The Grove (also known as the Stilley–Young House), located in Jefferson, Texas, is an 1861 historic home that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The house has also been called the most haunted place in Texas. The Grove's history dates back to the 19th century, when the property was purchased and the house that became known as "The Grove" was built. The Grove has been featured in the television series If Walls Could Talk on cable channel HGTVHGTV "If Walls Could Talk," Episode #1809 and was chosen "as one of the top twelve most haunted houses in America" by This Old House. The Grove was also named as one of the "eight scariest places in Texas" by Texas Monthly magazine."Fear Factor: The Eight Scariest Places in Texas," Texas Monthly, October 2009. The house was also shown in William Shatner's Weird or What? in 2012."William Shatner's Weird or What," Episode 3024, "Curses," 2012 Additionally, The Grove was featured on Penn & Teller: Bullshit!Penn & Teller's "Bullshit!" - Season 3, Episode 36, "Ghost Busters. Texas Highways magazine has featured The Grove several times, including in articles "Haunted Places in Texas" from October 1997Texas Highways Magazine, "Haunted Places in Texas," October 1997. and "Haunted Jefferson" from October 2008.http://texashighways.com/travel/item/555-haunted-jefferson-ghost-tours-and-spooky-train-rides Texas Highways Magazine, "Haunted Jefferson," October 2008.

Architecture The structure exhibits many of the external features of a Greek Revival home, but closer inspection reveals the influence of Creole Architecture as well. The Grove is a one-story building constructed of wood – the beams and studs are cypress, covered with wooden lap siding. The house was built in 1861, and is a blending of two architectural styles: Greek Revival and French Creole. The unusual melding of these styles presumably comes from the fact that many historic homes in the surrounding neighborhood were built in Greek Revival style at the time, but since the original owner, Frank Stilley, was from Louisiana, he exerted a French Creole Architectural influence into the design. Because of the city of Jefferson's ties to riverboat trade with Louisiana during the 1800s, it stands as a unique example of the region's past.National Register Of Historic Places Registration, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior

No contemporary owners have attempted to "modernize" or "renovate" the structure of The Grove. The house today appears as it did after the 1930s remodeling, which made very few external modifications. By preserving the heritage and history of the house, it is hoped that The Grove will be a significant reminder of the region's past for our future generations.

History

The land was originally given to Daniel and Lucy Alley, co-founders of Jefferson, in a land grant. On June 9, 1847, Amos Morrill, a lawyer and the first federal judge of Texas, purchased the property"Chain of Title: Lots 7,8,9, Block D, Alley Addition, Jefferson, Texas" Prepared by Sandra E. Mayton, Abstractor/Examiner, Port Jefferson Abstract and Title Company. Jefferson, Texas. February 2002 and built a log cabin there, where he lived while staying in Jefferson while traveling for his judiciary duties. Harriet Potter, common-law wife of the deceased Robert Potter, sought Morrill's representation in Jefferson for her case against her husband's estate. This was one of the first cases for women's rights in Texas."Love Is a Wild Assault" by Elithe Hamilton Kirkland, Shearer Pub, August 1, 1984 Amos Morrill sold the property to Caleb Ragin and his wife Sarah on March 20, 1855. On November 13, 1861, Frank Stilley and Minerva Fox, Stilley's wife, purchased the land and built a house there, called The Grove.

Ownership by the Stilley Family W. Frank Stilley was a Cotton Factor in Jefferson, Texas, and he married Minerva Fox, one of the daughters of the Fox Plantation in Marshall, Texas in 1860. Construction was started on a new home for the newlywed couple, paid for by the bride's father as a wedding gift. The home was completed in 1861, and the young couple moved in to start their lives together. Between 1870 and 1880 Minerva and Frank encountered some bad luck. First a flood destroyed Frank Stilley's cotton brokering business. Mr. Stilley began to rebuild his business but by 1873, "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed the Great Raft from the Red River... dropping the water level in Big Cypress Bayou [bayou adjacent to Jefferson, Texas] to a point that shipping was uncertain and no longer financially profitable". This hurt Mr. Stilley's cotton business. In 1879, Minerva Fox Stilley died. After burying her in Oakwood Cemetery (Jefferson, Texas), Frank moved further west and settled in Weatherford, Texas, putting The Grove up for sale.

