A Paranormal Mecca: Charleston, SC

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A Paranormal Mecca: Charleston, SC
June 18, 2010
Sharon Brooks
Unexplained Mysteries



Image credit: Katie Armstrong A Paranormal Mecca: Charleston, SC
Posted on Friday, 18 June, 2010 | 3 comments
Columnist: Sharon Brooks

There are some cities that seem to have a dual personality, one that we see in the light of day and one that only comes alive after dark. A city which is haunted by the very people that helped found it, unwilling to relinquish their claim to the land. Charleston, S.C. seems to be one of those cities. Charleston, originally called Charles Towne, was settled in 1670 across the Ashley River from its current location. In 1690 the city moved across the river to the current sight and grew to a population of approximately 1,200 settlers including a large population of French Huguenots. Charleston survived several devastating hurricanes one in 1700 and one in 1713, a joint attack by the French and Spanish in 1706 as well as hostage siege by none other than Blackbeard himself, in 1718. Pirate Stede Bonnet and his crew were hanged and the bodies left on display at the battery for several days, in Charleston that same year. Such a tumultuous past has created quite a haven for the late citizens, and those that would try to take the city, who still feel they have unfinished business in Charleston.

The Battery, named for the defenses built in the event that Fort Sumter fell, is located at the southern end of east Battery Street. The area has a long and some what dark history. As the first state to secede from the union, Charleston was a target of military bombing which left the area devastated. Many residents lost their lives in the fray and the path of destruction cut through the area by the British left Charleston in ruins. Patriot prisoners were held in the dungeon of the Old Exchange Building, both men and women housed together, in the damp space, many never again seeing the light of day.

With all of the stormy history that Charleston has seen, there seems to be ample reason for the city's reputation of being haunting. The fact that Charleston is often referred to as “The Holy City” with her numerous churches and cemeteries lining the city streets, may also play a large factor in her appeal to the nightly specters. One of the first colonies to allow religious tolerance, many denominations called Charleston their home. The ornate churches, with their fenced in cemeteries and elaborately carved headstones, have been the resting place for some of the earliest Charleston residents for several centuries. Walking the quant streets of Charleston with camera in hand, one is sure to find a dark corner where photos often yield orbs and sometimes what appears to be the dark outline of a former resident. The streets offer glimpses of the old cemeteries through wrought iron gates which have enclosed the resting places of some of the earliest settlers of Charleston for centuries.

I found myself drawn to the quiet of the battery. At the end of East Battery St is a quant park called White Points Garden. The silence here is only broken by the rhythmic sound of water as it laps against the barrier. White Points Garden has a somewhat grim history as this is the location of the hanging of gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet and his crew of twenty nine. The area seems to have a slightly odd, oppressive feel to it. Perhaps it is the darkness or the heat, but it gives the impression that someone is watching. Taking my camera I was able to snap some photos of the park without much interruption. A storm just off the coast had sent a gentle rain, which kept anything from appearing on the film except water spots. Using my recorder I asked Captain Bonnet if he was willing to answer some questions, but the only response I received was a distant rumble of thunder. A few more questions yielded only the background noise of the water and the wind. Still, the general feel of the park is one of quiet occupation, perhaps on a night where the sounds of the rain would not interfere, some questions could be answered.

Charleston truly is a captivating city with her painted houses and her scenic bay. A city that requires several visits to appreciate the history that made her what she is today, and allow time to explore all of the haunted sights from the White Points Garden to Fort Sumter.