Among many other ghost legends in South Carolina, the legend of Alice of the Hermitage approaches a calmer, innocent ghost story, rather than a terrifying ghost story like we are used to hearing about. Alice was a young girl who lived on a rice plantation with her arrogant brother, whom she was not too happy with, and her mother. The home was more of a beach home to them, surrounded by trees and marshes.
 |
| The Hermitage at Murrell’s Inlet |
On the website The Moonlit Road, Cathy Kaemmerien and Craig Dominey wrote an article on the legend of Alice of the Hermitage, where they talked about her family’s traditions. Growing up, Alice Flagg’s family has always had strong beliefs of marrying the right person depending on the social class aspect. Living on the Hermitage, Alice met a young man that she fell in love with. Her family was not happy with this and her brother forbade Alice to see the boy. “The story goes on to say that in an effort to keep the two apart, Alice was sent away to boarding school in Charleston.” (The Hermitage- Murrell’s Inlet, SC). But that didn’t stop her, Alice decided that she could keep it a secret from her brother. One night, Alice’s beloved gave her a ring, which he engraved in the band, “love never fails.” Alice kept the ring on a ribbon around her neck, making sure to keep it from her brother.
Alice’s brother sent Alice off to school in Charleston, punishing her for going against her family’s beliefs and traditions. A couple weeks later, Alice was rushed home by her brother because of an unexpected sickness. She had high fever and laid in bed for weeks. While lying in bed, her brother snatched the ring from around her neck and threw it in the nearby marsh. Alice woke up frantically looking for the ring and died shortly after realizing it was gone.
It is believed that Alice Flagg still haunts the grounds of The Hermitage looking for her ring.“For I have never found my ring, though sometimes I still search the grounds at what is now called Wachesaw Plantation.”(Alice Flagg in her own words). Her grave is still at the Hermitage. People can go to the land and visit the grounds that Alice still walks around. Some people say they have seen her, and even talked to her. People lay flowers on her grave and pass on their stories about their visit to the Hermitage.
 |
| Alice Flagg’s Grave |
Works Cited:
”Alice Flagg in Her Own Words; The Area’s Most Beloved Ghost Tells Her Story.” MyrtleBeach Online. N.d. Web. 13 Oct.
“The Hermitage-Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina.” 2015 SCIWAY. Web. 12 Oct.
Kaemmerien, Cathy. “Alice.” The Moonlit Road. The Moonlit Road, 1997 LLC. Web. 12. Oct.
Roberts, Nancy. “South Carolina Ghosts; From the Coast to the Mountains.” Columbia. University of South Carolina, 1983. Print.
Ross, L. Woodrow. “Ghosts of South Carolina: Two stories of lost love and tragic death.” Independent Mail. Journal Media Group, 2015. Web. 13 Oct.
Links for further research:https://www.google.com/search?q=alice+of+the+hermitage
No comments:
Post a Comment