53 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com UNREQUITED LOVE Huntsinger, who also served as a ranger at Hampton Plantation, said when she first visited the mansion, she toured the upstairs bedrooms and as she entered one of them, the energy was so heavy and dark she felt like she was intruding on someone’s final private moments in a hospital room, and she abruptly left. While researching the history of the house and its occupants, Huntsinger learned that because of an unrequited love due to a forbidden marriage, John Rutledge, the son of one of the planters, had taken his own life in that very bedroom. LEAVE THE LIGHT ON Additionally, Jim Clark, botanist at Mansfield Plantation, said he experienced several bizarre encounters during his time managing Chicora Wood, once the largest rice plantation in Georgetown County and located just up the road from Old Gunn Church. Clark noted that one night he was certain he had turned off the lights, locked up and alarmed the big house and returned to his cottage a football field’s length across the property. Looking back across the swath of land, he noticed lights were still on in the manor. Confused as to what was happening, Clark schlepped back over, flipped the switches and doublechecked that he had secured the locks. Assured, Clark headed home only to realize the lights in the mansion were still on. Thinking there must have been an electrical issue, Clark trekked back over again with a flashlight in hand and investigated the control panel. But nothing was amiss. Leaving the house in darkness, Clark said by the time he reached his home, the lights had come back on. With a twinkle in his eye, Clark added that he decided to leave the mischievous spirit(s) to entertain themselves for the rest of that evening. SLEEP SHIFTING Meanwhile, nothing screams ‘haunted’ like being flipped upside down in your bed in the middle of the night. This happened multiple times to director of education at Hobcaw Barony, Richard Camlin, when many years ago he was staying at Bellefield House (constructed in 1936-1937) as a guest of Ella Severin, who received life tenancy for the home from her partner Belle Baruch. Camlin said the first night he slept at Bellefield, he woke up to find he had turned a full 90 degrees in the bed and was shocked the next two mornings when again he awakened to find himself sideways. FLICKER IN THE DARK On another occasion when Camlin was staying at the home, he heard a colleague who was washing dishes in the kitchen scream. When he ran to find out what was wrong, she said she had seen a ghost glide out of the adjacent hallway into the office. Although Camlin’s friend was not aware of the spirit’s backstory, she described the phantom as a young man wearing a long coat and carrying a lantern. Camlin said the apparition is that of Thomas Young, a planter who 200 years ago built Youngfield on the same plot of land as Bellefield stands today. Legend has it, according to Mary E. Miller, author of “Baroness of Hobcaw,” that after finishing work on the plantation every evening, Young’s custom was to visit the site and inspect the building’s progress. Miller added that Young’s “slaves would see his lantern moving from room to room and floor to floor, as he wandered about checking the finished work. When he died from sudden illness, his wife and child moved away and no family ever occupied the house.” Miller said after that, “Travelers on the Waccamaw River swore they saw mysterious lights in the deserted house” (See Miller, “Baroness of Hobcaw,” page 82). Strange occurrences at Bellefield are not abnormal, according to Camlin, who explained that he has also heard footsteps and voices calling out in the night when no one else was in the house. Additionally, there is a bedroom door that locks and unlocks itself. all things fall Our team of expert stylists offers hair and makeup services, waxing, tanning, and aesthetics, and our salons carry exclusive hair care brands as well as fashion jewelry and apparel. Blonding Experts • Extension Specialists • Master Colorists • Airbrush Makeup | VanitySalonSC.com to Book Your Appointment LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 12 YEARS Charleston | 2875 Ashley River Rd. | 843.571.1945 Mt. Pleasant | 1909 N Hwy 17 | 843.216.7181 TWO LOCATIONS It’s time to talk about fall fashion, so remember,
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