THE HAUNTING OF THE BAILLET HOUSE
Do Restless Ghosts Roam The Tullahoma Arts Center?
PHOTO: The Baillet House, circa. 1890.
A flicker of light seen moving behind a second story window, the sound of phantom footsteps on a staircase, an indecipherable low murmur of voices in a hallway, isolated patches of ice-cold air—some cite these occurrences and more as evidence of a haunting at the Baillet House in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Although the identity of the ghost or ghosts is not known, when a strange event happens, some say, "Miss Jennie is restless."
The Baillet House at 401 South Jackson Street is one section of the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center. The present structure was built in 1868 by the Baillets, a family from Farmersville, New York.
The 1868 house was constructed around a previous home that had been built at the site.. The core building could date to the founding of the railroad town of Tullahoma, which officially took place in 1852.
According to folklore, the structure was used as a hospital by Confederate forces following the Battle of Stones River. The rebels set up several hospitals in the area, while the Army of Tennessee was headquartered in the town during 1863.
Later, Tullahoma was occupied by the Union Army and held under martial law. During this time, several residents were hung.
Following the war, several members of the Baillet family journeyed south to Tullahoma. Among them were Felix Baillet, his wife Affa, four of their daughters, Jane, Emma, Frances, and Affa Ann, and one of their sons, Napoleon. Another son, Eugene, had died during the war while a prisoner in a Confederate camp. He was buried in a mass grave.
The 1910 Census lists Jane, Emma, Affa Ann and Napoleon as single and living together in the Baillet House. They each died in the home.
The last Baillet was Affa Ann, who died in 1934. She is buried in Tullahoma's Oakland Cemetery along with the rest of her family.
During World War II, the population of Tullahoma soared and the home was converted into apartments.
In 1968, the two-story house was renovated to serve as the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center. If the spirit of one of the Baillets still roams the rooms, they would feel right at home. Except for two rooms, little has been changed in the house from the Baillets' time. In 1968 the ceiling of the downstairs room facing Jackson Street was partially removed to create an upper walkway. And in 2011, the center's Board of Directors gave the restroom an ultra-modern look.
Another wing was added to house in 1992. It contains three classrooms, an office, storage area and a gallery.
Amateur ghost-hunters have visited the Baillet House several times.
