Taylortown Bell Tower

Shreveport, Louisiana

Taylortown Bell Tower Information:

The Taylortown Church was built by a Methodist congregation in 1906. John Dortch was the architect responsible for designing the church and its bell tower. Membership at the Taylortown Church declined after a few decades and soon the church was abandoned and then subsequently fell into ruin.

The church was used for a short period of time to store hay. During this time it caught fire (the cause of the fire is unknown). The Taylortown Church was completely destroyed, except for the bell tower.

Today, some people report that the Taylortown Bell Tower has been fenced in, while others claim that it has been torn down. The Taylortown Bell Tower is said to be located in pasture off Highway 71.

Ghosts and the Paranormal at Taylortown Bell Tower in Shreveport, Louisiana:

Local lore says that many years ago, a rich plantation owner had a daughter who was engaged to be married. The plantation owner was thrilled at his daughter's engagement and built a church solely for the wedding. Sadly, the groom disappeared on the day of the marriage and the plantation owner's daughter was devastated. Locals claim that she died of a broken heart. Her father too was devastated by his daughter's death and torched the church, burning it to the ground. The bell tower, however, remained. And, according to this tale, the wealthy man decided to let the bell tower remain standing as a memorial to his dead daughter.

Another story says that the bride-to-be fell down the stairs to her death while waiting for her groom.

Yet another story says that when her future husband didn't show up on time for their wedding, she hung herself in the Taylortown Bell Tower.

Today, locals claim that when the moon shines just so, they can see the apparition of the young betrothed, standing on the upper tower platform, searching the landscape for her lost lover. Disembodied screaming has been reported as well as the ethereal sounds of bells chiming.

Resources:

Cottrell, S (2009). Haunted Louisiana. Retrieved April 8, 2011 from http://hauntedlouisiana.webs.com/shreveporthotspots.htm

No Author (n.d.). Local Legends. Retrieved April 8, 2011 from http://www.shrevetownghostwalk.com/locallegends.html

WE ALWAYS NEED MORE INFO!

4 COMMENTS

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sparspaula

2011-02-10 20:23:42

It's no longer there. It's actually in Bossier Parish, in Oak Grove, La.

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sparspaula

2011-02-10 20:30:54

It's also a Urban Legend. It's said that a young woman burned to death in the church tower, It was the night of her wedding and she was left at the alter, she waited and waited for her fiance to show up. She went up in the tower to wait for him. A candle caught her veil on fire . Burning the church down with her in it. They say that on certain nights you could see her standing in the tower. Because all that was left of the church was the tower.. Well the tower hasn't been there since the 80's. I sat out there many a night and never saw anything. It was in the field that sits right on Hwy 1. in Bossier Parish

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GLMc

2012-02-08 16:28:59

It's still there I drive by it every day

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GLMc

2012-02-08 17:31:01

The Taylor Town Bell Tower is located about a1/8 mile past the old Taylor Town Store on Hwy 71 South on the left side of the road. It also has been fenced in.

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