#TBT: The Brunswick Inn’s Phantom Harpist

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — At the corner of Bay Street and Atlantic Avenue in Southport, stands the historic Brunswick Inn. The hotel is home to the  benevolent spirit of a teenage harpist who died in a boating accident while working in the Inn’s band.

The hotel was built in 1859 and in the summer months it was well known to locals and visitors alike for it’s weekend music and dances.

As the story goes, Antonio Caseletta came to the North Carolina coast from Italy in 1882. Caseletta was looking for work as a musician and got a job playing the harp at the Brunswick Inn.

One night, he went sailing with the other musicians from the hotel. But there was an accident. Caseletta fell overboard and drowned. His body was taken from the water and buried at the Old Smithville Burying Ground, where it remains to this day.

According to the legend, on the night of his death, the band decided to play their performance without him and left his chair and unmanned harp empty in his honor. To everyone’s surprise, the sounds of the harp joined the band when they began to play, although it’s player was nowhere to be seen.

Some still say they can hear the beautiful sounds of the harp echoing through the halls of the hotel.