Lafayette Louisiana
T’Frere’s House
Sudden death by drowning in a well
was the cause of the hauntings here.
Accusations of wrongdoing has caused upset.
Kindness and love controls the anger.
DESCRIPTION
“Chez Nous et Chez Vous” – Our house is your house! This is a place “where Cajun hospitality and modern luxury create a visit unique to any other in the Acadiana area”.
T’Frere’s and Garconniere Bed and Breakfast is located on a 70 acre property, and is known for its hospitality and delicious breakfast and snacks.
T’Frere’s House and Garconniere Bed and Breakfast was voted the “Best of the Best by the Times of Acadiana Readers poll. It is ‘The Place’ to stay in South Louisiana.” Innkeepers Pat and Maugie Pastor, former premier restaurateurs of Chez Pastor Restaurant in Lafayette, offer wonderful food selections for their guests, who also enjoy the historic Cajun aura of the Bed and Breakfast itself.
The amenities are sure to please. Guests love the “wifi, luxury bedding with allergy-free options, in room coffee service, cable programming, guest refrigerator with drinks and snacks, and private baths in every guest room are a few of our benefits.”
This 1880 Acadian colonial architecture style two storied, wooden floor home is made of Louisiana red cypress, built Cajun-style. The main house has four guest bedrooms, a parlor, dining room and a gazebo. The beautiful glass enclosed back porch offers a lovely view of the colorful garden. Traditionally Cajuns used their porches for entertaining their large family gatherings, and this enclosed porch is a favorite gathering place for the guests of this Bed and Breakfast.
Behind the main home is the Garconniere, where two more of the guest rooms are located. Traditionally the Garconniere was a place where the young men of the family entertained their friends. Entertainment might have been an all night card game of Bourree, or after an evening of dancing at the Fais do do. Bachelor grown sons lived here
HISTORY
T’Frere’s and Garconniere was originally part of the Comeaux Plantation; a very early plantation house in Louisiana;probably built when the French controlled Louisiana. In 1880, Oneziphore Comeaux, younger brother of Amélie Comeaux, built this “Acadian Colonial Cajun home where Oneziphore and Amélie lived together as brother and sister. When Amélie, a math teacher, married the love of her life, her brother moved out and let the happy couple live in this house. They lived together and had a baby. Unfortunately this family unit were not destined to be together long in this world.
Many Cajun families lived in this home had better circumstances and were able to grow old together and see their children grow up.
It was a smart cultural custom to have this Garconniere where the young men of the family not only entertained their friends, but lived there as young adult men in their bachelor pad before leaving to live on their own. This area gave them their independence, yet kept them not far away but near the watchful eye of the father and mother.
Many Cajun families lived in this very practical yet beautiful home; a great example of Cajun life. It was the forever home for many people. Most of these families spoke French and many belonged to the Catholic faith.
One person who bought this house decided to turn it into a bad and breakfast, to bring in needed money while offering great hospitality and food to their guests.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS
People who pass suddenly often aren’t ready to give up their life here in this world, and try to enjoy what they did while alive the best they can in spirit form.
(Berkeley Plantation VA * Bowman House Museum VT * The Wonder Bar WI * Wabasha Caves MN)
Amélie Comeaux died unexpectedly and suddenly as did young Marie Estelle Comeaux
Children who die from accidents or illness sometimes like to stay in places where they lived happy lives; not quite ready to go to the other side.
(Meade Hotel MT * Bisbee Hotel AZ * Saint Augustine Lighthouse FL * Lee Mansion VA)
A 12 year old girl, Marie Estelle Comeaux, drowned in a well on this property.
If a structure is built on the land where spirits lived, the spirits can move into it as well.
(Willard Library IN * Kolb Court GA * Capitol Record Building TN * The Whaley House CA)
Marie Estelle Comeaux had probably lived in the Comeaux Plantation but had played where this house now stands.
Amélie Comeaux was a math teacher for children. She married a wonderful man and they had a baby together. Disaster first hit when the dreaded Yellow Fever raced through town and both Amélie’s husband and their baby died of this disease, leaving Amélie alone. She still could teach math to her students to look forward to continue to do so.
Another unfortunate death happened when Amélie Comeaux was going to the well to pull water, and probably slipped over the edge and drowned.
This was probably an accident.
Perhaps the wells on this property were dangerous, as Amélie was the second in the family to die in this way. She was a petite woman, and perhaps she had to stretch to get the bucker down to the water.
Perhaps an over eager puppy child jumped up on her while she was leaning over the well and pushed her in on accident.
Perhaps someone pushed her in the well, committing murder. Someone may have wanted her property.
