WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) — It’s the oldest standing structure in all of Warren County. The first 2 rooms of McRaven House were built when George Washington was President. In 218 years, it’s seen plenty of good times and more than its fair share of tragedy.
Through the white noise paranormal investigator Brian Riley is trying to communicate with Mary Elizabeth Howard, just a teenager when she died, in this room, in 1836.
Brian says, ” There is a lot of somethings going on in this house.”
Topping that list, the young bride who passed away shortly after giving birth to her only child.
McRaven General Manager Evan Winschel elaborates, ” She is without a shadow of a doubt the most active spirit that we have in the house. She’s been seen numerous times, described pretty much the same way in a long brown dress, with her hair in a bun, by many, many people.”
Fortunately Mary Elizabeth is friendly, known for photobombs and leading tours off course. The homes first inhabitant was *not* friendly. Andrew Glass robbed people along the Natchez Trace in the 1790’s. The McRaven was his hideout.
Tour guide Bonita Barnes laments,” In Andrew Glass’ bedroom, in the 1797 bedroom, it’s my favorite bedroom, but I feel kind of annoyed, I feel just kind of strange in that room.”
I asked, “You don’t think he wants you there?”
Bonita responded, ” I don’t think does.”
Many women who visit this room get that same feeling.
Downstairs relics from later owners have a way of moving on their own.
Evan says, ” The tea set has been rearranged twice. The teacups will be off at these and they’ll be here, and this will be over here so things kept being rearranged.”
Brian Riley adds, ” I’m comfortable saying this is the most haunted house in Mississippi.”
In the Civil War, McRaven became a Confederate hospital. 147 cannonballs tore through its parlor. In the tents outside limbs littered with lead bullets were sawed from soldiers bodies.
Evan explains, ” We do have 11 unknown bodies buried on this property. This was used as a hospital, and it was not very hygienic back then. So, a lot of people died of disease, and what not, and then amputations, and what not, that were done on the property. They found arm bones and leg bones buried out there, but we do have bodies out there.”
Visitors report seeing a soldier in full Confederate uniform standing behind them in the parlor mirror. Some say they’ve seen John Bobb, a former owner, shot by Union soldiers during reconstruction, strolling along the porch. They can hear his voice and smell his cigar. The ghosts were shy the night we visited McRaven, but feel free to check it out for yourself. Ghost tours will continue as long as anyone is brave enough to take them every night right here at 7 and 8:30. In Vicksburg.
McRaven House has been called a time capsule of the south. From the buttermilk paint Andrew Glass slapped on the wall in 17-97, to the bed where Mary Elizabeth Howard died in 1836, it’s all still there, and according to many visitors, so are many of the souls who once called McRaven home.
