Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
CHARLESTON — The historic city known for its cobblestone streets and towering church steeples dates back more than 350 years, but beneath the charm lies a shadowed history that lingers among old churches, houses and alleyways. “What makes Charleston so significant is because of all of the things that have happened here,” said Nicholas McGirr, the lead investigator at Stories in the Cemetery. Visitors and locals flock to the well-known haunted sites, especially around Halloween, to experience what they believe is a whisper from the dead. McGirr said the month of October is a hotbed for paranormal activity in Charleston because many significant death dates occurred during the month. For example, Charles Pinckney, a founding father who signed the Constitution, was born and died in October. From faded mansions to echoing graveyards, discover some of the legends of haunted places in Charleston and the stories that refuse to be buried. The Old Citadel Built in 1829 as a men’s only military school, the building in Marion Square once housed the South Carolina Military Academy. Today it’s an Embassy Suites by Hilton with the castle-like structure repurposed and painted pink. The building, however, is one of the most talked-about haunted places in Charleston, according to Charleston Sightseeing Tours. Guests and staff alike have reported chilling encounters, including the sound of heavy boots pacing in the hallways, sudden drops in temperature and flickering lights with no imminent cause. Some of the eeriest stories note ghostly figures. “One of the most unsettling experiences involves a recurring apparition of a Confederate soldier, often seen lingering in the lobby or near the staircases,” Charleston Sightseeing Tours noted. “His presence, coupled with the unexplained noises and sightings, has solidified the Old Citadel as one of Charleston’s haunted sites that continues to intrigue visitors.” Battery Carriage Inn Guests can request to stay in one of the “haunted” rooms at the Battery Carriage Inn, a boutique hotel in the South of Broad neighborhood at 20 South Battery St., across from White Point Gardens. A sign in the park marks the spot where, in 1718, the notorious “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet and 29 of his men were captured and met their “just deserts” — hanged and buried in the marsh beyond the garden. It seems fitting, then, that the most famously haunted room at the Battery Carriage Inn is Room 10, where a so-called “gentleman ghost” is said to appear beside unsuspecting guests in bed. Fortunately, he’s known for his pleasant disposition and reportedly disappears if asked. A more sinister spirit is said to haunt the inn as well — a headless apparition believed to be the ghost of a Civil War soldier who met a grisly end and now roams the property in his final form. “We stayed in one of the haunted rooms,” a guest wrote on TripAdvisor in October. “Late that night, I woke to the sound of bathroom drawers and cabinets opening and closing. I saw the drawers move. I called out to my spouse, asking what she was doing. My wife, lying beside me, sat up and asked me what was wrong.” Another reviewer who stayed in the “notorious Room 10” last year described a similarly eerie encounter: “I could hear what sounded like furniture being moved in the room beside me — which just so happened to be vacant.” The Edisto Island Presbyterian Church When it comes to ghost stories, that of young Julia Legare is one of the most haunting on the island. Back in the 1800s when she was visiting family, she grew ill and slipped into a coma. The family physician declared the child dead, according to local lore and the Edisto Beach blog. Julia was buried on the day of her death and her body laid to rest inside a crypt, with a marble door closed and locked after the family said their final farewells. Roughly 15 years later, the mausoleum was opened to prepare for another family burial. It was then they discovered Julia’s remains at the foot of the door rather than entombed. They believed she was buried alive while in a coma and tried to escape. Julia was once again entombed, along with the recently deceased relative, and the door securely locked. Soon after, the family found the door open upon visiting to pay their respects. They closed it, but the door was found open again and again. Chains and unbreakable locks were used to keep it shut, but the door would always open. Today, there is no door, with the idea that now Julia’s spirit can be at peace. But some say she guards the J.B. Legare mausoleum to make sure no one ever puts up a door and locks her in. Poogan’s Porch Built in 1891, the house at 72 Queen Street would eventually house one of Charleston’s staple restaurants, Poogan’s Porch. It wasn’t converted into a restaurant until 1976. It earned its name from a dog, Poogan, who was left behind after the last homeowners moved away. He lived out his days as the beloved neighborhood “porch dog” and is buried in the front yard. Some guests who dine there have told staff they can still feel a gentle brush against their legs when their meals arrive, as if Poogan is making his rounds sniffing for table scraps. But he’s not the only resident ghost diners have felt. Sisters Zoe and Liz Amand lived in the home together in the early 1900s. Liz preceded her sister in death. Guests at the Mills House Hotel across the street have reported catching glimpses of an old woman in a black dress in the second-floor window of the restaurant, while employees have reported unexplainable noises. Thomas Rose House Built between 1735 and 1740, the Thomas Rose House — a two-and-a-half-story Georgian brick townhouse at 59 Church St. — is the only residence in Charleston with a historical marker that specifically mentions a ghost. That ghost is said to be Dr. Joseph Ladd, who reportedly lingers in the home centuries after a fatal pistol duel with a former friend, Ralph Isaacs III. The dispute is believed to have stemmed from jealousy over Ladd’s social ascent — or possibly a woman. Their quarrels escalated until Isaacs challenged Ladd to defend his honor in a pistol duel. The encounter proved deadly, but the marker said, “It is alleged his ghost still inhabits the home.” 17 Chalmers Known as “The Pink House,” 17 Chalmers St. is one of the few remaining intact buildings of the old walled city of Charles Towne. It is rumored that spirits of former patrons and workers from its time as a tavern and brothel still linger. Some even believe that the house is haunted by famed female pirate Anne Bonny, who is said to have lived on the third floor and conducted business there. Megan Fernandes in Charleston contributed to this report.
