Encore: Cedarhurst and Sally Carter

Image is representation of Sally Carter’s unmarked grave with original inscription added

CEDARHURST, SALLY CARTER AND THE HUNTSVILLE MUSEUM OF ART

Written by Nancy Wilkinson Van Valkenburgh • Menu images provided by Nancy Van Valkenburgh

Huntsvillians today know Cedarhurst as a gated community of lovely homes convenient to the central city and on streets conveniently leading to the Medical District, downtown, shopping and entrances to Redstone Arsenal. But other than those who live there, many may not think of the original house, now the clubhouse, that lent its name to the neighborhood.

When Stephen S. Ewing bought the land on December 13, 1823, to build his home, Cedarhurst, little did he know that his home would be the scene of many lovely events as well as the home of what some say is Huntsville’s most famous ghost. It is believed that he built the house between 1825 and 1828. The Federal period home is in the neo-classical style.

Virginians by birth, the Ewings were large property owners; some of their holdings included the area now called Haysland Square. He was a commissioner of the Indian Creek Navigation Company which proposed the canal from Big Spring Branch to the Tennessee River. He was involved in banking as a director of the local branch of the State Bank.

Mrs. Ewing’s sister, 16 year old Sally Carter, came for a visit. Unfortunately, she became ill and died in 1837 and was buried on the property. The Ewings owned the house until 1865 and it had several owners until 1919 when Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Thornton bought the house and 350 acres of adjoining land. It was in their family until 1983 when it was sold to a developer who built private homes. The original house was completely restored but many of the original features were retained. The first major event after restoration and renovation of the house was the 1985 Decorators’ Show House, April 27 through May 19, sponsored by the Women’s Guild of the Huntsville Museum of Art to benefit the Museum. Tours, luncheons at the Tea Room and special events such as an International Dinner and a Champagne Brunch were held during each of the three weeks of the event.

The Women’s Guild volunteers were aware of the ghost stories. The most well-known story was from 1919 when Mrs. Thornton’s cousin was visiting. He was sleeping in a hall outside the bedroom where Sally had died. He was wakened during the night to see a beautiful but troubled young girl standing by his bed. She told the young man that her tombstone was overturned in the thunderstorm and asked him to set it back up. In the morning, when he told about the young lady, no one believed his story but he persuaded them to go to the grave. Indeed the stone had fallen.

One family visitor was staying in Sally’s bedroom. He enjoyed smoking, but frequently found ash trays overturned and the ashes dumped out. He was puzzled until the family told him it must be Sally. She didn’t like smoking!

During the 1970’s many teenagers came on the property looking for the family graveyard. When the development began after the property transferred in 1982, the developers obtained permission to move the graves. Mrs. Ewing’s remains were located, but the story is that nothing was found in Sally’s grave. In 1983 the graves were put in an undisclosed location to avoid vandals and thrill seekers. If Sally’s ghost is real, she almost surely visited The Show House. Not a threatening ghost, but a petulant mischievous young girl, she seemed annoyed that her room was actually across the hall from the one the volunteers were describing as hers.

One Show House morning, silk flowers from an overturned vase were strewn across the bed. A week later she must have had a tantrum. Before the volunteers left for day, they inspected the house and the door was locked and the security guard was on duty. No one entered but the next morning when volunteers came, her bedroom was found with the artificial flowers dumped out and an antique diary on the floor. But the most surprising disturbance was the bed coverings in disarray.

Residents of the Cedarhurst neighborhood have not been bothered, but occasionally people in the house will hear a door slam. Or a noise. And no one is there.

Sally’s ghost may or may not be there. But the influence of those who have gone before surely is. And they were dedicated to improving life in the area in many ways through growing food, transportation, providing homes and promoting the art museum and other civic endeavors. And even through passing down interesting stories of time gone by. n