Stockade Case According to the Handbook of Texas, during Reconstruction, a violent event known as the Stockade Case occurred; this case gave The Grove the reputation of being one of the most haunted sites in America. The Stockade Case began when "a northern carpetbagger George W. Smith arrived in Jefferson with four freed slaves and quickly made enemies by saying that ex-slaves wouldn't be free until Jefferson burnt".A Texas Guide to Haunted Restaurants, Taverns, and Inns by: Robert Wlodarski & Anne Powell Wlodarski

The citizens of Jefferson became outraged after Smith's speech and threatened his life. To help protect Smith, the Union Army placed Smith and his acquaintances in the public jail on Lafayette Street (a few blocks from the Grove) where they would be safe for the rest of their stay in Jefferson, Texas. That night, a mob full of angry locals gathered around the jail, where they "disarmed the Union troops, entered the jail, took the carpetbagger George W. Smith out, and shot him. The brutal act was completed when they took the four black men and either shot or hanged them along Moseley Street". The military court records show the Grove as being one of the sites where the incident occurred."Military Map for the 1869 Tribunal," Jefferson Historical Society and Museum Archives, Jefferson, Texas.

Ownership by the Rock Family The estate of Minerva Stilley, which oversaw the guardianship to the sons John R. Stilley and Frank F. Stilley, sold the Grove to Daniel C. Rock and his wife Amanda on February 1, 1880. The 1880 Census of Marion County gives the only clue to Daniel's identity, which is that he was a "bridge builder".Census Records of Marion County, Texas, 1880 One could certainly speculate that with the clearing of the "Great Raft", the depth and flow of all rivers in the area was affected, and this might be a lucrative profession at the time as rivers raised or fell to new levels.

Ownership by the Burks Family The Rock family must have decided to move, because they sold the property in 1882 to Mr. T.C. Burks, but the property was returned within six months. There is no explanation as to why the Burks reneged on the deal, only that they did not wish to live there anymore. The Burks relocated to Athens, Texas.Index of Old Settlers' Edition of Athens Review, published August 2, 1901

Daniel and Amanda took back The Grove, and lived there another three years. In 1885, the Rocks moved to Paris, Texas, in Lamar County. While there is no indication as to the reason for their move, one might speculate that because of his profession, the bridge-building work may have dried up. The Great Raft of the Red River had been cleared by Captain Shreve and his crews, and the Big Cypress Bayou that allowed the steamships to service Jefferson had fallen in depth significantly. Daniel's work in the area was probably done, and he moved on to find opportunity.

Ownership by the Charlie Young Family

On March 6, 1885, Charles and Daphne Young purchased the Grove; they were an African-American couple that had been born into slavery as children. Charlie was born on the Sam Smith plantation near Clarksville, Texas. After the slaves were freed, Charlie moved to Jefferson with his mother, where he apprenticed as a barber.Jefferson Jimplecute, January 3, 1939, "Charlie Young, Local Colored Barber Who Shaved Jefferson's Citizens for Half Century, Is Dead." In 1908, the Young family experienced a tragedy when the son, James, committed suicide at the house – he hanged himself on the back porch. His body is not listed on the family marker in Cedar Grove cemetery in Jefferson with the rest of the family, so no one knows where James was buried. Charlie and Daphne lived at The Grove until their respective deaths in 1938 and 1955. When Charlie Young died, he left The Grove to his oldest daughter, Louise.

Ownership by Louise Young

Louise took over ownership of The Grove, where she lived and cared for her mother, Daphne. Daphne Young spent most of her life at the Grove where she took care of the gardens that she loved. After she died, her funeral was held at the Grove on the front porch, reportedly because "she could be near the garden that she loved so much one last time".

In the 1930s renovation of the home, however, Louise Young enclosed the back porch to make an indoor bathroom – so the bathroom of the house is therefore the place where her brother James took his life."Ghosthunting Texas" by April Slaughter, Clerisy Press, 2009.

Louise, who the oldest daughter of the Youngs, lived her entire life at the Grove, except for the four years that she was away at Bishop College in Marshall, Texas earning a degree in teaching. "According to those who knew Louise, she was constantly frightened of something, since she had every interior door and window fitted with strong locks on them and installed strong lights to keep the yard lit". Also, according to Robert and Anne Powell Wlodarski, writers of A Texas Guide to Haunted Restaurants, Taverns and Inns, Louise was always worried about someone getting inside the house. She reportedly "called the police on a regular basis complaining about prowlers". Louise died in 1983 at age the age of 96, having lived her entire life at The Grove.

Ownership by the Grove Family When Louise Young died, the property was purchased on November 9, 1983, by a couple named Colonel Daniel M. and Lucile Grove. Col. Grove was a retired military chaplain, and the pastor of the Mooringsport, Louisiana United Methodist Church. They started preparing the place for their retirement, since it had deteriorated somewhat. The roof needed replacing, there was damage to the porch, and the garden was hopelessly overgrown. The Groves had the land around the house bulldozed, and began moving some of their antiques into the small west bedroom, where she could lock them away until the couple could occupy the house full-time.

Tragedy struck before they could finish the house and move in, however. Colonel Grove was diagnosed with Binswanger's Disease, which is a rare form of dementia characterized by lesions in the brain. It is a terrible affliction, and Mrs. Grove was forced to put the house up for sale.

Ownership by Patrick Hopkins