It was a hot summer night in 1868 when Laura Schafer lit a kerosene lamp and stepped into the darkened hall of her family’s Alexandria home. The flame cracked. Her dress caught. And by the time her screams reached the street below, it was already too late.

What should have been Laura’s wedding day became the date carved into her gravestone. And hours later, the man she was meant to marry—Charles Tennesson—met his own tragic fate.

Today, the building at 107 North Fairfax Street is an ice cream parlor. But those who’ve worked there over the years tell a different story. A faint smell of smoke. Screams echoing down the staircase. A lamp that seems to move on its own. Some believe Laura Schafer never left the house where she died—and that she’s not alone.

In this episode, we unravel one of Alexandria’s most enduring ghost stories, tracing the true events behind the legend of the Burning Bride. We’ll examine the historical record, explore how folklore reshaped Laura’s memory, and hear chilling reports from those who still feel something lingering behind the old brick walls.

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