The Old Slave House - Crenshaw Mansion

I toured this place many years ago with my two daughters. It is a marvelous piece of history. The two bottom stories were magnificent. The third floor was a prison that Crenshaw kept as a slave prison with a whipping post and manacles to keep his slaves in check. It was a window into the past that does not make it into very many history books.
It opened a new view of history that doesn't seem to get into history books now days. I am glad I was able to see both sides of history that this represented. (I was a history major in college.)

June 2024

This is now state property that is being renovated to reopen for tours in 10 years or less. There are 3 trespassing signs on the way to the house. The house is randown pretty bad (hence why they're renovating). I couldn't fix myself to walk upto the house or the structures on the side or in the back. I'm a black woman so maybe it's because I'm black? I couldn't pull myself to do it... only marvel at the beauty of the home. Knowing the history really didn't help. Knowing that many slaves thought this was a safe place, a stop on the way to freedom, or a starting point to building one's life post slavery and not knowing what is to come. The grounds of the house (which is all I went to for timesake to prevent being caught and arrested by state police) felt so Erie. Maybe it was the police paranoia but I felt like I was being watched. There is barbed wire near the creek before the house and it unsettled my spirit. I had a feeling the slaves worked those fields too because there are too many acres to maintain. If you drive up to the house, BE CAREFUL of the huge dip. It has the possibility of popping your tires and good luck not getting caught if that happens because by that time, you already are trespassing. DRIVE SLOW OR WALK. Be careful at night, I've never been at night but I could only imagine what you may see and feel or how police presence would increase.

November 2023

I wanted to tell my story from back in time. I visited this haunted house and made some horrifying discoveries.
Back in the mid 90s my girlfriend and I were taking a drive to Owensboro, KY when we both noticed the signs for this home. At the time, you could still tour the homes inside and grounds, although it is no longer open.
Upon walking into this really old home, a guy tossed a metal object my way, and when I examined the object he went on to say, "that's a penis clamp, any male slave trying to have unauthorized sex would be subjected to its cruelty." I looked back at it incredulously and placed the item onto the display counter. This too, held real life horrors. Such things as whips, chains, foot cuffs and the like.
We all followed our tour guide upstairs to see the attic which held many tiny cells that the slaves were subjected to. I felt a feeling of dread wash over my body as I walked through this horrifying attic. You can see writing on the walls, such things as crosses, names and other such things scraped into its brick walls. These tiny compartments were used to house children as well as adults; so small and so miserable.
We walked down through a hidden staircase and outside to the main slave quarters. These log cabins were larger, however according to our guide, up to 50 men and women would occupy these cabins. I can say without hesitation, there would not be enough room for ten, much less 50 persons.
My girlfriend and I left this terrifying house soon afterwards and we both had felt the oppression. I understand why the home is closed to the public however, I think that anyone who wonders if slavery was man's greatest sin to date, need only look at this house and see how horrible those poor folks lives really were.

September 2020