Moronic Ghost Hunters Burn Historic Louisiana Plantation to the Ground

[n2doc]

if paranormal investigators didn’t have a hard enough time already, what with never being able to prove the existence of ghosts on any of their tv shows, now a group of them have destroyed a rich piece of Louisiana history by setting fire to a 160 year old plantation.

The suspects told authorities that they snuck into the Lebeau Plantation in order to investigate claims that the building was haunted. Unfortunately for everyone, many news outlets reportedthat these ghost hunters had more in common with Shaggy and Scooby than with Fred and Velma, because instead of actually solving any mysteries they just got high and accidentally set fire to the building.



By the time police showed up to the plantation at around 2am, the building was fully engulfed in flames. All 7 men were arrested and charged with arson, burglary and criminal damage over $50,000.

“This is a devastating loss to the community,” Fire Chief Thomas Stone said. “It’s a fire chief’s worst nightmare.”

Fortunately, there were no casualties in the blaze, aside from the enjoyment of a historical location by future generations.



Built in the 1850′s, the Lebeau Plantation was once the largest plantation south of New Orleans. Throughout the years, the property had previously served as a casino, a hotel, and more recently as local Sugar Festival grounds.

http://blog.roadtrippers.com/moronic-ghost-hunters-burn-historic-louisiana-plantation-ground/

[kelliekat44]

1. Monuments to misery are sometimes better gone. nt

[DoBotherMe]

2. Yes

Last edited Tue Nov 26, 2013, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Dana ; )

[snooper2]

3. oh jesus e. christ on a swingline stapler

[Shivering Jemmy]

4. Why?

[lame54]

6. No...

There are plantations where we live
we toured one and it was a fscinating look into history

[WilliamPitt]

8. So they should tear down Dachau and Buchenwald, then?

Monuments to misery, all.

When you plow history into the ground, it is forgotten. And then...

[oneshooter]

11. So all Confederate Cemeteries should be plowed and destroyed?

All remaining homes from before 1865 should be destroyed ( remember that the White House once had a slave quarters), and all history before that time be erased from memory?

Is this what you are advocating?

[liberal N proud]

12. Those who do not study history are damned to repeat it

It seems we want to forget more history than study it these days.

[TBF]

15. FYI, the folks who took it down were young white guys

if that means anything (ie it was not the folks who would've been slaves back in the day).

Multiple suspects - 7 or 8 of them and one charged with lighting the fire (the others as being involved). No idea why they did it but I would hazard a guess that it was general mischief as opposed to making a point.

I do get where you're coming from but as others have commented we keep these standing not as memorials to that lifestyle but as a warning so folks don't forget and repeat the behavior.

[Lochloosa]

22. Then we might as well burn down the White House.

Good God.

[ConcernedCanuk]

35. We tried . . .

.
.
.





CC

[Lochloosa]

36. LOL....True

[TwilightGardener]

23. History should never be wiped out.

[joeybee12]

26. Let's get rid of all the hitory of slavery...that way we won't repeat it, right?

No, we need to be reminded of this and other atrocities...

[packman]

5. Would make Gen. Sherman proud

Shame that the stars and bars wasn't flying on one of those chimneys . If there were ghosts there, the black slaves were probably dancing in the flames while the masters of the house were weeping in the smoke. Better gone.

[csziggy]

7. According to the sheriff it was not accidental - they set the fire on purpose

“They were in there looking for ghosts, drinking, smoking dope, and for some reason they made a decision — a conscious decision — before they left to set this building on fire,” {St. Bernard Parish James Sheriff} Pohlmann said. “St. Bernard lost a part of its history today, and these seven individuals are responsible for that.”

Arrested were:

Dusten Davenport, 31, of Fort Worth, Texas. He was booked with arson and simple burglary and criminal damage over $50,000.
Joshua Briscoe, 20, of Grand Prairie, Texas. He was booked with arson, simple burglary and criminal damage over $50,000.
Joseph Landin, 20, of Grand Prairie, Texas. He was booked with arson, simple burglary and criminal damage over $50,000.
Jerry Hamblen, 17, of Dallas. He was booked with arson, simple burglary and criminal damage over $50,000.
Joshua Allen, 21, of Grand Prairie, Texas. He was booked with arson, simple burglary and criminal damage over $50,000.
Kevin Barbe, 20, of Arabi. He was booked with accessory to arson and criminal trespassing.
Bryon Meek, 29, of Gretna. He was booked with accessory to arson.

