Wright Square: A haunting history
Written by Katelyn Myrick. Photo courtesy of Savannah.com
Wright Square is the center most square in downtown Savannah, sitting two blocks south of Broughton, near Odin and Sons comic bookstore and the Wright Square Café. You can find this infamous and historical square of mystery a block away from Collins Quarter.
Once Percival Square set aside in honor of John Percival Earl of Egmont in 1733, (one of the founders of Georgia), the name changed in 1763 to honor James Wright, the royal governor of Georgia. The Wright square was the second square to be built out of the main four. Visitors can discover two monuments: Tomochichi, the chief of the Yamacraw tribe, and William Washington Gordon. Tomochichi was one of the first to befriend the original colonists. He was a major help in the establishment of Georgia and acted as a mediator between the Native Americans and the colonists.
On October 5, 1739, Tomochichi died from a severe illness and was buried in Wright Square with a ceremony that accompanied General Oglethorpe. A pyramid-shaped monument was dedicated to Tomochichi.
In 1883, a monument was completed by Henry van Brunt and Frank M. House to honor William Washington Gordon, the founder of the central railroad and banking company. However, this monument would replace Tomochichi disrespectfully and Gordon’s wife would later urge them to place another monument in honor of Tomochichi. Because of the disrespect for his grave, rumors have it that Tomochichi haunts Wright Square and the lack of Spanish Moss in the square is due to his spirit.
Another spirit famous for hunting the square is Alice Riley. She and her husband Richard White were indentured servants from Ireland. They worked for an unkind man named William Weis. When he was found dead, all fingers pointed to Alice and Richard. They were sentenced to death, but weren’t hung immediately after the crime because Alice was found to be pregnant. After she gave birth, she was put onto the gallows and hung on the edge of the square. Her body would stay there for three days until they buried her below where she hung. Over the years, there have been reports of a pale woman looking for her baby on the edge of Wright Square.
