Ghost of Mordecai Manor

Sprawling plantations and beautiful farmland litter the Southern Region of the Eastern United States. Many of these historic sites are considered to be haunted, and among the most lavish of these estates is Mordecai Manor, home to the ghost of Margaret Mordecai.

Joel Lane had the infamous home constructed in 1875, for his son Henry. When Henry Lane passed away, the home was left to his daughter, Margaret Lane, who later married Moses Mordecai. The couple came to live and raise their family in the two story mansion.

It's rumored that during her life, Margaret managed the house and her staff of servants completely single handedly. Though stern, she was never a mean or harsh lady, and loved only her family as much as her home. She took great pride in the house and the furnishings, and the surrounding plantation.

Sadly, Margaret passed away due to illness at a young age, leaving her husband and children in possession of her beloved home. In 1824, Moses passed away also, and the house was passed once again down the line to their children.

The plantation survived through the civil war, and countless natural disasters, and in 1967, the City of Raleigh purchased the home and turned it into a registered historical landmark. The mansion includes the original furnishings, and even has guides and housekeepers employed to see to the needs of the home.

A housekeeper was among the first to report sightings of Margaret Mordecai. The manor was closed for the day, and she was cleaning in the dining room. From the corner of her eye, she saw a guide come out of the library and down the hall. Right away she noticed that the “guide” was dressed strangely- she donned a black pleated skirt, a white blouse and a black tie. She moved throughout the home completely comfortably, like she was familiar with the home. As she passed the housekeeper, she seemed to ignore the woman, an arrogance surrounding her like a fine mist.

Intrigued, the cleaning lady followed the woman into the adjoining room, but to her surprise, there was no one to be found. As her gaze fell upon the large portrait on the wall, her breath caught in her throat. Staring back at her, dressed in a black skirt, white blouse, and black tie, was the “guide” she'd just seen walking through the house! The engraving on the bottom of the painting labeled the woman as Margaret Mordecai, the deceased owner of the large estate. Frightened, the maid left, and refused to step foot in the home again.

Over the years, other workers and even some of the visitors have come forward with reports of encounters of seeing a woman dressed in dated clothing, wandering throughout the mansion. Just as quickly as she appears, she seems to disappear, leaving onlookers with a sense of bewilderment.

Does the ghost of Margaret Mordecai still roam the halls of Mordecai Manor? Can her soul not rest until she is absolutely sure that her beloved homestead is being cared for just as it was in life? You may doubt it, but the workers and visitors who have had encounters with her swear that it is the same woman in the painting, the ghost of Margaret Lane Mordecai