The Orchard Sisters

Published on September 29th, 2009 in: Culture Shock, Halloween, Horror, Issues |

1975 haunted house
“After Martha Orchard was found dead on Christmas Eve,
1974, and before it was demolished in 1975,
hundreds of curiousity-seekers visited the house.”

Newspaper clipping courtesy of tufcookie

By James Thurston Davis

(The States-Item, December 26, 1974)

To the crumbling stone house at 214 Porteous
Police were called Tuesday where they found
Rebecca hiding, still alive, near by.

A trail of urine dripped down
The center of the sagging marble stairs
Inside the crumbling stone house at 214 Porteous.

After repeated knocks on the front door
Police got in through the cellar.
Rebecca hid, still alive, near by

Martha’s decomposing body
Who was found in a third floor bedroom
Inside the crumbling stone house at 214 Porteous.

The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office ruled Wednesday
The 54-year-old woman died of natural causes
While her sister, Rebecca, hid near by

For at least a week, sources said.
The body was discovered Christmas Eve
In the crumbling stone house at 214 Porteous,
As Rebecca hid, still alive, near by.


For more articles on the mystery and tragedy surrounding the Orchard Sisters, please visit tufcookie’s Flickr page.

One Response to “The Orchard Sisters”


  1. Cherryl Walker:
    January 2nd, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    The sisters were members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. In 1975, I was a member of St. Luke’s, and saw the inside of the house before and after it was emptied out in April of that year. As I heard it said in church, the sisters refused any help. This story does emphasize the struggles that have to be face by people who have to be care givers for ailing or mentally challenged relatives — and in general get no help from anyone.







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