Haunted Louisiana Honorable Mentions Part 4

(PART 1)  (PART 2)  (PART 3)

The Strand Theatre (Shreveport)

619 Louisiana Avenue #200, Shreveport, LA 71101 (32.509954,-93.749932)

Built in 1925, the Strand Theatre has remained a landmark of the city for many years. Always known for its ornate design, the Strand started out as a Vaudeville venue and then converted to motion pictures by the 1940’s. The theatre would close down in 1977 and almost faced demolishing. Fortunately, a group of concerned citizens pooled their resources together and brought like back to the venue. Since 1984, the Strand continues to host the Shreveport Broadway Series as well as other traveling off-Broadway shows. As with many haunted theatres, staff members have witnessed unexplainable shadows in the balconies and on stage, accompanied with the sounds of disembodied voices.

Slattery Building (Shreveport)

501-509 Marshall Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 (32.512719,-93.74925)

When it was constructed in 1926, the building stood proud as the tallest in the city. Today, it blends in with many of the other skyscrapers but it still remains historically significant for Shreveport. The top floor is rumored to be haunted by a handyman who supposedly fell to his death here.

Simmesport Railroad Bridge (Simmesport)

Follows Hwy 1 South, Simmesport, LA 71369 (30.982208,-91.797853)

Perhaps more urban legend than anything, those who visit the old bridge at night claim that it is haunted by a construction worker who died here. Growing up, I had often heard of this tale in school, as several of my friends would visit the bridge and claim to see a strange blue ball of light floating down the tracks. The story told is that when one of the construction workers was assisting in pouring the concrete into one of the large footings, he fell into the wet cement and died. His body was reportedly unable to be retrieved and it still sits inside the pillar.

Springfield Cemetery (Springfield)

Main Street, Springfield, LA 70462 (30.430978,-90.551966)

The Springfield Cemetery is home to a very interesting grave. A teenage boy by the name of Michael Brown was killed in a hit and run accident at the age of sixteen. Hours after his headstone was erected, an entire mural was mysteriously etched on the back of the stone, depicted what took place during the accident. The image appears to be crudely drawn by a child. Although the story seems pretty far-fetched, looking at the engravings and one can see that it would have been quite hard for a child to carve such images into a hard stone, especially only in one night.

Big Woods Cemetery (Sulphur)

Edgerly Dequincy Rd., Sulphur, LA 70688 (30.271966,-93.507042)

Along with the adjacent Antioch Cemetery, these two burial grounds have long been rumored to be the most haunted cemeteries in Louisiana. I have never visited, as the area is heavily posted and patrolled after dark. Arrests are regularly made here so I recommend that you do not try your luck. Those who have been to Big Woods have often walked away with incredible stories. I have heard everything from people being hit and scratched to seeing strange wolf-like creatures with red eyes.

Precious Memories Gift Shop (Sulphur)

214 S Irwin Street, Sulphur, LA 70663 (30.23605,-93.378279)

The business resides in a house which was built by its previous owner in the early 1920’s. Since the business has been operated in the house, the owner and employees have noticed strange things happening from time to time. Items have been moved from the location they were originally placed. Baskets and other items that were initially placed on shelves have been found on the hallway floor.

Taylortown Bell Tower (Taylortown)

Hwy 71, Taylortown, LA (32.385914,-93.594825)

The Taylortown Bell Tower has long been a home to local urban legends. Some tell the tale of a jilted bride who fell to her death here as an apparent suicide. There is no documented proof of this long-told story ever taking place, possibly making it exactly what it is (a legend). What is certain is that it is the only remaining part of the Taylortown Methodist Church, built in 1906, that survived a fire. This is another location that is heavily posted so I do not recommend visiting it too closely.

Nicholson Home (Washington)

202 South Main Street, Washington, LA 70589 (30.613954,-92.059658)

Once known as the Mayer Home, it was once used as a Civil War hospital. Disembodied voices and cries of agony have been heard in this old home, said to primarily be haunted by a one-legged soldier.