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Visitor Publication
THE SPIRIT(S) OF CHARLESTON
In the early 1900s, one humorist said the population of Charleston would double if the city counted residents
that only appeared after dark - ghosts. To say the least, there are quite a number of ghostly happenings in
the city and each has a story.
Charleston ghost stories generally fall into either folk legend or "What the Heck was THAT?" In the legend
category, there's the Gullah story of the Boo Hag, a malevolent spirit that steals the skins of victims. Of
course nobody believes in the Boo Hag, but door and window frames in the Lowcountry are often painted
blue to keep out evil spirits.
In the "What was THAT" category, there have been well documented incidents involving two "permanent"
residents of the Dock Street Theater. Junius Brutus Booth, father of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, has
been seen on dark nights when the theater was empty, apparently unable to pursue afterlife without the
stage. "Nettie", the other ghost, is thought to be a prostitute from the early 1800s. Workers and staff
occasionally encounter eerie happenings late at night, which tends to cut down on excessive overtime.
Charleston buildings often have ghostly histories talked about with the superior smile of disbelief or low tones
of experience. Civil War general P. G. T. Beauregard is supposed to haunt City Hall, returning to watch out for
political corruption. Lights go off and on in empty rooms. Doors open and close on their own. The occasional
guest in a historic inn meets one of Charleston's friendly and courteous residents from one hundred and fifty
years ago. Such episodes make a Charleston visit both memorable and educational, especially if you're a
participant.
Ghost sightings aren't just inside buildings either. People have been known to take pictures in an empty
church graveyard, then discover the figure of an original mourner, previously unseen. If you are out late on a
dark night, you might hear the carriage wheels of unhappy Ruth Lowndes Simmons as she rides back to her
empty home, or see strange blue lights over the old Slave Market. Even the harbor has its share of pirate
ghosts from the eighteenth century.
Will you encounter ghosts in Charleston? Probably not, but it's good to be aware of your surroundings. In
Charleston, you could very well encounter a part of the city's history that moves, if not necessarily breathes.
- by George W. Olney
In the early 1900s, one humorist said the population of Charleston would double if the city counted residents
that only appeared after dark - ghosts. To say the least, there are quite a number of ghostly happenings in
the city and each has a story.
Charleston ghost stories generally fall into either folk legend or "What the Heck was THAT?" In the legend
category, there's the Gullah story of the Boo Hag, a malevolent spirit that steals the skins of victims. Of
course nobody believes in the Boo Hag, but door and window frames in the Lowcountry are often painted
blue to keep out evil spirits.
In the "What was THAT" category, there have been well documented incidents involving two "permanent"
residents of the Dock Street Theater. Junius Brutus Booth, father of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, has
been seen on dark nights when the theater was empty, apparently unable to pursue afterlife without the
stage. "Nettie", the other ghost, is thought to be a prostitute from the early 1800s. Workers and staff
occasionally encounter eerie happenings late at night, which tends to cut down on excessive overtime.
Charleston buildings often have ghostly histories talked about with the superior smile of disbelief or low tones
of experience. Civil War general P. G. T. Beauregard is supposed to haunt City Hall, returning to watch out for
political corruption. Lights go off and on in empty rooms. Doors open and close on their own. The occasional
guest in a historic inn meets one of Charleston's friendly and courteous residents from one hundred and fifty
years ago. Such episodes make a Charleston visit both memorable and educational, especially if you're a
participant.
Ghost sightings aren't just inside buildings either. People have been known to take pictures in an empty
church graveyard, then discover the figure of an original mourner, previously unseen. If you are out late on a
dark night, you might hear the carriage wheels of unhappy Ruth Lowndes Simmons as she rides back to her
empty home, or see strange blue lights over the old Slave Market. Even the harbor has its share of pirate
ghosts from the eighteenth century.
Will you encounter ghosts in Charleston? Probably not, but it's good to be aware of your surroundings. In
Charleston, you could very well encounter a part of the city's history that moves, if not necessarily breathes.
