In the early 18th Century, young women were sent to Louisiana to become brides for the men there. Many were sent against their will. When they arrived, vampire stories about them began to circulate. The Casquette Girls of New Orleans have sparked the imagination leading to the popular tale that some of them were undead vampires. This video will explore this popular myth, examining evidence both for and against it, to determine whether or not this could be true.
Casquette Girls
A group of young women known as the Casquette Girls of New Orleans immigrated to the city in the late 18th and early 19th century. Although the Casquette Girls were part of a wider wave of immigrants who came to the city in pursuit of a better life, they stood out as a distinct group because of their origins, the circumstances of their arrival, and the influence they had on New Orleans society.
The majority of the Casquette Girls were from rural and working-class backgrounds in France. The Company of the Indies, a French trading organization that was in charge of colonizing Louisiana, hired them. The Company promised the girls a better life in the New World, complete with a promise of wedlock with a decent spouse and the possibility of property ownership.
Many of the women were also criminals and prostitutes forced to go to North America against their will. Some were still children.
The trip from France to New Orleans was a long and arduous one, taking six months and stopping in the West Indies along the way. When they finally arrived in New Orleans, their appearance shocked those at the port. The girls were emaciated and fever-ridden, with sunken eyes and pale skin that made them look more dead than alive. To make matters worse, they carried their meager belongings in small cases which reportedly looked like burial caskets – an unsettling sight for all who witnessed it. It’s no wonder why rumors of these mysterious young women being vampires began to spread through the city soon after their arrival!
They arrived in New Orleans with a trunk, or cassette, containing their belongings. The word cassette changed into casquette quickly, and that translated to casket. We now know these young women as Casquette Girls.
Vampires?
The men of New Orleans had been expecting young, strong women to populate the area and help build a thriving community. However, when the casquette girls showed up from France in 1728 they were in a seemingly lifeless state upon arrival. People began raising questions about these strange new arrivals – were they vampires? What was inside the caskets that had been shipped with them? Rumors quickly spread through New Orleans that these “Casket Girls” may have sinister intentions and people began wondering if some kind of dark magic or supernatural force was at work.
Shortly after the Casquette Girls arrived, a wave of yellow fever went through the city which doubled death rates. This led to further speculation that at least some of the girls were actually vampires.
This has led many to speculate about the true nature of these Casquette Girls. Some believe that they may still be living at the Ursuline Convent, as it is believed by some that the nuns nailed vampires shut in rooms on the 3rd floor. The nails were said to have been specially blessed by the Pope, although this could not be confirmed. Adding to this mystery are the fact that all attic windows in the Ursuline convent are covered with shutters which isn’t typical for other buildings throughout New Orleans’ French Quarter. This leads people to wonder if there is something more sinister going on behind those closed doors and covered windows.
It is said that on a cool, foggy night in 1978, two paranormal investigators decided to investigate the rumors of vampirism surrounding the casket girls who lived in a convent outside of New Orleans. After scaling the convent walls and entering the grounds, they were never seen alive again. In their last desperate attempt to uncover proof of vampires roaming among them, they searched every corner of the old building until sunrise. When morning came and no sign of them was found inside or out, it seemed that their fate had been sealed. The following morning two bodies were discovered near the convent wall; mutilated beyond recognition and drained completely of blood – all that remained as evidence for what had transpired throughout the night was an eerie silence.
Despite the fact that they faced uncertain and difficult conditions, the Casquette Girls worked hard to build a life for themselves in their new home. Many of them were required to take on demanding jobs such as washing clothing and cleaning houses, which often paid very little. They lived in cramped and unhygienic conditions with no assurance that their lives would improve. Nonetheless, these brave women persisted despite all obstacles and managed to create a thriving community for themselves in New Orleans.
Legacy
The Casquette Girls had a big impact on how New Orleans society evolved. They brought with them a commitment to family values, a strong work ethic, and a profound religious conviction. These principles played a role in forming the modern-day city. After getting married and starting kids, several of the Casquette Girls went on to play significant positions in the political, economic, and cultural life of the city.
The Casquette Girls were distinguished by their great feeling of community, which was one of their best qualities. They grew close to one another, supporting one another through trying times and helping one another adjust to their new life. As they reached out to others in need and became an essential part of the social fabric of the city, they demonstrated a feeling of community that went beyond their own organization and into the larger New Orleans community.
Even today, the Casquette Girls’ legacy endures. They still reside in New Orleans and continue to play significant roles in the growth of the city. Generations of New Orleanians and others all around the world draw inspiration from the Casquette Girls’ narrative as a representation of bravery, resiliency, and determination.
The tale of these women being vampires still continues to persist. Many believe some of them still reside at the Ursuline Convent and escape from time to time to feed on the population of New Orleans. Yet all of this now seems unlikely.
Conclusion
In summary, the New Orleans Casquette Girls were a distinct group of young women who migrated to the city in quest of a better life. They overcame adversity, persisted, and established a life for themselves in their new home. Their legacy lives on today, and it continues to be shaped by their strong sense of community, dedication to family values, and religious faith. The Casquette Girls’ narrative is a significant piece of New Orleans’ past and a symbol of the resilience of the human spirit. But they probably were not vampires.
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