Tours offer insight into 19th century grieving practices, stories of hauntings, ghosts

Tours offer insight into 19th century grieving practices, stories of hauntings, ghosts

When someone died in the 19th century, the family would place a black wreath on the front door to signify a house in mourning. The house would lose its color. Lavish meals were avoided. Portraits of the deceased were draped in black. A coffin would sit in the parlor for the wake. If a child died, the family would dress even the child’s dolls in black mourning attire. Families would also cover all mirrors and reflective surfaces to prevent the sp…