The Lalaurie House - New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is known for many things; its dainty French architect, flowering gardens and parks, its rich, colorful history. And its ghosts. Some consider New Orleans to be one of the most haunted cities in America and if only taking into consideration one of her mansions, they’d certainly be right.

The Lalaurie House at 1140 Royal Street is a pretty, if somewhat unimposing place today. If one were to gaze up at its lacy, iron balconies they’d hardly think to imagine the horrors that took place inside its walls more than 150 years ago.

In 1832 Dr. Louis Lalaurie and his wife, Delphine, occupied the house and were very much regarded as the very patrons of French-Creole society. Their house was decorated with simply the best money could buy; exotic rugs imported from the Orient, Europe’s finest china, delicately carved wood and iron work, and dozens and dozens of slaves, which, in those days, was another indicator of wealth and prominence. Delphine was both admired and envied for her beauty, wealth, and pure social grace and she enjoyed living up to her status by throwing lavish and sumptuous parties and dinners. It was the poor couple indeed who didn’t get an invite to the Lalaurie house to dine and congregate with the finest of society.

Yes, by all accounts, Delphine was a gracious and wonderful woman.

But the picture she painted for all of the French Quarter to see would soon show her true colors. And they were as black as her wicked heart.

Whispers and wonderings began to stir up when many of Delphine’s neighbors noticed that her slaves would seem to disappear over night with no mention or appearance of them ever again.

One day a neighbor’s afternoon was interrupted by a shrill scream and when she went to investigate she found Delphine with a whip in hand, chasing a little slave girl. The girl was terrified and chased to the roof of the Lalaurie mansion where she jumped to her death. Though slavery was still commonplace, there were laws to prevent the cruel treatment of them in New Orleans and acting on the neighbor’s claim, the police seized Delphine’s slave and sold them at an auction. However, Delphine’s relatives purchased them all and secretly sold them back to her.

It wasn’t long before rumors and talk began to circulate once more and invitations to Delphine’s lavish parties were declined.

A fire broke out in the Lalaurie kitchen one evening, some say set by the cook herself. It swept through the mansion but the fire brigade was able to get it under control before too much damage was done. What they found while searching the house though, was enough to send them running away in disgust. Hidden in the attic behind a secret door were dozens of slaves, some dead, some still clinging to life. Men and women alike were naked and chained to the walls, locked in cages made for dogs, and strapped to makeshift operating tables. Body parts and organs were strewn about the room; some on shelves, some in buckets and baskets, some thrown on the floor.

One woman had her stomach cut open and had been tied up with her own intestines, another’s mouth had been sown shut and the men faired just as horribly with their fingernails ripped off, sexual organs cut off, and eyes poked out. One man hung from the wall, a hole in his head with a stick stuck in it used to “stir his brains.”

Doctors were quickly brought in but it is not known just how many of the slaves were able to be saved.

An angry mob gathered outside the Lalaurie house rightfully demanding justice but a carriage appeared out of no where and whisked Mr. and Mrs. Lalaurie off into the night. They were never seen again and just what happened to them, no one really knows. What is known however, is that no punishment was ever brought down on the Lalauries and they were never made to pay for their unspeakable crimes.

Reports of hauntings began almost as soon as the Lalauries left.

Over the years the house was occupied by many different people for many different purposes. It was a private residence, a school for girls, a music conservatory and dance school, housing for immigrants, a bar, and even a furniture store.

No one stayed in the house long.

Screams, groans, and sobbing were all reported as being heard in the house. People saw dark shapes and shadows, children were chased by “things,” and an occupant even had a terrifying encounter with a naked Black man in chains. The owner of the furniture store was perplexed every morning when he found his merchandise covered with a black, putrid smelling liquid. Thinking it must be vandals he decided to hide in the shop one night to catch them in the act. Despite staying awake all night and seeing no one come in, the furniture was one again ruined in the morning.

The house today has been renovated and once again turned into living quarters; this time luxury apartments. The owners, during the remodeling phase, found skeletal remains buried beneath floorboards at the back of the house and authorities believed them to be Lalaurie slaves. Things have since been mostly quiet at the house.

Perhaps the spirits have finally found peace. Or maybe that’s not possible when a tragedy such as this occurs. Perhaps they’re just biding their time and waiting. . . .