The Hauntings of Oglethorpe Square

Posted: 07.31.2024 | Updated: 07.31.2024

Oglethorpe Square, laid out in 1742 and originally called Upper New Square, stands as a historical testament to Savannah’s deep and often unsettling past. Renamed in honor of General James Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia, the square holds more than just the echoes of colonial ambition—it harbors the restless spirits of a city that has seen disease, death, and decay. 

Why is Oglethorpe Square haunted?

 The square is home to a monument dedicated to Moravian missionaries who settled in Savannah between 1735 and 1740. These early settlers arrived in Georgia hoping to make a fresh start in a new land. What they found, however, was a harsh environment filled with disease-carrying mosquitoes, pirates lurking along the coast, and marshlands teeming with dangerous wildlife. Savannah, intended to be a refuge for debtors and a beacon of hope, quickly became a land of hardship and survival.Read more to uncover the harsh realities of early life and Savannah, and to see some of the city's most cursed locations in person, book a ghost tour with Savannah Terrors! 

The Shadow of Yellow Fever

 By the 19th century, Savannah was no stranger to suffering. The city was ravaged by three separate Yellow Fever epidemics, which decimated its population and left behind a lingering sense of dread. While most who contracted Yellow Fever would recover with few lasting effects, about one in ten suffered a toxic secondary phase. This cruel twist saw their initial symptoms improve, only for them to be stricken with horrifying new afflictions—bleeding from the mouth and eyes and their skin turning a sickly yellow as the disease ravaged their liver.The relentless spread of Yellow Fever brought Savannah to its knees. The death toll was so high that the city constructed a series of underground tunnels to transport the deceased, sparing the living from the ghastly sight of their dead neighbors being carted through the streets. But as the bodies continued to pile up, even the tunnels became overwhelmed, and in a grim turn of events, the dead were buried directly within these underground passages.It is here, beneath Oglethorpe Square, that many believe the souls of Yellow Fever victims still wander, trapped in a perpetual state of delirium and suffering. The square, with its serene pathways and tranquil fountain, belies the darker truth that lingers just below its surface. Those who walk its grounds at night may find themselves confronted by these restless spirits, forever caught between life and death.

A Haunting Encounter

 One such encounter was experienced by Benjamin Lowe, a visitor from Elk Grove, California. Ben was in Savannah visiting family and, during an evening out, found himself walking through Oglethorpe Square on the way to the riverfront. As his family moved ahead, Ben lingered by the square’s fountain, drawn to its quiet beauty in the dim light. He leaned over the edge, expecting to see his own reflection in the dark water. Instead, he was met with the ghastly image of an old woman, her skin yellowed and withered, with trails of bloody tears streaking her face.Startled, Ben stumbled backward, only to feel a cold, iron grip seize his wrist. Before him stood the same old woman, now terrifyingly real and inches from his face. Her mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, a thick, black substance oozed from her mouth, a gritty morass that dripped onto the ground.Overcome with terror, Ben bolted the moment her grip loosened, fleeing towards the sound of his family calling out for him. They found him trembling and pale, standing under the harsh glare of a streetlight. It took some time to calm him down, but once he did, Ben recounted his harrowing experience.His cousin, familiar with Savannah’s haunted history, recognized the symptoms of Yellow Fever in Ben’s description of the old woman. The story sent chills down his spine, and while it did little to comfort Ben, it did prompt his cousin to avoid Oglethorpe Square at night from then on. 

The Lingering Spirits of Savannah

 Oglethorpe Square, like many of Savannah’s historic locations, carries the weight of the city’s past. The spectral figures that haunt its grounds serve as a reminder of the suffering endured by those who lived—and died—during the Yellow Fever epidemics. The disease, with its brutal symptoms and high mortality rate, left a permanent scar on the city’s psyche, and its victims seem to linger still, unable to find peace.Walking through the squares of Savannah at night can feel like stepping into another time, where the boundary between the living and the dead is thin. The silent footsteps that follow you, the feeling of being watched from the shadows, and the chill that runs down your spine as you pass by the fountains and darkened woods—these are all part of the city’s haunted legacy.For those brave enough to explore Oglethorpe Square after dark, a word of caution: be mindful of your surroundings. The square’s beauty during the day can be deceiving, masking the darkness that descends with the setting sun. The spirits that wander here are not malevolent, but they are lost, trapped in a state of confusion and despair. Their presence is a testament to Savannah’s turbulent history, a reminder of the city’s struggle with disease and death. 

Haunted Savannah

 The decay that once plagued Savannah may have been conquered by time, but the memories of those who suffered remain etched in its squares and streets. Oglethorpe Square is a place where the past is always present and where the line between the living and the dead is blurred. Those who venture here at night may find themselves face to face with the ghosts of Savannah’s past—silent witnesses to the city’s haunted history. Sources:www.visit-historic-savannah.com/oglethorpesquare.html.Click here for more history about Oglethorpe Square!Click here for more details on the squares of Savannah!Georgia Trust