'Gaineswood' marker describes one of Alabama's 'most haunted' places

Gaineswood Historical Marker in Demopolis, Ala.

This week’s featured historical marker is the “GAINESWOOD” marker in Demopolis, Ala. The marker is located on the east side of U.S. Highway 43 in front of the Gaineswood National Historic Landmark, which is located around the corner at 805 South Cedar Ave. in Demopolis.

This historical marker was erected by the Alabama Historical Association in 1961. There’s text on both sides of this marker, but both sides are the same. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

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“GAINESWOOD: Built 1842-1860 by Gen. Nathan Bryan Whitfield, 1799-1868, accomplished planter of the Canebrake, using imported materials and artisans glorifying the Greek Revival Architecture by combining Doric exterior, Corinthian grand ballroom, Ionic parlor and dining room with mirrors, chandeliers, columns, domes. This house was named for Gen. George Strother Gaines, 1784-1873, distinguished United States Agent and Factor to Choctaw Indian Nation.”

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Gaineswood has the reputation for being one of the most haunted locations in all of Alabama thanks to Kathryn Tucker Windham’s classic book, “13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey,” which contains an entire chapter about Gaineswood titled “The Unquiet Ghost at Gaineswood.”

According to Windham, Gaineswood is haunted by the spirit of Evelyn Carter, who was the sister of a housekeeper employed by the home’s original owner, General Nathan Bryan Whitfield, who died in 1868. Evelyn was a native of Virginia and her father was out of the country serving as the U.S. consul to Greece. Evelyn, a talented musician, came to visit her sister at Gaineswood, but died a short time later during of the coldest Alabama winters in memory.

She’s believed to haunt Gaineswood to this day because she didn’t receive a timely burial. Due to roads covered with ice and snow and the fact that her father was out of the country, her body was stored for a time in the basement at Gaineswood. Soon thereafter, people in the house began hearing ghostly music and the sound of strange, unexplained footsteps, which didn’t stop even when Evelyn’s body was finally transported to Virginia for a proper burial.

Another great book that also discusses Gaineswood and the ghost of Evelyn Carter is “Haunted Alabama Black Belt” by David Higdon and Brett Talley. Published in 2013, this outstanding book also details the mysterious tales of Carter’s final days and the unexplained events that followed her death. If you’ve never read this book, I highly recommend that you check it out.

The property is currently operated as a museum by the Alabama Historical Commission, and if you’ve never been to visit, I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy Alabama history. Gaineswood is located at 805 South Cedar Ave. in Demopolis and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s also open on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 334-289-4846.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.