Sorrel Weed House
The city of Savannah is bursting with historic homes dating back hundreds of years. The Sorrel-Weed House is a notably large one designed by American architect Charles B. Cluskey.
This house was constructed on Savannah’s Madison Square between 1835 and 1840, and it was commissioned and built for Francis Sorrel. In 1862, a prominent businessman, Henry D Weed, took ownership of the house.
Designed with Greek Revival and Regency architectural styles, the Sorrel-Weed house boasts over 16,000 square feet. Like most homes built in the 1800’s, the design also included a carriage house. The main house has three above-ground levels, as well as a basement. A notable part of Cluskey’s design is his intent to connect all spaces on the main floor to exterior shaded verandas. A courtyard separates the main house from the carriage house, which housed the resident’s slaves at the time.It is often likened to William Jay’s Owens-Thomas House, and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Jay and Cluskey both made use of dividing foyer spaces with two columns, a similarity that is notable between several historic homes in Savannah.
As with multiple locations in the city, the Sorrel-Weed House has its share of tragedies on the property. The site of present-day Madison Square saw some of the bloodiest battles during the 1779 Siege of Savannah. While this tragedy occurred decades prior to the construction of the square, and the Sorrel-Weed House, it is rumored that the ghosts of those who passed during the siege still lurk around the square.
While the reasoning behind the specifics of the events are often disputed, it is confirmed that the Sorrel-Weed House was the site of several deaths related to Mr. Sorrel himself throughout the years. Francis Sorrel’s first wife, Lucinda died years prior to the construction of the house. Sorrel went on to marry Lucinda’s sister, Matilda, who ultimately jumped to her death from one of the upper level windows in 1859. It is rumored that the reasoning behind her suicide was depression, as well as discovering that Mr. Sorrel was having an affair with one of the slaves, Molly.
These events are the centerpoint to the stories told of the Sorrel-Weed House, and have therefore developed a reputation of extreme paranormal activity for the house. The Sorrel-Weed House is now a key stop for ghost-busting tourists.
Modern pop culture has made use of this architectural and historically well known house. You may recognize it from the opening scenes of the classic movie “Forrest Gump”. Moreover, its proclaimed paranormal activity has led to its feature in TV shows including “If Walls Could Talk,” “Ghost Hunters,” and “Ghost Activities”.
Now a designated State landmark in Georgia, the Sorrel-Weed House hosts plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy. From ghost hunting tours, to architectural history tours, the Sorrel-Weed House is a must see sight in the city. Its close proximity to restaurants, shops, and yet another historic landmark, the Green-Meldrim House make it a great spot for spending the day.
Other Historic Homes in Savannah GA
Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home
Isaiah Davenport Home: Birthplace of Savannah's Preservation Movement
