ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Russ House Ghosts, Florida
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Russ House Ghosts, Florida
| Ghosts of the Russ House The historic landmark is located in U.S. 90 (Lafayette Street) in Marianna, Florida. It is so beautiful that some say its former inhabitants linger. |
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The Russ House
The beautiful old home in
Marianna, Florida, is said to
be haunted by several ghosts.
The beautiful old home in
Marianna, Florida, is said to
be haunted by several ghosts.
Ghost in the Russ House?
A strange figure can be seen
in the window. Is it one of the
ghosts said to inhabit the
historic home?
A strange figure can be seen
in the window. Is it one of the
ghosts said to inhabit the
historic home?
The Russ House
Built in 1895 and extensively
renovated in 1910, the historic
home is a Marianna landmark
and may be one of the most
haunted houses in Florida.
Built in 1895 and extensively
renovated in 1910, the historic
home is a Marianna landmark
and may be one of the most
haunted houses in Florida.
The Ghosts of the Russ House - Marianna, Florida
Marianna's Haunted Landmark
The historic Russ House in Marianna is one
of the most beautiful old homes in Florida.
And if the claims of some are right, it is also
one of the most haunted!
Located at 4318 West Lafayette Street (U.S.
90) in Marianna, the historic structure is the
home of the Jackson County Chamber of
Commerce and also serves as the county's
official visitor center. It is probably Marianna's
most photographed historic house.
But some of those photographs appear to
show much more than a beautiful old
building. As the image at left illustrates,
pictures of the house often capture a
shadowy figure who appears to be looking
out from the tower windows. He is one of
several manifestations that the Big Bend
Ghost Trackers organization says inhabit the
historic house.
The Russ House was built in 1895 by
Joseph W. Russ, Jr., a successful Marianna
merchant who also held large land holdings
in the county. The beautiful columns and
rounded two-story porches were added
during a renovation in 1910. For 100 years
now they have graced the gentle hill that
overlooks the intersection of Lafayette and
Russ Streets in Marianna.
The yard of the house is hallowed ground.
Although the Russ House itself had not been
built at the time, the intersection of Lafayette
and Russ Streets was where the heaviest
fighting of the Battle of Marianna began on
September 27, 1864. The area was then
known as Ely Corner and it was here that the
Union 2nd Maine Cavalry rode into heavy fire
laid down by Confederate troops. Several
men were killed and wounded within view of
the house. (For more on the historic battle,
please visit www.battleofmarianna.com).
Over the years the house's glory days drifted
past and it became a weathered gray and
gloomy place that sparked many stories of
ghosts and the supernatural. Some former
residents of the home concur and others are
not sure.
The Russ House certainly has seen its
share of tragedy over the years. There were
scandals over marriages, a fortune lost in the
great crash of 1929 and its builder, Joseph
W. Russ, Jr., committed suicide in 1930,
evidently despondent over the loss of the
family fortune in the Great Depression.
Former residents described mysterious
sounds and unexplained sights in the house.
One, in fact, recommended that Chamber of
Commerce employees think twice about
working alone in the house after dark!
of the most beautiful old homes in Florida.
And if the claims of some are right, it is also
one of the most haunted!
Located at 4318 West Lafayette Street (U.S.
90) in Marianna, the historic structure is the
home of the Jackson County Chamber of
Commerce and also serves as the county's
official visitor center. It is probably Marianna's
most photographed historic house.
But some of those photographs appear to
show much more than a beautiful old
building. As the image at left illustrates,
pictures of the house often capture a
shadowy figure who appears to be looking
out from the tower windows. He is one of
several manifestations that the Big Bend
Ghost Trackers organization says inhabit the
historic house.
The Russ House was built in 1895 by
Joseph W. Russ, Jr., a successful Marianna
merchant who also held large land holdings
in the county. The beautiful columns and
rounded two-story porches were added
during a renovation in 1910. For 100 years
now they have graced the gentle hill that
overlooks the intersection of Lafayette and
Russ Streets in Marianna.
The yard of the house is hallowed ground.
Although the Russ House itself had not been
built at the time, the intersection of Lafayette
and Russ Streets was where the heaviest
fighting of the Battle of Marianna began on
September 27, 1864. The area was then
known as Ely Corner and it was here that the
Union 2nd Maine Cavalry rode into heavy fire
laid down by Confederate troops. Several
men were killed and wounded within view of
the house. (For more on the historic battle,
please visit www.battleofmarianna.com).
Over the years the house's glory days drifted
past and it became a weathered gray and
gloomy place that sparked many stories of
ghosts and the supernatural. Some former
residents of the home concur and others are
not sure.
The Russ House certainly has seen its
share of tragedy over the years. There were
scandals over marriages, a fortune lost in the
great crash of 1929 and its builder, Joseph
W. Russ, Jr., committed suicide in 1930,
evidently despondent over the loss of the
family fortune in the Great Depression.
Former residents described mysterious
sounds and unexplained sights in the house.
One, in fact, recommended that Chamber of
Commerce employees think twice about
working alone in the house after dark!
The Russ House was renovated and
restored in the 1990s and is now publicly
owned. The strange happenings in the
house, however, have continued.
When the Big Bend Ghost Trackers spent
time in the house to verify the stories, they
were impressed by the results of their
investigation and concluded that there are at
least 2 ghosts roaming the house.They
believe the ghost of a man haunts the area of
the elevator, which opens and closes on its
on from time to time for no reason. They also
detected cold spots and a motion detector
went off, even though no one was in the
room. They also detected a scent of old-
fashioned powder or perfume on the stairs.
Other eyewitnesses report that they have
seen a mysterious man with a mustache
standing at the top of the stairs and, of
course, the shadowy figure has been
photographed looking out of windows.
Please click here to visit a wonderful site on
the history of the house, written by a former
resident.
Located at Lafayette and Russ Streets in
Marianna, the Russ House is open daily
Monday through Friday during normal
business hours. There is no charge to visit.
restored in the 1990s and is now publicly
owned. The strange happenings in the
house, however, have continued.
When the Big Bend Ghost Trackers spent
time in the house to verify the stories, they
were impressed by the results of their
investigation and concluded that there are at
least 2 ghosts roaming the house.They
believe the ghost of a man haunts the area of
the elevator, which opens and closes on its
on from time to time for no reason. They also
detected cold spots and a motion detector
went off, even though no one was in the
room. They also detected a scent of old-
fashioned powder or perfume on the stairs.
Other eyewitnesses report that they have
seen a mysterious man with a mustache
standing at the top of the stairs and, of
course, the shadowy figure has been
photographed looking out of windows.
Please click here to visit a wonderful site on
the history of the house, written by a former
resident.
Located at Lafayette and Russ Streets in
Marianna, the Russ House is open daily
Monday through Friday during normal
business hours. There is no charge to visit.
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Southern Ghosts & Monsters
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Southern Ghosts & Monsters
The Battle of Marianna
Marianna, Florida
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Historic Sites in Florida
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
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