The Marshall House: Blending Savannah's Past, Present, and Paranormal, Flood waters receding & Collector glasses at McDonalds

Good morning, Savannah!

In today’s newsletter:

• My rewrite of The Marshall House essay from years ago…👻👻

• Roads reopened Tuesday as the flood waters continued to recede 🛣️

• McDonald's new Collector's Meals are in Savannah… essential!😆

Let’s get to it.
-Jay Paszamant

The Marshall House: Blending Savannah's Past, Present, and Paranormal

The Marshall House, standing proudly in the heart of Savannah, Georgia, is more than just a hotel; it's a living piece of history that spans over 170 years. This essay explores the rich tapestry of historical and paranormal stories that make the Marshall House a unique landmark in Savannah's cultural landscape.

Historical Significance

Opened in 1851 by Mary Magdalene Marshall, the Marshall House is one of Savannah's oldest hotels. The land it stands on was inherited from Marshall's father, Gabriel Leaver, a French cabinetmaker whose legacy is intertwined with the hotel's beginnings.

The Marshall House's history is deeply connected to some of the most turbulent times in American history. During the Civil War, Union troops commandeered the hotel and repurposed it as a hospital, bearing witness to the conflict's brutality. This wartime role was reprised during two devastating yellow fever epidemics in the 19th century, further cementing the hotel's place in Savannah's medical history.

The hotel's historical significance was dramatically underscored during extensive renovations in the late 1990s. Workers made a grim discovery in the area that once served as the hospital's surgery room: human remains, believed to be amputated limbs of Civil War soldiers. This finding provided tangible evidence of the hotel's wartime past and added a layer of macabre intrigue to its already storied history.

Architectural Heritage

Despite numerous renovations over the years, including a significant restoration that saw the hotel reopen in 1999, the Marshall House has retained much of its original charm. Visitors can still admire the beautiful brick walls that have stood for over a century and a half, climb the glamorous staircase that has borne the footsteps of countless guests, and even soak in claw-foot baths dating back to 1880.

These architectural features serve as a physical link to the past, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the ambiance of 19th-century Savannah. Preserving these elements speaks to the careful stewardship of the hotel's historical integrity.

Paranormal Reputation

Step into the Marshall House, and you may find yourself in a world where the past refuses to stay silent. As night falls over Savannah, the hotel's corridors come alive with more than just the footsteps of its living guests. Children's laughter echoes through empty hallways while the clack-clack-clack of an old typewriter emanates from the former room of Joel Chandler Harris as if the famous author's spirit is still hard at work on his next story. But it's not just sounds that defy explanation – guests have reported seeing a dapper gentleman eternally reading by a window and a lady in white drifting through solid walls.

The paranormal activity at Marshall House isn't confined to mere sightings and sounds. In Room 306, guests have been so unnerved by unexplained phenomena that some have fled in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, those brave enough to stay in Room 414 might witness bathroom doors closing of their own accord or hear phantom footsteps circling their bed in the dead of night. Even the hotel's electronics seem to have a mind of their own, with faucets turning on and off at will and toilets overflowing without explanation. Perhaps most chilling are the reports of a ghostly cat and the occasional whiff of burning flesh – grim reminders of the building's history as a Civil War hospital. At the Marshall House, every creak, shadow, and unexplained scent could be a brushstroke in a centuries-old portrait of the paranormal.

_{LOCAL WEATHER}

Today - A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. 🌥️ Partly sunny, 🌡️ with a high near 88. 🍃🍃 North wind 6 to 10 mph.

Tonight - A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 pm.
☁️ Partly cloudy, 🌡️with a low of around 74. 🍃🍃 Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

THE DIGEST

LOCAL BUSINESS

WHAT’S HAPPENING

EXTRA NUGGETS

✏️️ Want to write an article for us? Send us an email.

Want your business featured in our newsletter? Learn more about advertising opportunities.

We appreciate our readers. If you enjoy today’s newsletter, please share it with a friend, family member, or co-worker.