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We went to the second floor to see the family’s private quarters, and then out to the carriage house where the slaves lived, and where Molly either committed suicide or was murdered. Did I detect any paranormal reverberations while standing in this famously haunted spot? Yes, the Sorrel Weed House offers guided tours for visitors to explore its storied past, architectural beauty, and its reported supernatural occurrences.
Sorrel-Weed House Information Guide
Francis Sorrel was a West Indian plantation owner who became one of Savannah’s wealthiest men. A slave revolt forced his family to flee, and the young Francis was saved by slaves who refused to take the life of a young boy. He made a living working the docks in Port-Au-Prince and was eventually transferred by his company to the United States.
Rumor #5: Dark Energy Within the Sorrel Weed House
You get a sense that the house itself is just as alive as its former residents. The house is a nexus of paranormal activity, with numerous guests and paranormal investigators reporting unexplained phenomena. From the sound of ghostly footsteps echoing through empty halls to the sudden chill in the air, the presence of the house’s former inhabitants is felt by many who walk its corridors. The Sorrel Weed House is a historic home and museum in Savannah, known for its Greek Revival architecture and its history that dates back to the early 19th century.
A Foundation Built on History and Heartbreak
There were two-thousand Mulattos listed in the 1860 census, indicating that forced encounters were common practice between slaveholders and the enslaved during that era. As I’ve said many times, Savannah is interesting enough on its own, so there’s no need to make up stories. Visitors often report starting the tour with a fully charged cell phone that ends up dying by the time the tour ends.
Found on Madison Square, the Sorrel-Weed House has gained a reputation as the most haunted spot in a city known for ghouls. The house has been the subject of just about every sort of “Ghost Hunting” reality show that exists, and even offers visitors the chance to take a spooky nighttime tour. But Jürgen and I decided to check it out during the day, on an architectural tour. Constructed in 1837 for Francis Sorrel, a wealthy merchant, and his family, the Sorrel Weed House is an exemplary model of Greek Revival architecture.
Ghosts of Sorrel Weed Tour 2023
Join us as we unveil the layers of history and mystery that make the Sorrel Weed House a cornerstone of Savannah’s haunted past. Constructed between 1835 and 1840 by Charles Cluskey, this Savannah historic landmark and museum is considered to be one of the finest examples of Greek Revival and Regency architecture in the area. The Sorrel-Weed House was constructed for Francis Sorrel, who was a prominent commission merchant to the West Indies. Many well known people have visited the home, including General Robert E. Lee, who was a long standing friend of Francis Sorrel. Over the years, the house has changed hands, witnessing the ebb and flow of fortunes and the transformation of the city around it. The Sorrel family itself faced tragedies, which have contributed to the lore surrounding the mansion and spurred interest in its ghostly residents.
How Ghost Tours Often Exploit African-American History - WBUR News
How Ghost Tours Often Exploit African-American History.
Posted: Fri, 30 Oct 2015 07:00:00 GMT [source]
We invite you to join us on a journey through the shadows of Savannah’s past. Book a tour with Haunted Savannah Tours and experience the allure of the Sorrel Weed House for yourself. Whether you seek a connection to history or a brush with the supernatural, the Sorrel Weed House promises an adventure that transcends the ordinary. As your guide regales you with the tales, listen for the whispers of the past and keep an eye out for shadows that move on their own.
Not just a resting place for history, the Sorrel Weed House offers a reflection of time, carrying with it the weight of personal histories and the grand narrative of the South itself. I do believe in ghosts and had heard about the mansion but went to it not expecting anything. Although I did not catch anything on camera, there were definitely moments where I felt uncomfortable. I could smell cigar smoke in one room, I felt unsteady in the carriage house, and the basement just gave me the creeps. My daughter stated she was having a hard time breathing in the basement.
Rumor #1: Molly’s Existence
It's a venue that continues to evolve, ensuring that there’s always something new to discover. The slave quarters offer a contrasting yet complete glimpse into the home’s past. As was customary, the main home proudly displayed expensive furnishings, while the slaves lived in cramped, deteriorating rooms. His father regularly traveled during the Revolution until one day, he never returned, leaving the young Francis in the care of slaves on his plantation. It was believed that Sorrel Sr. abandoned Francis because he was a constant reminder of the affair he had with a black woman. I live just south of Forsyth Park in Savannah's artsy Starland District, and my daughter is a recent SCAD graduate.
He was just 26-years-old at the time which made him the youngest general in the Confederate Army. Later in his life, Moxley Sorrel wrote Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer, which is considered one of the best postwar accounts written by a former Confederate Officer. Embarking on a tour of the Sorrel Weed House opens up a wealth of experiences. Each room offers a different facet of the 19th century, from the grand parlors to the intimate family spaces. The original servant quarters provide a stark contrast to the lavish main house, offering a glimpse into the lives of the people who maintained the high standards of living for the elite.
One could say that to walk through its doors is to walk alongside Francis Sorrel and his family, to hear the whispers of societal affairs and the echoes of a changing world. Those of us familiar with its halls know that with each visit, a new layer of its rich history is unveiled, allowing one to peer into the intricate tapestry that is Savannah’s past. From the detailed ironwork on the balconies to the opulent rooms furnished in antebellum style, every corner of this home tells a story, a whisper from the old southern days of grandeur and complexity. Boston has such a rich history, and on our Boston walking tour, you can explore it on foot! Don’t forget, you can head to my post about the best ghost tours in Savannah when you’re ready to start booking your tours. Madison Square and the surrounding areas were built in the 1830s, fifty years after the war.
The Sorrels hosted large parties at their house with many well-known attendees. In fact, Confederate General Robert E. Lee visited the home on at least three different occasions. There are documented records of the two distributing slaves from the port of Savannah to areas along the East Coast.
This is a center stairway ascending to a mid-floor stoop, from which one can walk to the left or right to ascend to the second floor. Savannah just continued to expand around the original battlefield and many of the buildings in the area, including the Soreel-Weed House, were built right on top of the old burying ground. But the next morning, while laying in l bed and scrolling through the photos I'd taken the night before, I came across something that still makes me shudder when I think about it.
The building’s claim to fame is its size, architecture, and of course, the hauntings. Francis Sorrel was a wealthy plantation owner, though his life was marred with tragedy and scandal. After the death of his first wife, Francis married his late wife’s younger sister, Matilda. She then committed suicide after catching Francis in an affair with Molly, one of his slaves. The ghosts of both Molly and Matilda still haunt the house to this day.
Soon after the tryst came to life, his wife Matilda fell from the house’s third-story window to her death in the courtyard. Her family claimed she fainted, while society believed she had committed suicide. And when Sorrel’s lover Molly was found hanged in the carriage house, the whispers grew louder.
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