The grave marker of the unknown woman
The grave marker of the unknown woman
Date of Discovery: January 1, 1840
Location of Discovery: Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky
Estimated Date of Death: 1840
State of Remains: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown
Estimated Age: Early 20s
Race: Unknown
Gender: Female
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Not available.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Not available..
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
On an unspecified date in 1840, a young woman checked into the Harrodsburg Springs Hotel and registered under the false name of Virginia Stafford. She claimed to be the daughter of a Louisville judge. While no one knew her true identity, they recalled that she was beautiful and that she may have come from New Orleans or Tennessee.
That night, as music played in the ballroom, the young woman came downstairs and began dancing with various partners. The young woman danced and at the end of the night, her final partner realized, that she had died in his arms.
The staff and guests held a funeral for her and she was buried on the hotel&¦39;s property.
According to local lore, a man name Joe Sewell claimed that his estranged second wife, Molly Black, was the young woman who danced herself to death. This was never verified.
Harrodsburg Springs Hotel was in operation in the early 1820s and had its hey day in the 1830s and 1840s. In 1853, the property was sold to the U.S. government to be used as a veteran&¦39;s hospital. The main building burned down in 1856. Subsequent fires in 1864 and in the early 1880s destroyed the remaining buildings.
The grave remains in what is now the Harrodsburg Spring-Young Park. There is a metal marker over her resting place that reads "UNKNOWN - Hallowed and Hushed be the place of the dead. Step Softly. Bow Head."
Agency Name: Doe Network
Agency Contact Person: Todd Matthews
Email: j.toddmatthews@gmail.com
NCIC Case Number: Not entered
NamUs Case Number: Not listed
Master Detective: The Lady Who Danced Herself To Death
Find a Grave
The Kentucky Encyclopedia by John E. Kleber (p 414)
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 3/2/2021
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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