????A Look Inside Carnton Plantation: A House Claimed to be One of the Most Haunted Places in Franklin????

This post was written last year by one of our wonderful reference assistants – it may be one of the most appropriate blog posts for this time of year.

By Bailey Davidson

With spooky season in full swing it seems only fitting to discuss one of the historical landmarks in Franklin that may or may not be one the most haunted places in the city. This particular place is close to home right here in the heart of downtown Franklin, just a five minute drive from the library. The Plantation itself was restored in the 1970s by the Carnton Association and reopened shortly after for tour, gift shops, etc.

A Brief History of Carnton Plantation:

The Carnton Plantation was built by Randal McGavock in the earlier decades of the nineteenth century and completed in 1826. Initially, Randal McGavock, his wife, Sarah Dougherty Rodgers, and their four children all lived at the Carnton Plantation. Following the death of Randal, his oldest son, John, took over the plantation and then added five features to the house, including the front and back porches. John and his wife, Carrie, then lived in the house with their two surviving children, Winder and Hattie.

The Civil War began at this time, chaos erupted with continuous bloody battles as Union and Confederate soldiers fought for their respective sides all while Carnton seemed to be spared – that is until the evening of November 30, 1864. On that night in November, the Battle of Franklin took place almost in the backyard of Carnton Plantation, a place that had served as a field hospital for the soldiers. A combined 8,000+ soldiers, from both sides, died within hours. This was a substantial defeat for the confederacy, ultimately resulting in its spiraling downfall following the battle.

As for Carnton Plantation, following the war, it remained within the McGavock family until the early twentieth century when Winder’s wife sold the home following his death. The home then continued to be sold to different buyers throughout the years until 1977 when the final private owner of the home, Dr. Sugg, donated it to the Carnton Association, facilitating the restoration of the house.

Why did ghost stories arise around the Carnton Plantation?

Not only is Carnton Plantation home to one of the largest Confederate cemeteries, but it’s also the site of thousands of deaths during the Battle of Franklin, all of which suggest to supernatural fans the possibility of ghosts. Not only does the history of the home hint at the possibility of ghostly apparitions, but the blood stained floors and the eerie mass solider cemetery in the backyard have prompted many claims of ghost sightings on the grounds.

One example of this is from the early 2000s when a tour guide’s daughter claims to have seen the ghost of a woman with dark hair in a white dress standing on the balcony. According to the daughter the woman was staring off at her mother –  at the time giving a guided tour in the cemetery.

In addition to this specter, many have claimed to see the ghost an aged soldier walking the grounds with particularly loud boots. Multiple people have claimed to have either seen or heard this ghost on the grounds and an author, Christopher Coleman, claims that this is most likely the spirit of General Patrick Cleburne.

Just how haunted is the Carnton Plantation?

While we cannot definitely say that the Carnton Plantation is indeed haunted, all of the claims of ghostly apparitions and sightings give the home a spooky atmosphere. It is up to you to decide if the house is actually haunted.

**All information provided has been accessed from the Carnton Association website and from information received during a tour. In addition, the ghost stories were accessed from the book (currently available at the library) Haunted Tennessee: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Volunteer State by Alan Brown. **

What books can you find at the Williamson County Public Library on the Carnton Plantation/ Carnton Plantation Ghost Stories?

• Haunted Tennessee: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Volunteer State By: Alan Brown (Located in Nonfiction Call Number 133.109768 BRO)
• Carton Plantation By: Robert Hicks (Located in Special Collections under TN Military History, for in house use only)
• Hattie’s Carnton: Plantation Life in the Generation of the Civil War By: Helen Hemphill (Located in Special Collections under TN Williamson History, for in house use only)
• Historic Carton Plantation Published by the Carnton Association (Located in Special Collections under TN Williamson History, for in house use only)