Lady in gray: Raleigh legend says ghostly woman appears on balcony of centuries-old home

If you ever find yourself driving down Mimosa Street near downtown Raleigh after midnight, be aware: You might find yourself in the presence of a ghostly apparition.

At first, it appears to be a typical Raleigh neighborhood – with 1900's houses and grassy yards. Then, from behind a veil of antique oaks, it comes into view: A towering, pillared home older than the city itself. The Mordecai House has been on its foundation since before Raleigh was established, and as with many homes of that age, it's garnered its share of haunted legends.

Some say when the moon is high, they can clearly see a ghostly figure standing on the high balcony, shrouded in a gray 1800's dress.

Others, who have been inside the home alone at night, say they've seen a similar figure wafting down the stairwell inside.

One of the most popular tales -- that the antique piano in the parlor comes to life, playing a somber melody although no one is at the keyboard. Some say a gray mist hovers over the keys.

"There's a strong belief the house is haunted," says Joshua Ingersoll, director of historic sites for the City of Raleigh.

While today the home sits on a grassy square park surrounded by a semi-modern neighborhood, the towering home was one at the the center of one of the city's largest plantations. While many historic homes have been moved for their own protection, the Mordecai house has remained on the same patch of ground, as the city grows around it. Five generations of Mordecai family members spent their lives within those walls – and thousands of artifacts remain inside. In essence, the home is a preserved pocket of Raleigh history – both the good and the bad.

"A lot of history in that space itself – covering most of the country's history, if you think about it," says Ingersoll. "Being that it's an old building, there are plenty of ghost stories that have popped up over the years -- mostly revolving around a couple of family members."

Portraits of the family members peer down with life-like eyes from all around the antique house – giving the impression they could come to life at any moment.

"Today, many people view houses as a commodity. But back then, many built their own homes, and they passed from generation to generation. You had a connection to the home. It was part of you," says Nelson Nauss, executive director and co-founder of The Ghost Guild.

Could it be this deep connection to their family home of five generations that causes the Mordecai House to attract such eerie stories?

Even Ingersoll acknowledges some of the faded photographs and Victorian-era portraits add an eerie sensibility to the large home. It almost feels like five generations of family are watching as you stroll through their old belongings. One photo, in particular, is known for flying off the shelf if a passing visitor says something rude.

Some people believe ghostly apparitions are real spirits of the departed, who have unfinished business. Others believe, however, that ghosts are really just moments in time that 'play' like a video, imprinted in time and space. Three of the most commonly-seen apparitions center on key spaces around the home: The stairwell, the piano and the balcony.

According to most tales, the apparition and ghostly pianist is likely Mary Willis Mordecai Turk, who lived from 1858 until 1937. Is it possible the apparitions of a woman in gray is really just a replaying of these daily moments in her life?

"Mary Turk lived in the home the longest. She was the matriarch. She was responsible for the home. Maybe she’s just continuing that duty," says Nauss. "She may feel that responsibility – even in death."

Nauss, however, is skeptical about some parts of the legend – specifically the ghostly piano player.

"You always hear people talking about hearing the twinkling of the piano keys," says Nauss. "But here's the thing: A train goes by regularly and sometimes the vibration makes the keys vibrate and twinkle by themselves."

While the woman in gray is one of the most talked about apparitions in the Mordecai House, there are other stories.

Many have claimed to hear creaking footsteps coming from upstairs when working alone late at night.

Nauss recalls investigating alone in the house one night, when he unexpectedly heard heart-stopping sound. One thump. Then another. Then a voice.

"To me, it sounded like someone falling," he says. "Falling to their knees and then falling to the floor. Then it sounds like someone saying 'Get up!'"

Nauss says he didn't just pick it up on the recorder, he also heard it with his own ears.

Here's a YouTube clip of the audio Nauss captured.

He believes he could have found a residual haunting, and he hopes to go back on the same date at the same time in future years to see if he'd hear it once again.

The staircase where the lady in gray is often reported has also triggered strong reactions from paranormal investigators. During one of their first investigations in the home, before knowing the history of the staircase, one of the investigators said she felt intense emotional energy while climbing the stairs.

"Right before she got to Ellen's room, she had a feeling of overwhelming grief and couldn't go further," says Nauss. "Afterwards, the assistant director shared there had been a death in the house."

Nauss says the investigator believes she felt the grief of that loss.

"We can’t prove that, but it’s certainly interesting to have that experience without the knowledge – then to find out it actually does connect to the history."

While the Mordecai House is the centerpiece of the historic park, the land also holds several other historically significant structures -- including the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson, which also has ghostly lore surrounding it.

Nauss shared a YouTube clip of what sounds like a little girl humming playfully, which they captured in an EVP during an investigation.

The history of Mordecai Historic Park goes far deeper than the spooky tales that emerge each October around Halloween.

"We deal with some very serious historic information. Mordecai Historic Park is a former plantation site, which enslaved over 100 individuals," says Ingeroll. "We do deal with a lot of hard history."

However, Ingersoll acknowledges that the ghost stories and legends can attract and entertain people, encouraging them to learn more of the city's history.

"I also think sometimes it's okay to let our hair down and play a little bit with some of the haunted stories when we get to October," he says.

However, he encourages people to remember that as we tell ghost stories, we also remember to respect the space and the real family who lived there.

The Mordecai Historic Park recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The City of Raleigh saved and preserved the home in 1972. Since then, people have been allowed to come tour the home for themselves. The park also offers haunted trolley tours and, for the first time this year, cemetery tours.

On October 29, the park will host a Pumpkin Picnic with inflatables, free pumpkins, crafts and activities and a costume contest for kids and pets.

"Pretty adorable puppies show up in outfits, which warms my heart quite a bit," says Ingersoll.

But be warned – with all the ghostly tales floating around Raleigh, you never know what you'll see out there.

WRAL's Hidden Historian is investigating Haunted History around North Carolina all month!

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