The Magnolia Hall Ghost in Natchez, MS

I was fortunate to vacation in Natchez two years ago, and one of the places that we visited was Magnolia Hall. As I was combing the web for ghost articles to share with you, I was happy to stumble across one that was in the Natchez Democrat newspaper. I've posted the link below, and if you get the chance to visit their fair city, be sure to also check out King's Tavern - a haunted restaurant where you'll get the best steak that you've tasted in a while.

Meanwhile, off to Magnolia Hall:

www.natchezdemocrat.com/articles/2005/11/22/news/news55.txt

Text of the article (copyright by the Natchez Democrat) follows:

Cable network films ghost segment at Magnolia Hall
By Julie Finley
The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — The ghost of Magnolia Hall had a little company Monday, and he was on his best behavior. Original owner Thomas Henderson's ghost — according to those who know the house — filmed his TV debut with a crew from Turner South network.

The Time Warner Company will highlight the house in an upcoming episode of "Blue Ribbon" featuring haunted houses. Though Henderson was never actually visible, those in the house did see an imprint on a bedroom pillow and hear the beeping of a ghost-tracking device.

Such instances are par for the course, former Magnolia tour guide Judy Grimsley told the Turner South tape. "Some people don't like to say the word 'haunted,'" Grimsley said in her interview. "Paranormal is more of what we are into at Magnolia Hall."

Grimsely told reporter Dave Porfiri stories of mysterious footsteps, shadows and flickering lights. But Magnolia Hall's ghosts aren't the evil type, she said.

"They like to see that everything is going well, and they are very pleased," she said. Porfiri also interviewed others — most Natchez Garden Club members —who've spent time in the house. Their comments will be melded with footage from the house and from a Living History tour for about a five-minute segment, Porfiri said.

The episode, which may air in February, will also include houses inTennessee, South Carolina and Georgia. "Blue Ribbon," in its third season, highlights a different topic each episode, such as island getaways and microbreweries. Porfiri, who works on a freelance basis with the network, submitted the idea of haunted houses and picked Natchez.

A Google search led him to Magnolia Hall. "(Natchez) is just honestly a place I wanted to come," he said. "I've heard about it my whole life." Porfiri and his soundman spent all day Monday filming at Magnolia Hall.

He said he hopes to pitch the idea of a haunted house series to Turner South, and said coming back to Natchez is a possibility. "In my research for this show I was absolutely convinced this would makea great series for the network," he said. "There are thousands of haunted places."

The show will be publicized on the Turner South Web site (http://www.turnersouth.com/) about a month before it airs. During its first month on TV it will air 10 times, after that it will go into a rotation and appear occasionally.

At the end of each "Blue Ribbon" episode, viewers are given the chance to vote on which segment should win the blue ribbon. Magnolia Hall will be eligible.