Drive-By
Drive-By / Sidewalk Viewing
Lakemont is a private residence at 1103 Main Street; the wrought-iron gate with documented Civil War cannon-shell damage is visible from the public sidewalk. Do not enter the grounds.
- Duration:
- 10 min
No photograph
on file
Est. 1830on file
HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
- 01Rustling sound of petticoats
- 02Sweet old-fashioned perfume scent
- 03Reported intensification in October (anniversary of Judge Lake's death)
Haunted House / Historic Home
Lakemont
Antebellum Vicksburg mansion built c.1830-1835 by Judge William Lake, a state senator and US Congressman; original wrought iron gate still bears Civil War cannon-shell damage. Private residence — drive-by only.
1103 Main Street, Vicksburg, MS 39183
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 5 sources
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Private residence — no public access. Drive-by viewing from the public right-of-way only.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Public sidewalk and Main Street curb; no on-property access
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1830 · Antebellum Judge's Mansion · Civil War Cannon-Shell Gate Damage · Lake Was A Confederate Congress Candidate (1861); Killed In A Duel Before The Election · Documented By Mississippi Historical Marker
Judge William Lake and his wife Ann moved to Vicksburg from Maryland in the antebellum decades and built Lakemont c.1830-1835 (sources vary on the exact date). Lake was a prominent Vicksburg lawyer (William Augustus Lake, 1808-1861) who served as a Mississippi state senator and a US Congressman. In 1861 he was a candidate for the Confederate Congress; during the canvass he was killed in a duel by his opponent, Colonel Henry Chambers, on October 15, 1861, near Memphis — so he was never seated in that body.
Lake's household and the construction of the home were embedded in the antebellum Mississippi slavery economy; an 1830 Mississippi judge's household by definition operated within and on the labor of enslaved people. Acknowledging that context is part of accurately framing the property.
The wrought-iron fence and gate are documented as original to the home; per the Judge Lake historical marker and the Southern Lagniappe history blog, the gate bears damage caused by a Union cannon shell striking it during the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg.
The property today appears to be a private residence. The address '1103 Main Street, Vicksburg MS 39183' is recorded both by the official Judge Lake historical marker (HMdb) at the intersection of Main Street and Adams Street and by the MississippiHauntedHouses listing. The historical-marker record corroborates the address; the property is private, and visitors should not approach it.
Sources
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=115493
- http://southernlagniappe.blogspot.com/2010/10/haunted-antebellum-houses-of-vicksburg.html
- https://www.vicksburgpost.com/vicksburg-living/haunted-history-several-spirits-supposedly-reside-in-historic-vicksburg-homes-571332/
- https://www.mississippihauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/lakemont.html
- https://www.hauntedplaces.org/vicksburg-ms/
Rustling sound of petticoatsSweet old-fashioned perfume scentReported intensification in October (anniversary of Judge Lake's death)
Lakemont's haunting tradition is documented across The Vicksburg Post, the Southern Lagniappe haunted-antebellum-houses series, MississippiHauntedHouses, and the Haunted Places Vicksburg index. According to those accounts, owners describe two recurring signatures: the rustling sound of petticoats moving through the rooms, and a strong, sweet old-fashioned perfume scent reported in particular rooms — sources describe the 'Perfumed Lady' as Lakemont's only resident spirit.
The phenomena are reported to intensify in October, the month when Judge William Lake is said to have died. The reports are attributed to Judge Lake's widow, Ann. The legend of the perfumed lady and the story of Judge Lake's death date back to at least the 1950s in documented newspaper articles.
Lakemont is a private residence and is not open for tours or investigation; please treat it as drive-by-only — the cannonball-damaged Civil War gate is visible from the public sidewalk.
Notable Entities
Widow of Judge William Lake
Plan Your Visit
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Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
- 1.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=115493
- 2.southernlagniappe.blogspot.com/2010/10/haunted-antebellum-houses-of-vicksburg.html
- 3.vicksburgpost.com/vicksburg-living/haunted-history-several-spirits-supposedly-reside-in-historic-vicksburg-homes-571332
- 4.mississippihauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/lakemont.html
- 5.hauntedplaces.org/vicksburg-ms
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lakemont family-friendly?
Drive-by visit from the public sidewalk only; please respect the residents. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Lakemont?
Private residence — no public access. Drive-by viewing from the public right-of-way only. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Lakemont wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Lakemont is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Public sidewalk and Main Street curb; no on-property access.