Lilac Hill Mansion (Morrison Mansion) - Fayette, Missouri

The A.W. Morrison Mansion was built in 1832 by Alfred W. Morrison who was a local politician, farmer, and slave owner in Fayette, Missouri. He held several political offices in the town including sheriff and judge. The brick mansion he constructed mostly using his slaves and resources found nearby, is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is more commonly known as the Lilac Hill Mansion.  It is also well known for being haunted by one of it's former inhabitants.

Lilac Hill Mansion in Fayette, Missouri Photo by Gary Gene Fuenfhausen

 

 

The house remained in the Morrison family for over 200 years.  When the last descendant passed on, it was purchased by the Davis family around 1974.  It was this family who discovered that one of the inhabitants never left.  They believe the spirit to be the last Morrison woman who lived in the home and have named her Miss Minnie who was actually Minerva Morrison. She lived in the mansion and also died and was buried there on the grounds in 1858. They say that she likes to clean rooms in the house when no one is near.  Cleaning equipment has been found moved around and some claim to have heard noises in the uninhabited upper floors of the mansion such as things being dragged across the floor and screams. 

Lilac Hill Mansion in Fayette, Missouri Photo by Gary Gene Fuenfhausen

The ghost of Miss Minnie has actually been spotted on occasion, however only by children who have lived in or where guests at Lilac Mansion.  The phantom woman has been described as an old woman who seemed to like to wear black clothing all of the time.  However, she continued to make her presence know to others in the house through her various poltergeist activities and other behavior in the upstairs area such as cold spots and strange odors.