Haunted Mansion Stories- Tale of the Sitting Chair

Tale of the Sitting Chair

Name: Walter Russell

Born: 1792

Died: 1830

            There are many reasons a ghost may remain on earth. They may have given themselves to a greater power. Terrible tragedy or powerful emotions can do it. They might be afraid to move on or consumed by vengeance, hatred or desire.

            One ghost who came by way of tragedy, perhaps the saddest tale from the Mansion, concerns the sitting chair.

            Walter Russell was an honest man. He was known far and wide for the value of his word which upon his own life he would not break. In 1830, Walter’s young son was taken ill. The boy lay in a fever when his eyes suddenly cleared. He took his father’s hand and said, “Daddy, I’m scared. Please don’t leave me.” Choking on the words he replied, “My son, I will not leave until you climb out of that bed and play with your brothers.”

            Days passed and the youth fell lower into sickness. Walter slept little and ate less as he sat by the bed. Being of an active nature, the father would often rise to move about the room but at the slightest sound or movement would rush back to hold the boy’s hand. Father and son grew weaker together and after several weeks, Walter Russell jr. died. The elder Russell was overcome with grief and for days would not allow the tiny lad to be buried or even moved. A full week after his son’s passing; Walter Russell succumbed to his despair and slipped into a quiet death.

            George Gracey Sr., who was expecting his first child at the time, was so moved by the events that he endowed a local monastery to open one of the first true hospitals in New Orleans. He provided much support to the Russell family and purchased Walter’s sitting chair as a reminder of the value of integrity.