The Black Sisters from Christiansburg Virginia
Have you heard of Mary Snead, Caroline Martin, and Virginia Wardlaw? Likely not, but during their lives they were some of the most notorious women in Virginia. They were three sisters who lived in Montgomery County in the mid-1800s and were always seen wearing black clothing, earning them the nickname "The Black Sisters." But their story is not just about their fashion choices. These sisters were rumored to have stolen other women's husbands and even caused their untimely deaths through occult practices. They left a trail of mystery, fear, and intrigue that still haunts the town of Christiansburg today.
Before the sisters arrived in Christiansburg, not much was known about their lives (except for their unique fashion choices). Virgina was the first sister to live in Christiansburg, but her sisters soon followed in 1902 to help her run the Montogomery County Female Academy.
Around the time of the move, as the sisters settled into the town, strange things began to happen. For example, there was a baby born to an unwed mother (one of the biggest scandals at this point in history) that went missing and was never found. Then, Mary's own son was discovered burned to death in his own bed...just a week after his mother and aunts had taken out a weighty insurance policy on him. But, it doesn't end there. When Caroline's daughter, Ocey, came to town she married Mary's son (her first couch), Fletched. But, when Ocey became pregnant married life proved too much for Fletcher and he fled town, leaving his wife and new daughter alone with the sisters. It was said they took awful care of Ocey and the baby and, just weeks after it was born, the baby died of malnutrition. ocey was found drowned in a bathtub just days after the loss...and, surprise, surprise, a large insurance had recently been taken out on her by the sisters.
But insurance fraud wasn’t the only thing the sister had up their sleeves. It was alleged that the sisters, dressed in black and veiled, would often call for a carriage at night to drive to the cemetery. They were said to be seen hovering around a grave and talking softly. Other neighbors reported that the women often wandered at night by candlelight on the campus of the school suspiciously attired in long flowing black dresses.
The town couldn't help themselves and rumors of witchcraft, delivery, and just plain evil began to spread by wildfire. This was only fueled by the constant mourning wear the sisters donned, and their strange and abrasive behavior. The sisters couldn’t take the heat, and as quickly as they had come they were gone…and traveling north to New Jersey.
But, the authorities were hot on their tails. Caroline was charged and convicted of murder, and sentenced to seven years in a mental hospital. This is where she would die. Then, Mary was also charged and pleaded guilty but was released on a technicality and she fled to Colorado. Then, Virgina, also charged, starved herself to death so she never even had to see the judge.
Although they didn't die in Christiansburg, and weren't there all too long, their scandalous presence continues to draw energy and attention. It is said that in the current Christiansburg Middle School, where the Montogomery County Female Academy once stood, there have been constant reports of hauntings. Typical things, such as lights going on and out, whispers, and even footsteps. Larger apparitions and a sense of hopelessness can also be found. Whether this is the sisters themselves, or simply the way they made the students feel remains unknown.
In Sunset Cemetery, where Virgina is allegedly buried, a taxi driver made a claim that he had driven the sisters to the cemetery before they left town. He stayed behind after dropping them off and claimed that they performed some sort of ritual. Was this to tie them to Christiansburg or gain them some sort of life after death? It is said you can see their spirits and the three women in black wandering the cemetery.
Although there is no definitive evidence that the sisters were responsible for any deaths, their story has become an enduring legend in the town of Christiansburg. So the next time you visit Christiansburg, keep an eye out for the Black Sisters and see if you can uncover any secrets yourself.
Thanks to Matthew D. for this blogstonishing suggestion!
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