celebrity chef such as Emeril. Believe it or not, some of the best food in the city is prepared by small, independent establishments.

One of the oldest and most exciting traditional diners in Uptown is the popular Camellia Grill (a new location has been opened in the French Quarter!) . Watching the waiters rattle off orders to the cooks in warp speed while sipping on an icy Freeze (Camellia’s version of a malt) are just a couple of reasons to hang out at the counter here on South Carrolton. It gets a tad warm inside the diner during the summer due to the many grills making juicy sandwiches and burgers, but the grilled chocolate pecan pie is worth a little sweat.

Craving a yummy snack between museum visits? Check out the Garden District’s finest chocolate emporium Sucre' on Magazine Street. Just one look at the bakery’s display windows from the sidewalk lets the weary traveler know that they have reached a sugary heaven. From the front case of creamy French gelato to the counter decorated with mounds of flavorful macaroons, I can’t imagine making a wrong decision while ordering. The piece de resistance, however, is the large case packed with rows upon rows of shiny artisanal chocolate candies. Although a tad pricey, it is hard to say no to a little pink box (in the shape of a purse) full of chocolaty goodness. Rum raisin, Sicilian pistachio, chicory, chai, and Absinthe are just a few of the flavors that are worth a try.

When you think of New Orleans, you are likely to think of spicy Cajun food, not gourmet pizza. If you’ve set out to eat like a local, a freshly baked pie from Rocky’s Pizzeria on Magazine Street is a must-have. Unpretentious and cozy, this little hole-in-the-wall dishes up pizza creations using toppings such as garlic, andouille sausage, crawfish, Tasso, and your choice of a red or white sauce as the base. The hand-tossed crusts make delivery pizza look like a frozen dinner. This is definitely one place where getting a to-go box is a good thing. A midnight snack from Rocky’s while relaxing in a nice hotel is the way to go!

When it comes to sight-seeing, it is always important not to find yourself being stuck in the French Quarter for the entire trip. Yes, it is sometimes hard to get enough of the Vieux Carre’s antique ambiance. Contrary to popular belief, there is an extraordinary amount of things to see and places to visit all over this beautiful city. For instance, take a stroll along the Warehouse District, popping into the changing exhibits at the Arthur Roger Gallery and the Ogden Museum of Art. For kid-friendly fun, check out the Louisiana Children’s Museum which is almost as fun for adults as it is for the children. Crafts, prizes, and science discoveries are just a few things that this fantastic museum has to offer. On a recent trip my little girl found herself making snow from scratch and shopping at a miniaturized Winn Dixie.

For those interested in representational art and history, take a driving tour of the nineteen sculptures placed from one end of the city to the next to commemorate the memory of Hurricane Katrina. From a set of lonely white steps on the lawn of the New Orleans Museum of Art to the slatted metal boat standing on posts in the water at West End Park these “memorials” are worth a drive or streetcar ride. To print out a list of each piece of art, visit Doug MacCash’s article and videos of “Art in Public Places” at www.nola.com.

It would probably take many years to experience all that the Crescent City has to offer. From good food, live music, historic places, museums, and romantic B&B’s, you can easily find yourself going back for more, just as I plan to do. Pick up a New Orleans travel guide and make a list of all of the things to see and do off the beaten path.

Camellia Grill is open 7 days a week at 626 South Carrollton Ave. (504) 309-2679‎. Rocky’s Pizzeria is located in the Garden District at 3222 Magazine St. (504) 891-5152. Sucre is open 7 days a week at 3025 Magazine St. (504) 520-8311. Shop online at www.shopsucre.com . The Louisiana Children’s Museum can be found a 420 Julia St. in the Warehouse District. (Be careful when parking along the street to avoid parking tickets) Admission is $7.50 for children and adults. The museum is open Tues-Sun. Visit them online at www.lcm.org/ .

(this article was first published in Louisiana Road Trips magazine)