The Most Haunted City in America: A City Tied to its Stories
Written by Alexa LoSchiavo. Graphic by Sofia Ritz.
As we creep closer and closer into the season of all things spooky, it’s worth noting that SCAD students live in a city crawling with urban legends, ghost tours and truly haunting stories from the past. This kind of ghostly, haunted nature is embedded in Savannah and exploring these places during the season of Halloween is one way to get into the Halloween spirit (or just see some spirits!). Regardless of what you believe, much of American life is surrounded by myths that connect and intrigue others. Storytelling is such a crucial part of connection, a theme that surrounds the season of Halloween. Whether it’s dressing up and sharing that joy with your friends or recounting ghost stories by the fire. The stories that are embedded in Savannah are what make it such a special, artistic city to live in, and the ghost stories are no exception. Let’s dive into a few locations rooted that have an eerie past.
The first place that holds interesting haunting stories in Savannah is the Benjamin Wilson House, located at 432 Abercorn Street. This house was built in 1869 for Benjamin Wilson and his family. Benjamin Wilson was a Civil War veteran turned Savannah socialite and he had a reputation to maintain in the Savannah community. His wife died tragically of yellow fever, leaving him alone to raise his daughter. He ultimately was a very heavy-handed, abusive parent and as a result, played a role in killing his daughter. After that, he killed himself, so struck by grief, or by the ghost of his daughter (depending on what source you look at). That same house has been told to be haunted ever since, with a recurring theme of peoples’ lives ending tragically. The house was also said to be the home of a gruesome murder and the last owner of this house reportedly did not live there for over 40 years. The Benjamin Wilson House was recently renovated, and the new owners who live there reportedly don’t care for the fanfare surrounding the property. This house itself is a stop on many ghost tours and there have been many stories of ghosts caught wandering in the windows or rustling the curtains. All in all, it’s a notable attraction and a notable reminder of the negative aspects of Savannah’s history.
The next place that I think is important to talk about in Savannah’s myths and ghost stories is Wright Square. This is another square that has an eerie, historical story which gives it its ghostly merit. Wright Square is also known as the Hanging Square. This was the place where the first recorded female murderer in Georgia was hanged in 1735. While the last story is mainly based on myth, this tale seems more set in stone. Alice Ryley and Richard White were two of a shipload of Irish servants who were purchased by James Oglethorpe in 1734. She and Richard White were hanged for the murder of Will Wise, the owner of the plantation they were both sent to. Before she was hanged, she gave birth to a baby named James. The baby was taken away from her as she was killed. The story is that she wanders Wright Square in search of her long lost child. Despite the horror and historical accuracy of this story, many ghost hunters will also tell you that Wright square is one of the only places where Spanish moss refuses to grow. They’ll tell it’s because of Alice Ryley’s spirit and the spirit of all others who were hanged there, looking for their revenge. In that same square, there is also a marker for the Native American Chief Tomochichi. He was a Yamacraw Tribe Leader who is known for serving as a diplomat when the British took over and colonized Georgia. He was an invaluable resource for Oglethorpe and he lived a long life acting as a mediator between the British and the Yamacraw. When he died peacefully, he was honored with a pyramid of stone, still there today and a traditional British military funeral. Though it sounds like his life ended in a rather peaceful way, many ghost tours will tell you that he remains in the square as well, contributing to the mystery of Wright Square and its haunted allure.
The last place that I think is worth mentioning in order to get into the spirit is the Marshall House. This is a well-known hotel, considered one of the most haunted hotels in Savannah. This hotel used to be a hospital for Union soldiers and during renovations almost 100 years later, their bones were found under the floorboards. The hotel has had many changes in ownership over the years but currently is named the Marshall house after the original founder, Mary Marshall. The hotel has many ghost stories from guests that range from ghosts running through the halls to the laughter of children ringing in specific rooms. Room 414 has been dubbed as the most haunted room in the hotel due to the evil energy and smells that come from that room.
There is so much interesting history and stories surrounding Savannah as a city and these are just three places that might spark the Halloween spirit. Whether it’s walking by these locations, visiting them or knowing the history behind them, it might spark some recognition that this city is haunted by an undertone of deep, interesting history and stories that have more than a little truth to them. So, take a look around this time of year and see if you can feel the history and the ghostly energy which surrounds this infamous city.
