Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Haunted Ghost Walks

sorrel weed house savannah

That night, I was on a mission to have some sort of close encounter with any spirits hanging around the house. But since this was a "ghost tour" of sorts, I was skeptical at what, if anything, we would experience. Our guide had a calming vibe with his monotone voice and slow descriptions of the history of the home. He led us through parts of the living spaces and the group was encouraged to take as many photos and videos of the home as we wanted. The home had a history of captured images of these orbs and dark shadows, as well as recordings of voices and screams. The history of the home also includes murder and suicide within the walls of the home, so that added to the intensity.

A Quick Note About Ghosts Stories in Savannah

Guests are encouraged to bring cameras and an open heart to the possibility of encountering the unknown. Anyone who appreciates history, architecture, or a good ghost story will find the Sorrel Weed House a memorable stop on their Savannah journey. Remember, there’s always more to the house than meets the eye—with each visit uncovering more stories, more whispers of the past, beckoning to be heard and remembered. The mention of the Sorrel Weed House invariably brings with it a sense of mystery and a whisper of the supernatural.

A Foundation Built on History and Heartbreak

It's a life-sized (and portrait accurate) representation of the girl. I was determined to find this grave within the labyrinth that is Bonaventure and, after walking for about an hour, I managed to stumble upon it. After about 35 minutes, I lost my breath and looked up and recognized the gravestones. When I peered a little closer, I realized I had walked right back to the burial site of Gracie Watkins.

Suicides at the Sorrel Weed House

It is important as a cultural and historical artifact, providing insight into the lives of the Savannah elite during the antebellum period and as a Civil War landmark. Additionally, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its role as a national treasure. Charles Green, the owner of the Green-Meldrim House across the street, also owned a slave named Molly during this time. It is possible that Green, who was Sorrel’s friend, shared women with him.

Want to learn more about the haunted history of Savannah?

Some even say they feel like their being strangled by a rope, which could be a residual memory of Molly’s death. The Sorrel Weed House is among one of Savannah’s most famous buildings, haunted or otherwise. In the mid-20th century, it became one of the earliest homes to be restored in the city’s preservation movement.

Francis Sorrel’s Marriages

Employees of the Sorrel-Weed House are currently investigating the image, as are a handful of paranormal investigators around the country. So far, the response from professionals is that whoever is pictured in the photograph is indeed deceased. Historical records indicate that the home is located next to, or possibly directly above, the site of the Siege of Savannah, which took place during the Revolutionary War.

They both moved down south shortly after, and Douglass & Sorrel was open for business. The Mercer House even has a homestead exemption on it, since family members still reside in the home. After all, similar homes are valued in the millions and owe estimated payments in the tens of thousands. According to online realtor sites, if the Sorrel Weed House sold today it would be listed for more than 1.5 million dollars. This one is possible — although it’s more likely that she was hanged (not by her own doing) after news of the illicit affair came to light.

Paranormal Investigations

After comparing various time stamps and images, what we saw just didn't make any sense—there was a figure of a man, standing in the background, off to the side, in the reflection of the mirror. I took an impressive amount of images that night, mostly because everyone else was taking photos and I wanted to be the one to find those orbs. In the dining room, there was a large wall mirror, and for some reason, everyone was snapping pictures of the mirror, apparently because it was the location of various orb sightings. I took my mirror photos and while standing there, reviewed them on my phone, and there was nothing immediately visible, so I continued the tour, mostly disappointed. There were a couple times where I felt the chills, but I attributed that to being in an old home with very little lighting.

Stepping Into the Shadows: Your Visit to the Sorrel Weed House

The Spookiest Ghost Tours in America - Best-Reviewed Ghost Tours - House Beautiful

The Spookiest Ghost Tours in America - Best-Reviewed Ghost Tours.

Posted: Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This was sadly all that was available to those who lived their lives in confinement and who contributed so much to the development of the city. As far as the existence of Molly, the available records point to two potential women. The first one appears written on a manifest that listed slaves transported by Francis Sorrel.

What is highly likely, however, is that Francis forced himself on female slaves, a common yet unspoken practice at the time. The house was built for Francis Sorrel (1793–1870), a wealthy shipping merchant and esteemed citizen of Savannah. One of his sons was General Gilbert Moxley Sorrel (1838–1901), one of the youngest generals in the Confederate army. In 1859, a purchase agreement was made by the prominent Savannah businessman, Henry D. Weed; he took possession of the house in 1862 and it remained in the Weed family until 1914. Others claim to have seen the reflection of female apparitions in the mirror, without the physical bodies to accompany them. To book your very own ghost tour and to explore the hallowed streets of Georgia’s oldest and most haunted cities, check out our website and book your tour today.

sorrel weed house savannah

Today, the ghosts of both Matilda and Molly are said to haunt the Sorrel-Weed House. Yes, the Sorrel Weed House is known for its ghost tours where visitors can learn about the haunted history and possibly experience paranormal activity. These tours are especially popular during Halloween season and often take place at night. For those intrigued by the paranormal, the Sorrel Weed House is often included in ghost tours that explore Savannah's haunted history.

It was also one of the first sites to be named a historic landmark by the state of Georgia. Bonaventure is famous for its prominent role in the novel (and movie by the same name) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The massive graveyard is home to various statues and monuments, many of which are said to come to life at night. The most famous statue belongs to the grave of little Gracie Watkins, who died at age six in 1889.

sorrel weed house savannah

Visitors are advised to check the latest opening hours and any potential restrictions or special events that might affect availability. It's more than just a building; it's a testament to the splendor and the turbulent history of the South. Every creak of the wooden floors, every swath of the lush draperies, seems to hold a secret, eager for the keen observer to uncover it. The slaves were only provided two blankets, one was used as a cover, while the other was used as a pillow.

The tour wasn’t as comprehensive as we would have liked, as much of the Sorrel-Weed House is still under renovation, but the rooms we were able to see were beautiful. This is one of Savannah’s most sterling examples of Greek Revival architecture, and was one of the first homes in the city to be protected as a State Landmark. The Sorrel Weed House stands as a beacon for those drawn to the intersection of history, architecture, and the paranormal. Its walls not only tell the story of a bygone era but also of the timeless nature of love, loss, and the human spirit’s endurance. Haunted Savannah Tours invites you to explore the mysteries of the Sorrel Weed House firsthand. Our guided tours provide not just a history lesson, but an immersive experience into the paranormal.

Nighttime tours allow visitors to roam the mansion with equipment designed to detect other-worldly presences—maybe you'll even capture a voice or a figure that tells a tale from beyond. Presented by a Savannah Storyteller, Highly rated on TripAdvisor.Experience the Sorrel Weed House & Carriage House as presented by a Master Storyteller and Paranormal Investigator. Explore the rooms, hallways, and all the darkest corners of the property. This very special tour focuses on the lives and stories of those believed to still haunt the old Sorrel Weed House and delves deep into the haunted history of the property. Combining historical events and personal, sometimes tragic, moments from the property’s past, guests are guided through first hand accounts of the home’s paranormal activity.

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