Ghost Trippin'

by Cherie Claire

  As for the Stewart Mansion, I stumbled upon this unusual house while writing a travel story about Galveston rental condos through Sand ’n Sea Properties. The condo where TB and Viola practice their dance moves exists, a lovely little townhouse on Dana Drive with photos of gorgeous blonde surfers gracing the walls. I spent two nights here with my good friend Sharon Connors and it was on the balcony that we first spotted the Stewart Mansion.

  The property at 14520 Stewart Road was once owned by Maco Stewart, a native businessman, lawyer and philanthropist who died at aged 54 while driving home from a social function. Stewart helmed the Stewart Title Guaranty Company and was president of the Stewart Oil Company, in addition to being on the board of other establishments. Visitors will recognize the former marine’s name in Stewart Beach, a park located on the east end of the island.

  There are numerous tales — including ghost stories — about the abandoned mansion with its Spanish architecture and rich blue tiles on the west end of Galveston. Inside the home were large murals of pirates, which caused stories to include island buccaneers as well (Jean Lafitte reportedly made his home on Galveston for a time).

  The surrounding Stewart Ranch property was gifted to what is now the Galveston Island State Park but the home sat derelict for many years after the family passed on. Over the years, squatters and graffiti artists damaged the beautiful tiles and murals and the home fell into disrepair. It became known as a haunted house with numerous reports of apparitions, including pirates and Native Americans (Lafitte had a scrimmage with Native Americans not far from the house in a place called “Lafitte’s Grove”), a pack of phantom black dogs, shadow images and New Orleans voodoo witches supposedly brought to Galveston with Lafitte. As much as I love a great ghost story, I’m betting people saw squatters and stray dogs. Galveston owns some impressive ghost tales, including the poor soul at Hotel Galvez, but I’ve always doubted the ghosts of the Stewart Mansion.

  I visited this sad old house during my time at the Dana Drive condo and can attest to its spookiness, mainly due to those eerie pirates looking down on you from murals and the darkness caused by the boarded-up windows. Since it was summertime, the sky hung low with thunderclouds which added to my fears. I was more scared of being struck by lightning than eaten by supernatural dogs.

  I’ve since heard that the mansion has been undergoing a renovation. Kudos to those saving this beauty.

  The Kettle House also exists in Galveston, a metal home just outside the Galveston Island State Park, a few blocks from the Stewart Mansion, that resembles a teapot. From information I gathered on the Internet, the house was built by a man who once constructed storage tanks for oil companies.

  You can read more and view photos of the Stewart Mansion and the Kettle House on my Weird, Wacky and Wild South blog at http://weirdsouth.blogspot.com or My Louisiana Home blog on my author website at www.CherieClaire.net.

  And no, Lightning Bug, Tennessee, does not exist. But you’ll learn more about that magical town in the next book in the series, Give up the Ghost, coming in the fall of 2019.

  Acknowledgements

  I’m forever grateful to those who keep me afloat — my darling husband Bruce, sons Taylor and Joshua (the latter the amazing artist of the Viola Valentine covers), my mother LilyB Moskal and sisters Danon Dastugue and Roxane Moskal Berglund. I cannot thank y’all enough for your assistance, encouragement and love.

  About the Author

  Cherie Claire is a native of New Orleans who like so many Gulf Coast residents was heartbroken after Hurricane Katrina. She works as a travel and food writer and extensively covers the Deep South, including its colorful ghost stories, and loves to visit the Texas Coast, especially Galveston. To learn more about her novels and her non-fiction books, upcoming events and to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website www.CherieClaire.net. Write to Cherie at CajunRomances@Yahoo.com.

  Also by Cherie Claire

  Viola Valentine Mystery Series

  A Ghost of a Chance

  Ghost Town

  Trace of a Ghost

  Ghost Trippin’

  Give Up the Ghost (Fall 2019)

  The Cajun Embassy

  Ticket to Paradise

  Damn Yankees

  Gone Pecan

  The Cajun Series

  Emilie

  Rose

  Gabrielle

  Delphine

  A Cajun Dream

  The Letter

  Carnival Confessions: A Mardi Gras Novella