Ghosts Who Run Amuck

At the Cedar Grove Inn and Restaurant in Vicksburg, Mississippi, ghosts roam here, there, and everywhere. “They come and go in spits and starts,” says co-owner Phyllis Small.

Executive Chef John Kellogg is positive there’s a ghost is in the private dining room. “I walk by the room at night; it’s empty except for flare of a flame at the head of the table; there is a wisp of smoke curling up as if someone has just taken a puff on his cigar.” The chef believes it is the ghost of John Alexander Klein, the original owner, who enjoys his cigars in the afterlife.


But Desk Manager Kathy Hall, along with members of the housekeeping staff, believes Mr. Klein prefers the parlor as they often see his reflection in the mirror between the windows.

The ghost of Elizabeth Klein, John’s wife, refuses to give up her role as hostess. She sprays lavender perfume in the halls to mask the smell of the cigar smoke. And she checks on startled guests, often sitting on the bed to have a chat in room number 8, the Ashley Wilkes suite.
The spirits of John and Elizabeth Klein do not limit their visitations to inside the house; they’re known to put in personal appearances around the grounds. John prefers sitting quietly in the gazebo. “Very, very early in the morning that’s when you see him,” says Chef Kellogg.

The lovely Elizabeth favors the dark of night. She’s been spotted in a long white dress, weaving in and out of the hedges on the front lawn or floating by the upper balcony.

The ghost of the Kleins’ young son Willie started appearing on the rear wrought iron stair case following a fatal accident. Young Willie had just returned from hunting with a friend; they both fell asleep in the back yard. On waking Willie’s friend accidentally discharged his gun, hitting Willie in the chest. Willie managed to crawl halfway up the staircase seeking help, but only made it halfway before stumbling back down to his death. Guests at the inn claim they can still hear the thud, thud, thud of poor Willie’s body falling down the stairs.
These same guests, if they had a choice, would probably choose instead to hear the happy sounds of a child’s ball bouncing down the front interior staircase. Elizabeth Klein gave birth to ten children while living at Cedar Grove. The bouncing ball likely belongs to one of her six surviving youngsters, who hang around to play.

Bartender Joe Connor does not like the paranormal antics of the ghost who wreaks havoc in the bar. “He makes the glasses fly through the air.” Joe swears he has had bar patrons who’ve witnessed the poltergeist activity. The blame is placed squarely on Andre, a disgruntled former cook, who now resides in the spirit world.
Upstairs In the Bonnie Blue room a mischievous spirit leaves handprints on the wall, while another shoots off guns followed by screams in the ballroom. And just to keep the staff on high alert a troubled spirt is intent on knocking over a massive gilt-framed painting in the dining room.
At the Cedar Grove Inn in Vicksburg, there’s no need to ask its ghostly inhabitants to Come out, Come out where ever you are; they’re everywhere inside and out . . . and there’s more.

For more information about these restless spirits, read Chapter 3 in my book The Haunting of Mississippi, available through this website, in independent bookstore, and as an eBook through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.