Halloween 2011: Ghost of the St. Simons Lighthouse

St. Simons Lighthouse

One of the most popular landmarks of the Golden Isles of the Georgia coast, the historic St. Simons Lighthouse stands on the waterfront and its light still shines out to warn ships of dangerous waters ahead.

Running the lighthouse was a serious and important job and, if the stories told about the historic old tower are true, at least one former keeper remains determined to keep the light shining....long after he passed from this earth.

Frederick Osborne was the keeper of the St. Simons light in 1880. His job was to keep the beacon operating 24-hours per day, seven days a week. He and his assistant, John Stephens, shared quarters in the adjacent lighthouse keeper's house. Osborne lived on the ground floor, while Stephens lived with his wife on the second floor.

Trouble began when Osborne supposedly spoke to Mrs. Stephens in an "inappropriate" manner. An argument broke out and John Stephens got a gun and shot the keeper. Osborne died from his wounds and Stephens was arrested and charged with murder. A jury, however, acquitted him of all charges after hearing the details of the case.
Since that time, however, a mysterious figure that some say is the ghost of Frederick Osborne has lurked in the darkness of the St. Simons Lighthouse.

Sightings of the ghost have been documented as far back as 1908 and some say they continue to this day! To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/gastsimons2.

Ghost of Allatoona Pass - A Georgia Ghost Story

Railroad near Allatoona Pass

With October here and Halloween approaching, I thought you might enjoy an interesting little Georgia ghost story. It developed along the railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga in the latter half of the 19th century.
The story first surfaced in 1872, when Georgia newspapers wrote of a mysterious "rider" on trains making their way between Allatoona Pass (near Cartersville) and the crossing at Tilton (near Dalton). Employees on the Western & Atlantic (W&A) Railroad would look back along the tops of the trains and see a strange man sitting up there:

Deep Cut in the 19th Century

...This individual appears suddenly on top of the freight cars, takes a seat and remains there for many miles, then the unknown brakesman disappears. Conductors, seeing him, have often gone out to collect his fare, but on nearing him, he would vanish like mist. - Atlanta Journal, December 1872.

The spectre was often spotted as the train made its way through the "Deep Cut" at Allatoona Pass. Other times he would disappear when then trains reached that point.  This prompted some speculation that he was the ghost of a soldier killed there during the Civil War.

The Deep Cut Today

The "Deep Cut" was the scene of the Battle of Allatoona Pass, fought for control of the vital railroad choke point on October 5, 1864. Confederate forces under General Samuel G. French tried to storm the Union forts built to protect the pass. The Federal troops could not be dislodged, despite a bloody battle that left more than 1,600 men killed, wounded or captured.  The fight inspired the famed Christian hymn, "Hold the Fort."

The connection between the ghost and Allatoona Pass prompted much speculation that he might have been killed there during the battle.

So common did his appearance on the trains become for a time, that a bold engineer decided to get to the bottom of the mystery. To read what happened in his 19th century "Ghostbusting" effort, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/allatoonaghost.

You can read more about the Battle of Allatoona Pass at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/allatoonapass.

Tallulah Gorge & Waterfalls - Tallulah Falls, Georgia

Tallulah Gorge from the North Rim

One of the most spectacular and historic sites in Georgia is the beautiful Tallulah Gorge in the mountains north of Atlanta.
Up to 1,000 feet deep in places, the gorge is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. Roughly two miles long, it has seven waterfalls at the bottom, several of which can be seen from the overlooks along the rim. Trails lead to the bottom from the visitor center at Tallulah Gorge State Park, the entrance to which is off U.S. 441 in Tallulah Falls.

An interesting footnote is that the trail system is named for Helen Dortch Longstreet, wife of Confederate General James Longstreet. She was a pioneer in the effort to preserve the canyon.

One of the more interesting legends surrounding the canyon is that it is haunted by the ghost of a Cherokee warrior. As early as 1876, stories of the apparition appeared in newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Herald:

Waterfall at Tallulah Gorge

...Suddenly I saw a man rise to his feet with a very serious look, presenting his deadly rifle at me. As I turned I shouted, 'take care of yourself, Joe!' I struck a bee line for the hotel. The sharp report of a pistol followed my good legs. I cried, I felt the ball hit; I felt the blood run down my back; but I had no time to tarry. I met Mr. Young in the yard, and after a hearty laugh he told me it was the ghost of the Indian that Bailey had killed, and I was not the first one that flown from there.

Other legends surround the canyon as well and it has a rich history, both natural and cultural. The area was one of the great resorts of the late 19th century, when trains brought visitors up from Atlanta.

If you would like to learn more about Tallulah Gorge, its waterfalls and its history, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/tallulah.

Ghost of the Springer Opera House - Columbus, Georgia

One of the most unique ghost stories in Georgia is the tale that surrounds the stunning Springer Opera House in Columbus.

Built during the turbulent years of the Reconstruction Era, the Springer has hosted some of the world's top actors and political leaders over the years. Will Rogers once entertained audiences from its stage and William Jennings Bryan and Franklin Delano Roosevelt discussed their dreams for the future of America in the Springer.

But if old Columbus legends are to be believed, one of the theater's most famous guests is still hanging around.

Actor Edwin Booth, the brother of John Wilkes Booth who killed President Abraham Lincoln, came to the Springer to revive his career during the 1870s. With other members of his family, he had gone into voluntary seclusion following the Lincoln assassination. As time passed, however, he decided to try for a "come back" and the Springer was a key stop on that road.

Booth, as the story goes, so loved the Springer and its cheering audiences that he came back after his death to haunt the beautiful old theater. Described as a playful ghost, he supposedly teases female visitors and is said to enjoy causing trouble in the wardrobe area.

To learn more about the Ghost of Springer Opera House, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/springerghost.