Anne Rice is responsible for making The newest Orleans the vampire investment of the globe. That it distinction formerly belonged so you’re able to Transylvania, family from Number Dracula, brand new titular leading man regarding Bram Stoker’s 1897 golden-haired headache vintage. The new Orleans has a purportedly correct vampire tale one dates back way just before Rice’s novels strike bookstore cupboards. The storyline of the Casket Girls of new Orleans goes back to colonial minutes additionally the birth of one’s city.
In one version of the story, following the nuns place the girls’ caskets toward 3rd floors, brand new nuns went upstairs later to find one the latest caskets was indeed blank
During the early 18th century, France colonized parts of America, together with latest-day Canada together with Louisiana. New colonists was in fact predominantly men together with governors of French territories was concerned. Without French female to, French Catholic dudes was basically turning to pagan Local American women to possess company. Regarding vision of eighteenth-century governor, these guys were turning out of their faith.
Louisiana governor, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de- Bienville, delivered a letter so you’re able to King Louis XIV inquiring that more youthful pious, virtuous, and marriageable feminine be provided for the fresh new colony. For the 1728, a team of women and girls arrived in The Orleans agreeable new Los angeles Nouvelle Orleans. Such women turned into known as Filles a los angeles Cassette and therefore mexikansk fru became “Casket Girls.” The word casket got a much different meaning next: a great cassette or casket was in fact chests otherwise luggage to keep homes. After they began to settle for the colony, the women were not as well proud of their new lifestyle.
If men colonists spotted the women, they remarked how pale they were. The women was basically therefore pale you to definitely the skin burned and you may blistered under the sun.
Predicated on of several supply, such female was in fact therefore strange-appearing that many of all of them was refused of the guys. Individuals who performed get married reportedly had been abused by the its husbands which went on getting situations that have Indigenous Western women.
Predicated on Ghost Urban area Tours’ “The fresh new Casket Girls” page, women that failed to pick husbands have been forced toward prostitution, and finally, Queen Louis XIV ordered that Casket Girls come back to France. According to Ghost Town, the brand new Ursuline nuns got brand new girls’ “caskets” to the third flooring of convent.
Among oldest formations when you look at the The newest Orleans, the brand new Ursuline Convent, is actually manufactured in 1734 and you will rebuilt for the 1751. The latest convent is currently a traveler appeal, also a great ghost concert tour and you will a great vampire tour. The next floor is actually reportedly off-limitations during the tours.
The fresh nuns searched for but never discover the latest home that have been said to be on caskets. It considered that the fresh new girls have smuggled from inside the things sinister which had fled. The third-floors screen are also nailed close having fingernails that were blessed by the Pope. Rumors on the vampires of the underworld enjoys encircled the newest convent since the very early 20th century.
Ghost Urban area estimates a tour book: “’It could there be,’ the fresh new publication states, ‘that Casket Girls nevertheless remain locked away. With no nails privileged from the Pope, the young women that shortly after acclaimed out-of France would-be aside, roaming new roads so you can meal to the blood of one’s traditions.’”
Levels tend to disagree however, many present wrap the brand new Casket Girls to the Ursuline Convent, among the oldest structures inside The new Orleans
Predicated on almost every other offer, the brand new Casket Girls sooner or later gone with the convent. According to a 2021 blog post, “My Granny was a good Vampire-Smuggling Casket Girl: a beneficial (possibly) genuine tale,” from the Michael DeMocker, the 3rd-floor window was shut out to include the advantage of the feminine. DeMocker writes one hands mirrors the girls put with these people vanished and you may harvest hit a brick wall. DeMocker produces: “Whispers began the vampire-pale Casket Girls got brought a bad with these people in the Old-country. Sooner or later, new nuns tossed the fresh Casket Girls aside and you will closed in the third-flooring attic forever.”