The Gray Lady of Liberty Hall
By Sharon Brown

The historic mansion of Liberty Hall lies between Lexington and Louisville Kentucky, at 218 Wilkinson Street in Frankfort Kentucky. The address contains the name of the young general who applied and received a land grant for the property that is now downtown Frankfort. James Wilkinson built the town by proceeding to name the streets using names of friends, famous persons and places.

Wilkinson’s original streets form the boundaries of three of the four sides of Liberty Hall’s Historic Site.

Wilkinson sold the tract of land to Frankfort resident Andrew Holmes. Holmes never lived on the property.

Fact: In 1796 Andrew Holmes sold the tract of land to Kentucky’s first United States Senator, John Brown.

Fact: For the next 41 years this would become the residency of John Brown.

Fact: The architect is unknown but John Brown designed some of the house, which is a Federal style.

Fact: The mansion was built in 1796 and remained in the John Brown family until 1937.

Fact: The main haunting that occurs within Liberty Hall are not those of John Brown, according to sources.

There have been reports of cold chills, the opening and closing of doors and strange lights in the house at night. The spirit belongs to a prim and proper lady dressed in a gray dress. The story is told that John Brown’s daughter had passed away. To comfort and support the grieving parents a relative by the name of Mrs. Varick traveled some 800 miles from New York. Mrs. Varick was 65 years old at the time and the journey proved to be too much for her. Three days after her arrival she had a heart attack and passed away.

Mrs. Varick was not returned for burial in New York but was buried on the grounds of Liberty Hall. Years later she was moved to an unknown cemetery. Mrs. Varick is not alone. It is rumored that Liberty Hall is home to two other spirits .One of the two spirits was an opera singer that was performing in Frankfort, in 1805. She came to Liberty Hall for a party and was never seen again. She was last seen in the garden.

The last spirit is thought to be of a soldier of 1812. The young solider had fallen in love with a relative of the Brown family. He is seen peering into the house from the outside windows and then sadly walks away.

If you would like to visit Liberty Hall the address is: 218 Wilkinson Street, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Tours are $5.00 for adults. Tours are given March 1st through mid-December.

Tours are scheduled at 10:30am, 12:00 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday and at 12:00 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. The garden and grounds are open seven days a week during daylight hours. Telephone (888) 516-5101 or (502) 227-2560.

Story and Photographs

By Sharon Brown