CASTALIAN SPRINGS, Tenn. (WKRN) — One of Middle Tennessee’s oldest mansions is stirring more than just the imagination this fall.

Cragfont, a stone mansion tucked in the hills of Castalian Springs, was built around 1802 by General James Winchester — a soldier of the War of 1812 and one of Tennessee’s early settlers. More than two centuries later, the home’s candlelit mirrors, gold-framed portraits and creaking staircases still whisper the stories of everyone who lived and labored there.

A House That Feels Alive

Locals have long shared stories of eerie encounters inside Cragfont’s stone walls. But the most famous ghost tales come from Nell Satterwhite, who grew up in the mansion in the 1890s.

She kept a diary describing ghostly friends during her childhood at the home. According to Tonya Staggs, director of Historic Castalian Springs, Nell even spent her family’s last night in the home alone just to say goodbye to both the house and the spirits she loved.

“She felt like the ghosts were her friends,” Staggs explained. “She thought they were just as much a part of the house as a banister or a door or anything like that.”

Nell’s diary also tells of one dinner where her guests claimed to feel “the cold clasp of a hand” under the table — a ghostly farewell that, to this day, fuels Cragfont’s haunted reputation.

A Glimpse Into Tennessee’s Frontier Past

Cragfont offers a rare look into life on the Tennessee frontier. Winchester’s estate stood out in its time for its elegant architecture and imported craftsmanship. Skilled workers traveled from Maryland to help construct what was then considered one of the grandest homes west of the Appalachians.

Inside, visitors will find original chandeliers, hand-carved desks, and the same wraparound porch that once hosted visiting generals and dignitaries. The Winchester family raised twelve children here. Their daughter Elmira later chronicled her own life at nearby Wynnewood, linking the two historic sites through generations of journals and artifacts.

The Enslaved Voices Remembered

Records found inside the mansion detail more than 20 people who were enslaved here in the early 1800s — men, women and children who maintained the estate and made its grandeur possible.

Their presence is now honored through silhouetted figures displayed in Cragfont’s windows and through ongoing research into the names and stories preserved in old journals and ledgers. Staggs says that remembering them is essential to telling the full truth of Cragfont’s past.

Preserving the Past — Paint Chip by Paint Chip

While many historic homes undergo restoration, Cragfont’s caretakers focus on preservation — keeping the original materials intact wherever possible.

“We can look at the paint scientifically and know exactly what the different layers of paint were and have a good idea of when those colors existed,” Staggs said. “We’re going to bring back some of those original paint colors and try to be as accurate as we can.”

Every stone, mirror, and paint chip helps curators uncover new clues about the past. Even the floors inside part of the home that once used to store hay and chickens in the 1900s have been carefully restored to their former beauty. Preservationists continue to study the layers of old paint under trim and doors, hoping to match hues that date back to Winchester’s time.

Cragfont welcomes visitors with guided tours of the home through mid-November, including its popular Hidden History Tour that takes guests into rarely seen spaces like the cellar and attic.

More information on tour dates and upcoming events can be found on Historic Castalian Springs’ website.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/special-reports/haunted-tennessee/cragfont-mansion/