Countless small towns across the country have some sort of local legend associated with them…and Mississippi is no exception. From tales of haunted sites to mysterious creatures, the Magnolia State has its fair share of lore. One of the most intriguing tales comes from the small town of Kosciusko and has to do with a heartbroken husband, a cemetery, and a statue that, at times, seems to come to life.
At first glance, City Cemetery in Kosciusko appears to be your typical cemetery. However, when you dig a bit deeper, you’ll quickly realize it’s anything but.
City Cemetery is located on South Huntington Street, a few blocks south of the downtown area.
Though the cemetery is full of headstones and monuments, there’s one that really stands out – and it’s the statue of Laura Kelly.
The memorial statue is the tallest in the cemetery; however, that’s not the reason it’s widely known.
A former resident of Kosciusko, Laura Kelly died in 1890 when she was just 38 years old. As legend goes, her husband, C. Clay Kelly, was so distraught over her death that he commissioned a sculptor in Italy to create a statue in her likeness.
Determined the statue be as realistic as possible, the grieving husband sent numerous photos of his beloved in her wedding dress to the sculptor.
In addition to commissioning the statue, Mr. Kelly had a contractor add a third floor to his home – solely so he could view his wife’s monument from the window.
However, according to legend, the third floor didn’t get much use. It’s said Mr. Kelly was so heartbroken that he couldn’t even bear to look at the statue.
Throughout the years, countless tales of mysterious happenings have been associated with the statue. The most bizarre, however, is that the statue appears to weep at times.
Aside from shedding actual tears, a couple of other peculiar things are said to have taken place at the monument. It’s been reported the statue turns on her base at midnight and, on the anniversary of her death, a rose mysteriously appears in her hand.
Learn more about this eerie legend in the video below.
Though the statue and cemetery can be visited anytime, consider visiting on October 28th for the "The Old City Cemetery Tour 2017." Costumed guides will share information on the people buried in the historic cemetery, including Laura Kelly. The tour kicks off at 5:30 pm and is $5 for adults and $3 for children and students. For more information, click here.
Did you know about this Mississippi legend? Ever visited the statue for yourself? Tell us in the comments section.
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out "This Real Life Mississippi Horror Story Will Send Chills Down Your Spine."
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