America’s Most Haunted Places: The Sexton House
What expression did she wear, just before the lightning struck? Were her eyes up to God, whom she cursed amidst the raging storm? Did that last flash of light capture her fury? Or was she looking sullen in the windowed cupola, her shoulders slumping as she mournfully searched for her lover in the dark and pouring rain? It all depends on who you ask.
The Sexton House of Russellville, KY, is known for the ghostly portrait frozen in its lonesome tower. The story, in its variations, speaks of a young girl who cursed God and was immediately struck by lightning. On stormy nights, passers-by would look to the house, hoping to glimpse the ghoulish look of the lost girl, peering from the window. Eventually, the owners of the house chose to paint the windows white, in order to discourage tourists. However, this burial has only encouraged the imagination to flourish. What lurks beneath the ivory veneer of paint?
As with most paranormal tales, the exact nature of the event is not known, and with time, as with memory, the legend has varied in its transmission. The two most popular narratives revolve around a boy who was supposed to meet the girl in the window. In one story, it is claimed the girl was supposed to go on a picnic with the boy and the storm had ruined her evening. The other, perhaps more interesting, narrative suggests that the girl was supposed to go to a dance with the boy, but her parents forbade her. In spite of her parents, the girl was going to sneak out and attend the dance. However, the storm had delayed her would-be lover and ruined her attempt to sneak out of her house. In both instances, she curses God and is then struck by lightning.
The second story is perhaps more revealing than the first. It bespeaks a certain narrative morality that is a reflection of the Bible itself. The ill-fated girl intends to disobey her parents, a direct disobedience to God’s law, “honor thy father and thy mother,” which is mirrored in her rebellion against God. The story of the Sexton House then seems to become a cautionary tale to children that would disobey their parents.
Image Courtesy of RussellvilleKY.org
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