The ''Casket Girls''

By Crusader1307

The odd tile of ''Casket Girls'' is (aptly) applied to a Legend from New Orleans, Louisiana (US). As with most Legends, much is added (later) and with so few facts to proved otherwise - a sometimes ''Urban Legend'' status applies. But, as this tale goes - it is as such.

As was practice when Louisisana was a Territory of France - many ''Old World Customs'' follwed from Europe. One such involved a young Girls Dowry (or Marriage Funds). As is known, when a Girl married - She was expected to bring with Her to Her new Husband and Marriage a ''suitable'' amount of funds or even property. Many young ladies from outlaying Parishes would come to The City of New Orleans looking for suitable Husbands. To protect their ''investments'', monies would be placed into small wooden trucks shaped like (you guessed it) a Casket (Coffin). Just why or when this bizarre practice developed is lost to time, but it is assumed that to an on-looker - the wooden truck ''resembled'' a Casket and hence the applied name.

Many Girls would leave their valuable in the custody of the many Catholic Nunneries in The City. The Nuns were more than happy to store the chaste young ladies things. These ''Caskets'' were locked away in The Nunnery Attic (as Legend states). One day, a betrothed came to collet Her Dowry, when She was shocked (as was The Nun), that Her ''Casket'' was emptied. Oddly, no signs of break-in or damage was found. It was still locked and sealed. Naturally, The Girl blamed The Nunnery and of course The Nunnery blamed The Girl for bringing an empty chest. This bickering went back and forth without a solution. Some say that the Girl lost her intended over the affair of having no Dowry and She promptly cursed The Nunnery.

Srangely, Nuns began to die over the years in many ways (each not natural but accident). However, it was long thought that it was The Curse. A visiting Priest from Rome even (supposedly) conducted special prayers at The Nunnery to ''remove'' any such. Even more odder, The Nuns STILL had several other ''Caskets'' which had NOT been picked up. They tried to locate their Owners - without luck. To afraid to throw them away or open them, they remained - for nearly 100 years!

Fash forward to the 20th Century, when a pair of New Orleans Reporters ''found'' The Story and decied to investigate. It appears that although LONG abandoned, The Nunnery still stood. The Reporters were said to have made entry into the decaying building and found (lo and behold) ONE wooden Casket. As the Legend goes, the two took the Chest away and opened it at their Office downtown. They were supposedly found the next day - dead, The Chest unopened and locked.

It was determined by friends to bury the Cursed Box in an undisclosed location, which could be ANYWHERE in an around New Orleans....That Is IF You Believe The Tale..........