PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox
People have heard the legend of her ghost for a century. Most scoff, but there are those who want to believe. Pilgrims sojourn to the county-owned landmark. They look up at the brick edifice — to her windows — and hope to see her ectoplasmic form.
She’s there. She stopped waving her arms frantically, hoping to be seen, decades ago. She wants to let them know what really happened. Living or dead, she spends her time looking over the concrete pond, where the evidence of truth lies at the bottom, with the tadpoles, its skull and crossbones label long gone.
[100 words]
Read more about The Felt Mansion here. Please note: the legend of how she really died is completely fictitious.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the nurturing host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
A lovely grim gothic feel to this one.
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Thank you, Iain. Every time I visit the place, I stand right where this pic was taken and look up, hoping to see her. I do feel the evidence is at the bottom of the pond.
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Someone knows the truth. Fiction or fact?
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The truth is that the Felt Family, from Chicago, built the mansion as a summer home. Within a year of moving in, Mrs. Felt passed away. Those windows upstairs are her bedroom windows. How she died is said to be from an illness. It is also said her ghost haunts the place.
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I wrote a ghost story, too.
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Cool, James. Will check it out in a bit.
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Nicely written tale of ghosts and how they wish they could communicate with us. That she passed away within a year would be reason enough for her to haunt the place 🙂
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Thank you, Dale, and I agree 🙂
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🙂
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The concrete pond sounds creepy enough
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It’s actually very nice and the frogs love it. I would *not* want to go to the bottom of it — or be anywhere near that place at night.
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Interesting….also a bit of humor how she tired of frantically waving her arms.
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Thanks much, Clare.
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The pond holds some mysteries. I love that link you had…those old estates are really cool. Some have hidden passages and different little things.
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Max I can’t remember how I first stumbled across this place, but I’ve learned a *lot* about it since then. Oh, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if it had hidden passages, tunnels underground, etc. There are some pretty scary legends about the place. In the daylight it feels safe, but no-way, no-how would you catch me anywhere near that place at night.
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I loved that page you had linked…I love old places like that…and yea they are creepy.
When our guitar player was in college he stayed at the servant quarters at the Smith-Trahern Mansion in Clarksville. It’s not even a fraction of the Felt’s family place but it was spooky and we held parties there and our band played in there… good memories!
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Yes, the page has a lot of info about it. It looks so nice now that the county took it over and renovated it, but when I first came upon it it was a ramshackle place that was full of rubble and falling down areas. It was also open to walk in when they had tours, even as broken down as it was. In the 3rd floor was a giant ballroom that later held an orphanage. I got some major heeby jeebies walking through there. Also a very bad feeling about one of the outside stairwells. About you playing at that mansion: music drives evil away so you were safe. A group partying also keeps the shadows at bay. Sounds like you had a blast at that place.
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I know what you mean about feeling something evil or bad at a place. His little place had a cemetery right out side his door so that was spooky.
I’m happy no one came and tore anything up. I didn’t want my buddy to get into trouble. We rattled the chandelier…you could see it shake when we played.
I’m happy they fixed it up for people…yea like I said…I hate those bad feelings some places give. Sorry about the novel of a comment!
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Do you ever go back to that place and check it out? Sounds like you had the privacy needed to really kick out the jams. Nobody calling the cops because of the loud music.
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Yes I drove by there a couple of years ago and show Jennifer because I didn’t know her then. Nope…no one ever called the cops there… butother places like parties? Oh yea. We would break into Jailhouse Rock and they would usually laugh….”just turn it down guys”
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So the photo is of Felt Mansion? It does look like a place for ghosts. Fictionalized death or not, I enjoyed your story.
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Yes it is just the corner, where her windows are. Thank you and glad you enjoyed the story.
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Interesting but I feel a little lost.
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Let me help 🙂 What isn’t clear to you?
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Hmmm…sorry, must not have been paying attention on my first read. The second read was clearer. Thanks for commenting so I would re-read.
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Always open to questions, Dawn. My pleasure!
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You are very gracious.
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A nice chilling tale Li.
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Thank you, Sadje!
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You’re most welcome
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Amazing how those stories grow…(K)
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I feel there are a lot of ghosts like her. Nicely done!
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Thanks much, Mason, and I think so also.
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You’re welcome.
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Wonderfully shared.
Unfortunate reality for some.
Hope they find her last remains.
Her spirit yearns for that discovery.
Everyone must get closure…
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Anita, thank you. I think her bones are in her grave, but that poison bottle… yes, she needs closure.
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Sounds like an intriguing place, your words paint a portrait in my mind, I can almost feel it as well.
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It is an intriguing place, especially having watched it be transformed from a shambling mess back to its full glory. They use it now as an event center for parties, weddings, etc.
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Dear Lisa,
Now when I think of ghosts I think of the hit TV show. Perhaps it will take someone falling down a flight of stairs to see Lady Felt. 😉 Intriguing tale. Thanks for sharing the photo.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I usually avoid ghost TV but once in awhile I indulge. I hope someone helps her find lasting peace, like what Anita said. Thank you, and you’re welcome on the photo ❤
Shalom,
Lisa
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i guess she’ll haunt the place until the truth comes out.
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I think so also, Plaridel.
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Your story is more entertaining than dying of an illness.
Thanks for the picture. I looked at the website, too. It looks like a beautiful place.
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Thanks, Nobbin!
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The fascination of haunted houses – nice story!
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Thanks a lot, Christian!
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Fascinating.
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Thanks, Oneta!
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Lisa I’m watching a train derailment in Michigan.
“At least six cars were off the tracks in Van Buren Township, which is about 30 miles southwest of Detroit. Officials say only one of the train cars was carrying hazardous materials, and it’s reportedly showing no sign of leaking or damage.”
Maybe you already know.
Stay Safe!
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Thanks for the heads-up, Jen. No, I didn’t know. Glad no leaking of hazardous wastes :::thanking the powers tha be:::
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Take good care.
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Intriguing! I followed the link, what an interesting place. Having read your story, I’m not sure I’d want to get married there, there’s a thin line between fact and fiction!
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Oh, I know what you mean, Keith. No sense it putting that kind of temptation out there for history repeating itself.
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Great story – thanks for the link it looks a fascinating place 🙂
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It is a very fascinating place, set out in the middle of nowhere (but just on the other side of a dune is Lake MI.)
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Skull and crossbones label? Did she die or did she kill?
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The story is always open to interpretation by the reader. What do you think happened?
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What an interesting story and I love the imagery you used!
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Thank you, Patricia 🙂
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Interesting….also a bit of humor how she tired of frantically waving her arms.
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Thank you, Max 🙂
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OOoooooo–this one reached out and grabbed me! I’m going to have to go read about her 🙂
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Good to hear, Linda. Glad you want to know more about Lady Felt.
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Ah, the plot thickens. Well done.
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Thank you 🙂
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Oh oh I love this! So moody and Gothic. A murder mystery too. Spooky.
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Thanks much, Laurie 🙂
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I didn’t know whether to cover my eyes … good tale.
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Thank you!
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Ooh, this is deliciously creepy. Well done, L.
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Thanks, T!
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