Savannah: Spanish Moss & Ghosts
To me, wonder is the Siamese twin of curiosity. I’ve thought about why I feel that they are so connected and I think it has to do with that fact that I’m a science nerd. The one at parties who talks about alcohol and ADH-that’s me. I usually feel wonder when things are out of my realm of normal, daily experience but still linked to me and my experiences by a thread of familiarity. Like seeing pictures of people with elephantitis: I’m so glued to the pictures because they’re so unique, different and rare but they’re people, just like me, how did this happen? omg I could have been like this!
I don’t know if anybody has visited Savannah, Georgia.
If you do-take a ghost tour!!
This is a story about my family’s favorite ghost, Rene Ash.
Story from: http://www.horrorworld.org/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=355
I heard the version that goes like this:
It was said that he stood somewhere between 7 foot 4, and 7 foot five inches, and that an egg could be passed through the center of the ring he wore on one of his fingers. Now I'm not sure what kind of jewelry was being fashioned in the late 1700's or early 1800's, but I doubt a ring that size was part of the normal stock for local jewelers. At any rate, it was said that Rene was feared mostly because of his size, and because of reports that he tortured small animals. The people of Savannah feared him so much, that his parents were ordered to do something with him. What they did, was imprison their only son, to the confines of their property. A 7 to 8 foot brick fence was built to keep Rene within the boundaries of the property, and the city folk even went as far as to mortar in inverted broken bottles along the top, to make sure that Rene couldn't scale the walls. , and get out. The city leaders even went as far as posting guards at the property to be certain that Rene didn't get out.
Something big happened in the city that attracted everyone, including the guards that kept a vigil on Rene Ash. By the time city leaders realized that Rene wasn't being guarded, it was too late. A girl’s mutilated body was found, not far from the borders of the fence that was suppose to keep the beast at bay, and leading away from the body, were giant footprints.
A mob was assembled, and Rene was taken from his home, taken to the nearest square, and hanged. His parents buried the body on their property. Some 100 years later, a builder found the grave of Rene Ash, and opened it. The grave was empty. No remains of the gigantic boy could be found. It was believed that the body must have been moved to an unmarked grave somewhere on Hutchinson Island, just across the Savannah River. During construction of the Westin Resort on Hutchinson Island, skeletal remains were found in an unmarked grave where the foundation of the hotel was to be. The skeleton was over 7 feet tall. The remains were undisturbed, and the hotels foundation was built over the gravesite. In case you're wondering, there are 16 floors in the hotel, and yes, they do have a 13th floor.
I don’t know if anybody has visited Savannah, Georgia.
If you do-take a ghost tour!!
This is a story about my family’s favorite ghost, Rene Ash.
Story from: http://www.horrorworld.org/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=355
I heard the version that goes like this:
It was said that he stood somewhere between 7 foot 4, and 7 foot five inches, and that an egg could be passed through the center of the ring he wore on one of his fingers. Now I'm not sure what kind of jewelry was being fashioned in the late 1700's or early 1800's, but I doubt a ring that size was part of the normal stock for local jewelers. At any rate, it was said that Rene was feared mostly because of his size, and because of reports that he tortured small animals. The people of Savannah feared him so much, that his parents were ordered to do something with him. What they did, was imprison their only son, to the confines of their property. A 7 to 8 foot brick fence was built to keep Rene within the boundaries of the property, and the city folk even went as far as to mortar in inverted broken bottles along the top, to make sure that Rene couldn't scale the walls. , and get out. The city leaders even went as far as posting guards at the property to be certain that Rene didn't get out.
Something big happened in the city that attracted everyone, including the guards that kept a vigil on Rene Ash. By the time city leaders realized that Rene wasn't being guarded, it was too late. A girl’s mutilated body was found, not far from the borders of the fence that was suppose to keep the beast at bay, and leading away from the body, were giant footprints.
A mob was assembled, and Rene was taken from his home, taken to the nearest square, and hanged. His parents buried the body on their property. Some 100 years later, a builder found the grave of Rene Ash, and opened it. The grave was empty. No remains of the gigantic boy could be found. It was believed that the body must have been moved to an unmarked grave somewhere on Hutchinson Island, just across the Savannah River. During construction of the Westin Resort on Hutchinson Island, skeletal remains were found in an unmarked grave where the foundation of the hotel was to be. The skeleton was over 7 feet tall. The remains were undisturbed, and the hotels foundation was built over the gravesite. In case you're wondering, there are 16 floors in the hotel, and yes, they do have a 13th floor.
posted by Amanda | 5:52 AM
2 Comments:
Did you visit Bonaventure Cemetery when you were in Savannah? I went when I was in high school and it was so beautiful. All of the moss and old statues gave it this weird serene feeling.
I went on a ghost tour while I was there and also bought a book of ghost stories. I think its crazy how it seems like almost every building there has a story behind it.
We only passed by the cemetery on our tour but I knew about it because I read "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil" and that book is what prompted this stop on my college tour trip. I made my mom stop at every place I could find out of the book and I had pictures of the bird girl statue and Johnny Mercer's house on my bedroom walls.
I agree with you about the stories. There are so many of them and all of the details of the city are so well preserved, it is trip I encourage everyone to take at least once.
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