Haunts of Old Louisville: Gilded Age Ghosts and Haunted Mansions in America's Spookiest Neighborhood

by David Domine

The saga of one of the nation's most significant historic preservation districts continues in HAUNTS OF OLD Gilded Age Ghosts and Haunted Mansions in America's Spookiest Neighborhood. Kentucky writer David Domine has uncovered a wealth of local history that brings its haunted past to life, and this, the third in the series, concentrates on the wraiths and specters that populate the grandest of all the Gilded Age mansions in the neighborhood. In addition to disembodied voices, forlorn apparitions and fleeting shadows, Domine includes interesting accounts of strange aerial phenomena, gargoyle-like winged creatures and witches that peppered the local newspapers of the day. Add a healthy dose of neighborhood intrigue and wonderful descriptions of the Victorian mansions that make the neighborhood a must-see for lovers of old homes and architecture, and you've got the recipe for an enjoyable evening curled up by the fire.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

David Dominé has called Kentucky home since moving to Louisville in 1993. Over the years, his adopted state has provided him an unending supply of artistic inspiration, so it’s not surprising that - from local hauntings to bourbon recipes - Kentucky spirits frequently come alive in his narratives. In addition to writing travel pieces for local and national publications, he has also published books on Victorian architecture, regional cooking, folklore, and haunted history. David has an MA in German Literature from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an MA in Spanish Literature from the University of Louisville. He also completed studies in literary translation at the Karl-Franzens Universität in Graz, Austria, and received an MFA in Writing from Spalding University. When he’s not writing, he teaches language and literature classes at the university. When he’s not writing or teaching, he’s usually cooking or eating. His current projects include the forthcoming novel Peter Paul’s Kitchen and a true-crime book about the bizarre 2009 murder of drag queen Jamie Carroll and the subsequent trials of alleged killers Jeffery Mundt and Joseph Banis.

Reviews

[Kyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bounced back and forth to this book throughout much of October.Like other regional Louisville history books, it provided a niche perspective of pieces of history dotting the streets of Old Louisville. Historical accounts filled with charm and suggestions of paranormal activity, that are so interesting to those who have spent time in Old Louisville (whether or not you believe in these ghost stories). As someone who loves the architecture of the Old Louisville Guilded Age mansions, this book was a super fun, light read in the spookiest month of the year.

[Paula Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in Louisville and my son went to the University of Louisville, which is near this area. It was fascinating to read about the history of these homes and those who lived there. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have lived in this neighborhood.

[Lisa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and engaging. Love this city and it's wonderful to hear the stories of this beautiful and fascinating area of our city.

[Taylor Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for anyone who lives or is familiar with Old Louisville! I loved that it tied the history of the homes into the hauntings.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have lived in louisville my whole life and i am still learning about its rich history. this book gave many insights into haunted mansions on the renowned millionaires row in old louisville. i have never inhabited old louisville myself, so i had never heard of these legends and stories until now. some of the reported encounters were genuinely eerie and opened my eyes to the world of people who have actually had run ins with these apparitions and spectres that so many are skeptical of. thank you david dominé for the spooky tales and for keeping us clued in on our vast history!

[Mary Quire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one is even better than the first book and I love that the author put in contact information for those sites which are open to the public. This is a very informative, as well as entertaining read and if you're even slightly interested in old Louisville then it will not disappoint.