Savannah Georgia – Americas Most Haunted City
March 10th, 2010 | 
Author: Savannah Georgia – Americas Most Haunted City
In 2003 the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah America’s Most Haunted City. And Savannah is able to support the title. Ghosts apparitions or paranormal activities have been reported at many of Savannah’s inns restaurants private residences and of course cemeteries.
There are many magnificently restored buildings nestled around Savannah’s twentyone squares. Many of these buildings are stately homes supposedly still occupied by former owners. James Habersham has been known to roam around the Olde Pink House now a restaurant but formerly his home. Juliette Gordon Low the founder of the Girl Scouts was born and raised in Savannah. Her parents long deceased are said to still roam Juliette’s childhood home.
Savannah’s SorrelWeed House visited by The Atlantic Paranormal Society TAPS in 2005 as part of their SciFi Ghost Hunters Halloween special is supposedly haunted. The story goes that Mrs. Weed caught her husband in a compromising position with one of the Weed’s many slaves. Mrs. Weed very distraught ran back to her secondfloor bedroom. After a long argument with her husband she either threw herself or was thrown to her death from a second floor balcony. Soon after Mrs. Weed’s death the slave found with Mr. Weed was found hung in her slave quarters. Both women are said to be still roaming the grounds.
The HamptonLillibridge House was said to be so haunted that Jim Williams of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” fame had an exorcism performed at this former boarding house. On countless occasions residents and passersby have heard the sound of jazz coming from inside the home.
The Kehoes were a very prominent family in Savannah as Mr. Kehoe owned the ironworks on the riverfront. The Kehoes built this fireproof alliron home and lived there with their 10 children. The Kehoe’s heirs sold the house in 1930 and the property changed hands many times to include use for 65 years as the Goette Funeral Home. It is now a beautiful bed and breakfast where many of its visitors report supernatural occurrences such as a woman screaming a nurse shushing visitors the Lady in White making appearances and several instances involving ghosts of children.
The list goes on and on!
So what is it about Savannah that makes it so attractive to ghosts and ghost stories? Many people start with the fact that Savannah is literally built on its dead. Savannah was the first city in Georgia founded in 1733. It was established in the same location as the Creek and Choctaw maintained their burial grounds.
As the colony began to grow and thrive it needed more room. Buildings were erected on the burial plots of the original colonists. Tombstones in cemeteries were moved to make room for sidewalks and roads. Places of worship were erected on the graves of slaves.
Second Savannah has a very violent history. Many bloody battles and skirmishes were fought in Savannah. One of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution the Siege of Savannah where about 1200 men lost their lives in one hour was fought in Savannah.
Also the city has been victim to many citywide fires at least two yellowfever epidemics and several hurricanes.
Third Savannah has been a major port city since the days of King Cotton so many a sailor has ventured through Savannah spinning a romantic tale or two.
Fourth Savannahians are proudly an eccentric bunch as were their ancestors which adds history and volume to the ghost stories. Take the
Lastly I blame the large amounts of Spanish moss hanging from the majestic oak trees. The blankets of moss look like ghostly shrouds and give the entire region an eerie look.
Whatever the reason the ghost stories are endless earning the Savannah the right to the title of America’s Most Haunted City.
About the writer: Deb Bunting is an accountant who makes her home in Oklahoma City. She is an avid traveler with special interest in historical places. Visit her site at www.loveofsavannah.com.
Related posts:
Posted in Travel
