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| True Georgia Ghost Stories
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Shakespeare Tavern
Atlanta, Georgia
In 1990 The Atlanta Shakespeare Company opened the Shakespeare Tavern. Since the Tavern opened The Atlanta Shakespeare Company has produced over 73 plays, presenting 1,600 plus performances including more than 30 Shakespeare titles and over 18 period classics. In 1999 The Shakespeare Tavern underwent a $1.6 million renovation and expansion, in October, 1999, The Atlanta Shakespeare Company opened the New American Shakespeare Tavern. Despite all the changes to the building, there is one thing remained the same-the ghosts that inhabit it. Many people have seen the ghost of a little boy dressed in clothing from the 1800s in and around the men’s dressing room. Employees, actors and guest alike have claimed to see unexplained apparitions and to have heard strange noises and voices. Strange images and lights appear from nowhere. There have been reports of a female spirit who haunts the ladies’ dressing room often moving things around. The ghost of an old man has been seen on a number of occasions. A shadowy figure has been spotted on the catwalk and when the theatre is known to be empty, a group of voices can be heard as if there was a group of people having a conversation.
Braselton Town Hall
Braselton, Georgia
Incorporated in 1916 In 1876 William Harrison Braselton bought 800 acres of land and built a plantation on it. His eldest son, William Henry, served as the first mayor of Braselton. Descendents of the Braseltons continued to serve on the city council until 2001. In 1887 one of William Braselton's sons, John Oliver, then eight years old, constructed a six-foot-by-six-foot merchandise house in the yard to sell items to the farmhands on the plantation. Eventually, his two brothers joined in his investment, and with their father's encouragement, the miniature store turned into a thriving business along the railroad tracks that ran through the family's property. The store sold groceries, dry goods, notions, shoes, and millinery and clothing. John Oliver, who was dubbed “Little John,” is believed to still inhabit the house. Employees at the Town Hall tell stories of objects being moved around, the sounds of strange knocking and footsteps in the stairwell after hours when the building is closed. They say that in the morning when they return to work, they find desk drawers and cabinet doors opened when they were closed the night before. They believe it is Little John trying to get their attention. There are also reports of people seeing one of the former Braselton matrons in and around the downstairs bathroom.
Springer Opera House
Columbus, Georgia
The Springer Opera House was built by Francis Joseph Springer, an immigrant from Alsace, France who moved to Columbus before the Civil War. He became prosperous in the grocery business but dreamt of building a European style theatre here on the banks of this great Southern waterway. The Springer Opera House opened February 21, 1871 and soon became nationally known as the finest house between Washington and New Orleans. In 1964, the theatre where was slated for demolition but with community support the funds were raised to save the Opera House and after some renovations the building reopened in 1965. The Springer Opera House had many renowned performers including Edwin Booth, the brother of John Wilkes Booth and the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. Although Edwin Booth is now dead, his ghost now haunts the Spring Opera House. Booth has been seen in the lobby, on the stage where he used to perform and even in the box seats. He sits on the balcony and watches the actors perform and also moves props around on the stage. There is the ghost of a little girl that can be heard laughing in one of the dressing rooms. She likes to move the mannequins and clothing around. There have been reports of shadow figures moving around the building. Objects disappear, doors open and close by themselves, and strange voices and music can be heard when the building is empty.
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