More: http://theadvocate.com/news/7656125-123/lebeau-plantation-burns-to-the

Emphasis added.

I don't think these idiots will like Louisiana prisons.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. I don't know.....

Maybe if they sent them to one of those old abandoned haunted prisons....

[hobbit709]

9. More like moronic drunken idiots.

[JVS]

13. Don't cross the streams!

[Vashta Nerada]

14. What a bunch of idiots.

[Paladin]

16. This is a tough one for you terminally sanctimonious types.

On one hand, there were slaves on the premises, long ago. On the other hand, the guys responsible for the destruction were just about all from Texas. Which way are you going to direct your righteous hatred? Have fun......

[The Straight Story]

18. At pot smokers

[Paladin]

21. We have a WINNAH!

[Blue_Tires]

32. What about at the state for not keeping a "historically significant" site secure?

[Logical]

17. Ghosts do not exist! nt

[The Straight Story]

19. Neither did black holes, until we discovered them

[Logical]

28. Joking I hope

[pinboy3niner]

20. Sez you

--Casper the Friendly Ghost

[Logical]

29. Good one

[Hayabusa]

24. Now they get to see if the state prison is haunted...

nt

[BlueJazz]

27. Ah...Good one !

[TwilightGardener]

25. That is truly sad. Why didn't Louisiana properly preserve and restore that structure?

[LuvNewcastle]

30. I don't think it was state property.

The state wouldn't restore it unless it was donated to the state. It's a shame the owners didn't keep it up, but that happens sometimes with those old places. It's a crying shame this happened. Such stupidity.

[Bennyboy]

34. See below for all of that....

Rich people paddding their bank accounts instead of taking care of the property....

[MrScorpio]

31. Those Meddling Kids!

Someone had to do it.

[KurtNYC]

37. After the blaze broke out, a large Great Dane (with the munchies) was heard to utter: "Rut roh!"

[Bennyboy]

33. This is all about rich people and money.....

FROM A NOLA RESIDENT:

A little more detail.....



Joe Meraux must be rolling over in his grave right now. It’s not enough that his plans after death aren’t being followed. Now one of his prized estate assets is gone forever.

The LeBeau Plantation, at the end of Friscoville Street at the Mississippi River in Arabi, is gone. Overnight a fire ravaged the massive structure that was built in 1851, or a decade before the Civil War started.

The Meraux estate, with an estimated value of $250 million, has many real estate holdings including historic Lafite’s Blacksmith Shop in the French Quarter. But the most historic and significant structure was LeBeau Plantation. The 16-room structure was the largest plantation south of New Orleans. Now it’s gone, forever.

And ultimately, the worthless Meraux foundation board down in Chalemette is to blame.

Joe Meraux left specific instructions to the parish of St. Bernard to use his estate to better the people and his parish. Instead, it’s been a money grab. More money is paid out in six-figure salaries to lazy, politically-appointed board members than is given to the citizens of the parish each and every year. And now, that same corrupt board has neglected to perform one of its most basic duties: protecting the assets of the Meraux estate.

Contrary to what these board members think, the estate and its quarter-of-a-billion dollars in assets is meant to benefit the citizens of St. Bernard, not a select few. Now, those select few have committed the biggest sin: they’ve allowed an irreplaceable historic building to be destroyed.

The LeBeau Plantation is gone, not because of a fire last night that burned the building to the ground, but because of the Meraux Foundation Board: a corrupt group of little people that not only are screwing over the parish of St. Bernard and its citizens who have now destroyed one of St. Bernard Parish’s most historic assets.

Joe Meraux must be rolling over in his grave, even more so than usual today.


Read more: [url]http://wgno.com/2013/11/22/lebeau-plantation-fire-joe-meraux-must-be-spinning-in-his-grave/#ixzz2laXMBo8I[/url