The Catholic Church ruled this death a suicide. Grief suffered from loss can drive people over the the waterfall into depression and they can kill themselves. These spirits are often restless, because they are still emotionally upset. They sometimes try to continue with their life in their favorite place, while trying to work through their sorrow.
(Old Allen House AR * Hotel Adolphus TX * Hassayampa Inn AZ * Birdcage Theatre AZ)
However, the hauntings reported here suggest that it wasn’t a suicide. The spirit of Amélie Comeaux isn’t showing signs of grief, but of anger while trying to be her kind, loving, thoughtful self she was as a teacher.
When a person is falsely accused before or after they die, and punished for something they didn’t do either before they die or post mortem, they may want to try to clear their names, find their killer or remain upset for a variety of reasons so they can’t rest. These spirits try to resume their life.
(Clinton Tavern MD * USS Iowa CA * Saint Augustine Jail FL * San Carlos Hotel AZ)
The Spirit of Amélie is mad and upset with the Catholic Church who not only ruled her death to be a suicide, but also. refused to give her last rites and allow her to be buried with her husband and baby.
If she was pushed in an act of murder by some evil person, this makes this even worse.
MANIFESTATIONS
The spirit of Marie Estelle Comeaux
She liked to play the piano in the living room.
A Terminix man in the attic had a close encounter with her, as she appeared before him, and said inFrench, “Come and see.”
She disciplined an assistant inn keeper when this lady laughed at the thought of spirits being in the house. Marie locked the lady in her room. When the lady asked her in French to open the door, the door was unlocked by this unseen presence.
The spirit of Amélie Comeaux
This petite spirit is seen by the living throughout the house, walking on the garden paths, and wearing a rose-colored dress, not afraid to let the living see that she is still a part of the household and business.
She likes to let the living know that she is there; in the main house.
She likes to turn the lights on and off. Opens and closes doors as she goes about her business. She also rattles the pots in the pantry, to let them know she is present.
Amélie Has a Temper
She shows her anger at the Catholic Church –
If anyone plays hymns on the piano, she has been known to splatter wax on the piano, as her way to comment on the church’s decree of her death as being a suicide.
Anything religious is dumped on the floor.
She doesn’t like the owners to talk about her feelings or her story, and has been known to turn on the burglar alarm. It adds insult to injury when the living discuss her end at the bottom of the well and the actions taken against her.
Amélie’s Kind Heart
Despite her anger at the Catholic Church for their false ruling and refusal to give her last rites & bury her with her family, evidence points to Amelie’s kind heart and thoughtfulness, as she thinks of the living, and does her best to be helpful and loving, especially with children.
Past owners report that helped their child with his homework, nursed the living through illness and even woke up the family when a fire broke out in the house, saving them all.
PARANORMAL FINDINGS
People who lived here as well as guests who have stayed in the bed and breakfast, have had a boatload of experiences with Amélie and some with the shyer Marie.
Smoke and Mirrors Paranormal Group caught some hard evidence that they were excited about, including some interesting footage and some very clear EVP’s. One of them suggested that a male spirit is also visiting or residing here; perhaps from a later era because he was using strong language not uttered in polite society when Marie or Amélie lived. Or It could’ve been Amélie’s husband finding out someone pushed Amélie to her death.
Three other clear EVPS may have been Amélie. When asked if she killed herself, she said “No!” In the second EVP she said that she was pushed into the well.
The third EVP she became annoyed with the investigator, in her room and spoke in an EVP: Alright that’s it, leave!”
STILL HAUNTED?
Yes indeed!
The spirit of Amélie Comeaux, Marie Estelle Comeaux and perhaps an unknown male spirit keep the living company. Here death was either an accident or murder as she says she was pushed. Either an over-excited dog or a person with evil intent. If the remains of Amélie could be moved next to her family, she may at last find some peace.
LOCATION
1905 Verot School Road
Lafayette, Louisiana 70508
(337) 984-9347 * (800) 984-9347
T’Frere’s House and Garconniere can be found on Verot School Road (Route 339) between Rue Louis XIV and Highway 3073. Nearest cross streets are Artisan Road and Yvette Marie Drive.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- T’Frere’s House Website
- Haunted Inns of the Southeast
by Sheila Turnage
John F. Blair, Publisher – 2001
The Ghost Hunter’s Field Guide, by Rich Newman, Lywellyn Publications, 2016.
Apartment Therapy Website: Aaah! T’Frere’s House in Lafayette, Louisianna; Well Designed Travel 170520
Smoke and Mirrors SPI website: The T’Frere’s House
Article, in Shreveport Times, Entertainment Section 9/30/2015, Haunted Louisiana, Tales of paranormal Around Louisiana. 73112826
Updated on Oct. 26th 2017
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
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