Ghosts of Old Louisville: True Stories of Hauntings in America’s Largest Victorian Neighborhood
Product DescriptionThe most haunted neighborhood in America? With more than 45 square blocks of wonderful hundred-year-old mansions and charming town homes, Old Louisville counts as the largest Victorian neighborhood in the nation. Given that there are more than 1,000 structures in all where generations of families have lived, loved and died, it is not surprising that there might be a ghost or two knocking about in this acclaimed National Register Historic Preservation District. So many so, in fact, that Old Louisville has also gained the reputation as being the most haunted neighborhood in the country. David Dominé found this out for himself when he purchased a lovely 1895 chateauesque mansion on Old Louisville’s famed Millionaire’s Row in 1999. A self-proclaimed skeptic, he dismissed rumors of a mischievous resident poltergeist named Lucy when he moved in, but he soon found himself at a loss to explain the disembodied footsteps, mysterious odors and paranormal activity that plagued the old home. Even after unnerving events caused him to flee the home in the middle of the night, Dominé tried to come up with rational explanations for the strange occurrences. Gradually, however, he came to accept the possibility of supernatural phenomena and began to dig into the past of the old home known by locals as the Moorish Palace. He eventually came up with a theory as to who or what might be haunting the property, and in the process he was able to uncover a wealth of fascinating history and ghostly tales about his historic neighborhood. Ghosts of Old Louisville: True Stories of Hauntings in America’s Largest Victorian Neighborhood chronicles the harrowing events in his own home and discusses the haunted past of other significant structures in the neighborhood. Rich with interesting historical tidbits and vivid architectural descriptions that bring the opulent mansions and charming homes to life, Dominé creates an enchanting mood piece as a backdrop for his tales of the paranormal in this unique American neighborhood.
Ghosts of Old Louisville: True Stories of Hauntings in America’s Largest Victorian Neighborhood
I read the book. It was a gift. I was and remain a skeptic, in any case.
“Ghosts” never rises above being merely a fluff piece suitable as a novelty gift, chamber of commerce book rack item, or bundled in a Louisville conventioneers packet. The scholarship is very thin. The text alternates between waxes of arch, purple prose and long stretches of completely flat, pedestrian narrative and historical contextualizing. There is this tedious journalistic device of interrupting the progress of the narrative with mostly uninteresting, repetitive and unhelpful quotes of testimonials by local people. The author could have paraphrased most of this flak because it really wasn’t very colorful or illuminating, rather it just made the book longer than its content othewise required. The author couldn’t decide upon a consistent rule for when to italicize names, hyperbole or slang. Why italicize at all when it just distracts? Or, how about this awkward list of ethnics: “the small plot of land where German, Irish, African-American and Kentucky craftsmen would create a thoroughly modern and efficient home”. I don’t get the fine distinctions. And, written for the book is the wierdest Foreword I have ever read, maybe the most embarrassing.
Someone less fond of the author and his charms – and his selfsaid high taste in wine – should have taken a red pen to the manuscript and cut that Foreword. I did learn a few things about Old Louisville that I didn’t know before reading the book so that is a plus. Finally, to Mr. Domine:
Old Louisville is a terrifc place but it is no eccentric Savannah and “Ghosts” is no “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”.
Rating: 2 / 5
I live in Louisville and so most of these places I am familiar with. I really enjoyed the personal accounts and the author made every effort to talk to people who had good information. He also has a book “Phantoms of Old Louisville” which is very good as well.
Rating: 4 / 5
I love a good ghost story and really enjoyed this book but that said: sometimes it seemed like Domine forgot that he wasn’t actually writing his “Kentucky Peasant” cookbook. Overly italicized, lavish descriptions of food, wine and KY bourbon often overpowered the true spirits of the story. And as much as I love all of these elements personally, I sometimes wondered where his true interests lay when publishing the finished product.
But highfalutin’ language aside, as a former Old Louisvillian I am glad to see someone dedicating such time and research to the history of this decidedly spooky area. If you are into creepy stories then this book, as well as its Phantoms sequel, is definitely worth a read. Be advised there is a also a strange foreword, (somewhat creepy in its own right), perhaps best viewed as a form of comic relief if you find yourself getting too frightened halfway through.
Whatever its idiosyncrasies I do recommend this book to lovers of a good scary story, especially those who live or have lived in the Old Louisville Area.
Rating: 4 / 5
David Domine’s book showcases not only the folks who used to live in Old Louisville (and who still “live” on) but also lets you know why – this is one fabulous place to live (and die). . . . ! The ghostly qualities of this equally famous and infamous place, where the city’s richest and most influential once made their homes and fortunes and scandals. . . . are still with all of us who inhabit the neighborhood today. We are the next ghosts in the making! Visit us any time, say hello to our ghosts, our hosts, and if you cannot make it, please read David’s fascinating book!
Rating: 5 / 5
David Domine is at it again in this third book in his ghostly Old Louisville series. Haunts of Old Louisville explores the history and ghostly legends in what is one of the most significant historic preservation districts in the country, Old Louisville. Through extensive interviews with locals and former residents and after hours of painstaking research in old library archives he has pieced together interesting stories that might have been covered by the sands of time were it not for his dedication and fascination with this unique neighborhood. My favorites were the story of Lucinda, a slightly insane woman who proclaimed herself the Queen of America in the 1880s and whose ghost still promenades the stretch of Third Street known as Millionaires Row, and the Witch’s Tree, a gnarled and spooky old tree that was a favorite haunt for a coven of witches in the 19th century. But there is much more in this book, including reports of strange winged creatures hopping about on top of old churches, disembodied shrieks in faded mansions, a shadowy apparitions on the stairs in area bed and breakfasts. Domine was recently featured in Southern Living magazine because of the ghost tours he leads of the neighborhood based on his books. This is a book history lovers and ghost story freaks will appreciate.
Rating: 5 / 5