The Forsyth Park Inn

I feel that this heartbreaking story deserves so much more recognition than it often gets. Even among Savannians, it is not well known, and though the building now stands as a successful, quaint B&B around the famed Forsyth Park, the tragedy held within the walls has been muffled through the generations. Let's bring it back to light.
You would be amazed at the events that transpired in the Forsyth Park Inn. Looking up at the Queen Anne Victorian styled, yellow structure, it would seem the epitome of the beautiful south, surrounded by Like Oaks, with its own little garden/courtyard. It's one of those rare homes that has stood the test of time, and only seems to become lovelier and grander with age. It's a gem.
However, perhaps, upon entering the front door, you can sense the sadness of this house's past. In the long hallways and dark rooms, something horrible happened...something that left its indefinite print on the estate.
In 1893, the home was built by the well-reputable Captain Aaron Flint Churchill. Captain Churchill had been a very successful man, captaining his own crew at the age of twenty one, and owning his own steamship line in Savannah. Having hailed from Nova Scotia, Churchill was said to be a very kind employer, having worked his way from bottom to top. He and his wife, Lois, lived in the house, then called "Churchill Mansion", and as happy as they were, they had one unhappy inconvenience: they could not have children.
In compensation, the two ended up adopting Lois' young niece, Lottie. Lottie loved her Aunt Lois and Uncle Aaron fiercely, and the bond between the three of them became a father-mother-daughter relationship. In short, Lottie was happy with her life at the Churchill Mansion. However, that all changed when another girl arrived at the front door.
A second woman was invited to live in the house with Lottie and her family, when the young girl was fourteen. The pale, thin, young woman was introduced to Lottie merely as her Aunt's sister, and nothing more than that. She had been suffering from a long illness, which was why Lottie had not met her, before. Anna and Lottie became inseparable, developing a sisterly relationship that only strengthened Lottie's love for her home. To her, Anna was truly the sister that Lottie had never had. All seemed right...for a little bit, anyways.

One night, while wandering around the expansive house, Lottie happened to peek into a bedroom, and at first glance, thought that she saw her Uncle Aaron and Aunt Lois passionately embracing. It must have been a sweet sight to the young girl, who believed so strongly in her Aunt and Uncle's love, and she stepped forward to greet. As she looked closer into the room, however, she saw something that made her blood turn cold. It was Anna, not Aunt Lois, in her Uncle's arms.
She watched, and saw the heat that ran through them that was more than mere, familial love. Managing not to be be seen or heard, she turned away, leaving the two to continue, blissfully unaware that they had been caught. Lottie hurried back to her room, and closed her door...for the whole night, she lay in her bed, thinking about how her happy, little world was about to come crashing down. Should she tell Aunt Lois? Confront Uncle Aaron? Confront Anna? She didn't know what to do! All she knew was that she couldn't just turn her head and go on as though nothing had happened! She needed to so something! She needed to do something...it must have gotten her thinking about how angry she was at Anna, for coming and ruining everything, and how she just wished that Anna had never come to live with them in the first place.
That must have given her an idea.

The next day bloomed normally enough for everyone else. Aunt Lois and Anna sat in the lovely little courtyard, chatting, when suddenly, Lottie appeared with an impromptu snack. She set the tea down in front of the two ladies who, pleasantly surprised, genially thanked Lottie, who had begun to pour their individual cups. She smiled at the two woman, and then swiftly disappeared inside the house. Anna picked up her own steaming cup, inhaling the fragrant smell, and took a delicate sip. Their conversation continued, normally, only, Aunt Lois noticed that Anna was becoming quieter and quieter. Her sister lifted a palm to her mouth as she coughed, softly at first, but again and again with growing force. Her face was turning a frightening shade of maroon, and Aunt Lois shot up from her seat, knocking over her own teacup in the process. Anna was keeling over, unable to catch a breath, and Aunt Lois could do nothing but helplessly hold her baby sister close as she coughed a final time, before drawing in one, last ragged breath.

From her window, Lottie smiled as she watched Aunt Lois cradle Anna. Oleander was a particularly poisonous plant, and a little went a long way. She had been surprised at how fast it had worked, though that didn't bother her at all. Instead, she thought about life without Anna, with Uncle Aaron and Aunt Lois back in love. The thought made her smile, despite the crime she had just committed, and as Aunt Lois began to scream for help, she was careful to wipe it from her face, and switch it with one of fear and confusion. She hurried downstairs to see what had happened.

The funeral was held a few days later, and Lottie did her best to appear sad in front of all of the guests. Uncle Aaron cried, and Aunt Lois was beside herself. With tears in her eyes, she pulled Lottie to the side at the conclusion of the ceremony, and delivered the news that shook Lottie to the core: Anna had been Lottie's true mother.

She was moved into an institution, where she ended up dying as an adult. Guests still claim to see the girl's ghost, as she is forced to wander her childhood home and relive the painful memories of her biggest mistake.

The house experiences activity both of the residual and intelligent variety. A young woman--presumably Lottie--walks around the courtyard, crying. A figure can be seen standing on the staircase. People's names are called, but seem to have no physical source. However, Lottie does not appear to be a frightening presence: she has been known to be helpful with employees in recovering lost items, and is quick to disappear when spotted. Is she punishing herself for the crime she committed all of those years ago? Is she trying to atone for it? Her family forgave her for what she did, and yet, she cannot seem to find peace, herself.

If you visit, be sure to let Lottie know that she's been forgiven.

The Forsyth Park Inn is located on 102 W Hall Street in Savannah, GA.