Forums · Hampton Lillibridge House
In response to greenfaeriequeen's question... Wow, I could write a book on this one, but will try to keep it to a minimum without leaving out too much of the good stuff. ![[Laughing]](graemlins/lol.gif)
The house you are referring to, once owned by Jim Williams, is the Hampton Lillibridge house. It is the only one known to have had an exorcism. It is over 200 years old and was one of the few 18th century homes to survive the great fire of 1820. It knew numerous owners and stood vacant until the now-famous Savannah antique dealer, Jim Williams, purchased it in 1963. This was at the height of the restoration movement in Savannah. At the time he purchased the house, it was located a few blocks away on East Bryan Street and had a "twin" house next door to it. When moving the other house, it collapsed and killed a workman. That tragedy was considered to be an omen. Later, when working on the foundation of the "H L" house, an old crypt was discovered, half filled with water. It was made of tabby, a mixture of lime and oyster shells, used in building in colonial times. Williams, said the workers reported it was empty, but always regretted not checking it himself. The Hampton Lillibridge house had known its share of violence. When it was being used as a roominghouse, a sailor hung himself from the brass knob of a high brass headboard in an upstairs bedroom. From the time the restoration work began on the home, strange happenings were reported. Workers reported strange noises, voices, footsteps, and feelings of "others" in the house. Some were driven out of the house in fear. Jim Williams is said to have stated that the workers spent more time listening for things than working. Once when several friends were looking through the house, one of them felt as if he stepped into a cold pool of water and threw himself on the floor, because an unseen force was pulling him towards the 30-foot drop of an unfinished chimney shaft. Later, across the street, the same man heard the scream of a woman, and looked to see a dark-haired man standing at a third floor window of what they knew was a vacant house. After Williams moved into the house, he would be awakened by footsteps around his bed, loud crashing noises from the room where there was a pipe organ, and a woman singing. On Dec 7, 1963, an exorcism rite was performed on the house. WIthin 10 days, at least one of the phenomena was back. Jim Williams also consulted with the famous paranormal investigator, Hans Holtzer, and Holtzer refers to the Hampton Lillibridge haunting in one of his books, "The Phantoms of Dixie." Williams later sold the HL house and moved into an 1861 mansion, The Mercer House. That house is quiet. The present day owners of the HL house, (a doctor, his wife and children), feel that the presence has accepted them. There have been reports by babysitters, guests, and others of strange happenings. The lady of the house does admit feeling a female presence, has heard music upstairs, and lights coming back on after being turned off. I have a picture I took of the outside of the home, if you want to see it. Look at the brick wall at the right side of the picture, which was moved along with the house. It also encloses a garden in the back. Notice the top of the wall, it is studded with old glass shards on top of the handmade brick, originally designed to discourage prowlers.
Hampton Lillibridge House[/URL]
[ December 05, 2003, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: SavannahSilkie ]
The house you are referring to, once owned by Jim Williams, is the Hampton Lillibridge house. It is the only one known to have had an exorcism. It is over 200 years old and was one of the few 18th century homes to survive the great fire of 1820. It knew numerous owners and stood vacant until the now-famous Savannah antique dealer, Jim Williams, purchased it in 1963. This was at the height of the restoration movement in Savannah. At the time he purchased the house, it was located a few blocks away on East Bryan Street and had a "twin" house next door to it. When moving the other house, it collapsed and killed a workman. That tragedy was considered to be an omen. Later, when working on the foundation of the "H L" house, an old crypt was discovered, half filled with water. It was made of tabby, a mixture of lime and oyster shells, used in building in colonial times. Williams, said the workers reported it was empty, but always regretted not checking it himself. The Hampton Lillibridge house had known its share of violence. When it was being used as a roominghouse, a sailor hung himself from the brass knob of a high brass headboard in an upstairs bedroom. From the time the restoration work began on the home, strange happenings were reported. Workers reported strange noises, voices, footsteps, and feelings of "others" in the house. Some were driven out of the house in fear. Jim Williams is said to have stated that the workers spent more time listening for things than working. Once when several friends were looking through the house, one of them felt as if he stepped into a cold pool of water and threw himself on the floor, because an unseen force was pulling him towards the 30-foot drop of an unfinished chimney shaft. Later, across the street, the same man heard the scream of a woman, and looked to see a dark-haired man standing at a third floor window of what they knew was a vacant house. After Williams moved into the house, he would be awakened by footsteps around his bed, loud crashing noises from the room where there was a pipe organ, and a woman singing. On Dec 7, 1963, an exorcism rite was performed on the house. WIthin 10 days, at least one of the phenomena was back. Jim Williams also consulted with the famous paranormal investigator, Hans Holtzer, and Holtzer refers to the Hampton Lillibridge haunting in one of his books, "The Phantoms of Dixie." Williams later sold the HL house and moved into an 1861 mansion, The Mercer House. That house is quiet. The present day owners of the HL house, (a doctor, his wife and children), feel that the presence has accepted them. There have been reports by babysitters, guests, and others of strange happenings. The lady of the house does admit feeling a female presence, has heard music upstairs, and lights coming back on after being turned off. I have a picture I took of the outside of the home, if you want to see it. Look at the brick wall at the right side of the picture, which was moved along with the house. It also encloses a garden in the back. Notice the top of the wall, it is studded with old glass shards on top of the handmade brick, originally designed to discourage prowlers. Hampton Lillibridge House[/URL]
[ December 05, 2003, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: SavannahSilkie ]
thanks savannahsilkie for the great tale!!! i had only got a tidbit when we were doing a tour in savannah and had been very curious ever since. i love savannah and hope to visit again real soon, im only up in metro atlanta, im originally from california. i did buy a book while i was up there called "savannah spectres" its a great book. when i was in savannah i was just overwhelmed by the history, and i mean feelings from the past, it was almost overwhelming, psychics run in my family and this was just unbelievable, the atmosphere was heavier then it was in new orleans. i do love savannah and look forward to any other tales you may have and pictures too. thanks so much. michele