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At Dusk Rides The Lady In White |
 Ferry Plantation on the Lynnhaven River has a colorful past that spans over hundreds of years, and often crosses over into the spirit world. A glimpse or a whisper can be heard in a fraction of time just to let the believers know that there is a longing for a story to be told. It is believed that the Lady in White has remained on the plantation to tell her tale. Multiple sightings over the past century have been reported by owners of the plantation and those visiting the grounds. The year is 1826, The Walke Manor House has visitors that stay on the Plantation from time to time, mostly cousins. To set the scene, a huge brick Manor House, a race track, acres of fruit trees and a bounty of legendary oysters in the bay. The men indulged in gambling, drinking and card parties that ran into the early hours of morning. The women on the other hand enjoyed the beautiful countryside with games on the glorious greens and a sip of sherry or mint julip with their tea.
Tragedy strikes and the Lady in White is found at the bottom of the staircase, her lifeless body never to enjoy the fresh sea air on her face or hear the laughter of children that she governed for many years. Psychics have reported that her neck was broken and she died instantly. Some say her heel was caught on the hem of her dress, others blame the children at the top of the stairs for her fatal fall. It is rumoured that in her day she enjoyed the race track as she is seen even today wandering the fields where the cloud of dust and pony hooves were embedded for many years. She has also been seen riding on a two wheeled bicycle which cannot be mistaken for a modern bike as one wheel is much larger than the other. The whiskful layered light remnents of her clothing catch the breeze as she rides as if floating on air in the old roadway which was recently uncovered. This Lady in White has been seen by many including multiple guests in attendance at an oyster roast held on the old plantation. A friend asked me to introduce him to this Lady he saw at dusk following one of our events and not having a clue as to who he was refuring to, I just put the thought aside. Twice more that evening while we were cleaning up she had cought the eye of her admirer, and with no help from his friends, he left feeling low as he was never introduced to her.
It was not until a few months had passed and my friend mentioned the Lady in White once again. "Who was she? Could you not have introduced me to the stranger that had made such an impact on my heart?" Hearing his detailed description of her riding her bicycle in the pasture as night was falling and knowing the stories told by so many, I had to tell my friend that she was a spirit from the past. I was so sorry that she could not be here for him as he after the next few years seemed to be still pining away as if he has lost someone forever. He had never been the same since that experience.
We welcome those that are open and sensitive to the spirit world to come and explore Ferry Plantation in hopes that they can help these restless souls by telling the stories of those that were not ready to leave a place they loved to roam. by Belinda Nash |
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Under the Floor Boards, Voices From The Past |
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Many visitors come and go from the Ferry Plantation House each year, but when some leave they have lasting memories they take with them. It cound be at any time of the day when visiting the historic Ferry Plantation House. You enter any room and get the feeling that you are not alone. Shortness of breath, heavieness on your chest, signs that some one from the past is trying to contact you. I call those visitors "soul prints of the past". They just want their story to be told.
It was fall, the smell of cooler weather is in the air. Entering the old kitchen you could smell fresh dirt as if you had been turning the garden. The doors are locked and the air conditioner is off with the cool night air. Paranormal groups regularly come to the house to do research and to test equipment. A Paranormal investigation was conducted in the Plantation House the night before. Something was was awakened and survived long after the investigation was over.
I am now all alone in the house and from under the floor boards, faint cries could be heard, as if someone or something were being hurt. Could this be an animal trapped below? The sounds became clearer. I went outside to see if anyone were calling, or if maybe a rusted hinge had made the noise. No one could be found and the hinges got some attention with oil. The sounds came again more muffled but this time it was a man's voice that could be heard. Could it be voices bouncing off the surrounding houses? The chills cause the hair on the back of your neck and arms to raise. Is it my imagination playing tricks on me? Maybe just the wind catching the tree branches just right made the sounds. At this point I felt I should leave but debated putting off my work at the house. At different times as the neighborhood was being built up, strange sounds were reported from under the old house left boarded up and abandoned for twelve years. The sound of chains dragging and heavy doors banging were heard along with cries from the Sycamore tree. The iron bars remain on the windows with the shackles and keys, reminders of the old court house.
That same afternoon a phone call came in. "We want to book the house for another investigation. We have voices on our recorders, you just aren't going to believe it. So much has showed up on our equipment. You have to see and hear this!" The next booking that I could give them was May, not so long to wait. I was relieved to know that I was not the only one hearing the voices. The souls of the past have a story to tell and only time can reveal their message. |
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The Annual Caroling Hayride is on December 10th, $2.00 per person.The first hayride leaves the Food Lion located at the Pembroke Meadows Shopping Center at the Corner of Pembroke Blvd. and Independance Blvd. at 11:30 am and will continue to pick up passengers every 20 minutes until 3pm.