Category Archives: Ghostly Stories

03/7/16

Spirits in the Landscape – A Haunted Photography Workshop

Interspaced across the rolling hills of Historic Riverside Cemetery in Macon GA, these ghostly characters from the October Spirit Stroll were all set to pose for us and tell us some of their stories of times past. With 11 reenactors we had to think fast and keep moving… holding our PHOTOGRAPHIC GOAL in mind: To capture the likeness of each person IN CHARACTER, while also controlling our IN FRAME COMPOSITION to add VISUAL INTEREST and EMOTIONAL TENSION.

We will be doing this workshop again THIS YEAR, and in addition to People, we will also be photographing Industrial Landscapes, Macon’s Amazing Architecture, and having lunch at my favorite local restaurant.

For information or to SIGN UP and join us on this day-long workshop in Picturesque Macon, GA go to thethirdeyephoto.com  or CONTACT ROBIN

Haunted Photography Workshop

Brother and Sister, Hermione (1873 – 1949) and Buddie Ross

The Ross siblings were no strangers to cemeteries. Their grandfather was Simri Rose, the man who designed Rose Hill Cemetery in the 1800s. As children, Hermione and Buddie left their Macon home near Mount De Sales to run a hotel on Cumberland Island with their family.

 

Haunted Photography Workshop

Deputy Sheriff Harry “Tubby” Green (1896-1925)

Tubby was a moonshine bootlegger that later became a sheriff’s deputy. Tubby once recognized a rumrunner from his former shine days and could tell his car was loaded with hooch. A chase through downtown Macon ended with a fatal gunshot to Tubby.

 

Spirits in the Landscape - from our Haunted Photography Workshop in Macon GA

Leila Gerdine Burke (1879-1965)

As a young kindergarten teacher in Macon, Georgia, Leila Burke found herself in San Francisco boarding a ship to China. She was setting out as the bride of William Burke, a widowed Methodist preacher who was a missionary in Shanghai.

 

Spirits in the Landscape Haunted Photography workshop in Macon GA

William Frederick Black (1911-1940)

William was a star athlete in high school and later became one of the first ever Georgia State Troopers. The Georgia State Patrol was founded in 1935. While on duty he was shot by Charles Clinton Coates, Jr., making him the first patrolman killed on duty.

 

Haunted Photo Workshop, Don't Mess With Mama

Sarah Bull Park (1839-1895)

Sarah Bull Park belonged to a group of women that learned to defend their homes and property during the Civil War. They named themselves the Nancy Harts in honor of Georgia’s Revolutionary War heroine who singled handedly defended her home against a group of invading British Soldiers.

 

Haunted Photography Workshop

Parks Lee (1873-1957) and Maude Hay (1877-1962)

The Hays are well known for living in Macon’s National Historic Landmark Johnston-Felton-Hay House, considered the Palace of the South. Mr. Hay founded Banker’s Health and Life Insurance and, in 1941, built the company’s new headquarters – the city’s first skyscraper – at the corner of First and Cherry Streets.

 

Haunted Photography Workshop

Twiggs Lyndon (1942-1979)

Twiggs was a very well-known Maconite who was the road manager for many musicians, including Little Richard and most famously for the Allman Brothers Band in their heyday. His unexpected exit involved a parachuting accident while on the road with the band the Dixie Dregs.

 

Haunted Photography Workshop

William Craft (1824-1900) & Ellen Craft (1826-1891)

Ellen Craft, a light skinned slave, dressed in disguise as a man and pretended to be her husband’s owner to escape to freedom. She and William fled Macon by train, eventually making their way to England, only later to return to Georgia after slavery was abolished.

 

The timeworn and moody effects of these images were designed and composed in camera then slightly saturated to have a hand-colored feel. A big THANK YOU to Historic Riverside Cemetery and the Reenactors for their beautiful, sincere and heartfelt portrayal of these real characters from Macon’s rich history.

 

Want more info on our workshops? Sign up for email alerts at www.thethirdeyephoto.com

 

Text and Images ©2015 Robin Davis

The Characters History and Descriptions,  courtesy of Riverside Cemetery & Conservancy

10/13/15

Spirits of Macon GA

During our last spooky photoshoot with The Third Eye Photo Adventures and Workshops, we were visited by 6 local spirits among the gravestones of Riverside Cemetery… the apparitions of some of Macon’s most notable and notorious spirits were roaming the grounds as twilight approached and we were fortunate to capture some images and hear their tales.

Riverside Cemetery Reenactor portrays Anjette Lyles, Macon GA

Anjette Lyles, played by actress Angelia Hoomes, was a well known Macon restauranteur and notorious poisoner rumored to practice voodoo, but everyone ate her fried chicken anyway because it was so good! Although convicted for the fatal poisoning of 4 family members for their insurance money and sentenced for execution, it was not a proper fate for Southern ladies of the 1950’s, so she was deemed to be insane and institutionalized in Milledgeville’s Central State Hospital… where she worked as the cook.

Chester Burge played by Phil Comer at Riverside Cemetery Macon Georgia

Accused murderer Chester Burge, was believed to be behind his wife’s strangulation, even though he was recovering in the hospital at the time. Although wealthy and descended from an elite family, he was reviled by society for his shady business dealings and depraved personal life. Chester’s twisted story is brought vividly back to life by actor Phil Comer, who will also be appearing in an upcoming film as a commentator about this bizarre tale.

Here are more images from the 2015 Spring Spirit Stroll at Riverside Cemetery in Macon, Georgia:

Nun in Cemetery Macon Georgia

Sister Mary Edward, nun and principal of Catholic Schools in Macon, appears by the Sisters of Mercy Cross.

Rose Hill Cemetery, Macon, GA

The young Ella Lee DeHaven, reads love letters from her future Yankee husband whom she met as he marched through Georgia with Sherman. He later came back to live in Macon, where they were married.

Reenactors at Riverside Cemetery Macon, GA

Anne Royall, a journalist from Washington DC visited Macon in the 1830s where she met and interviewed Solomon Humphries, also known as “Free Sol,” a former slave who became a prosperous local businessman.

Special thanks to these reenactors who made pages from Macon’s history come vividly to life for us!

All photos and text ©2015 Robin Davis

01/21/14

The Haunted Settee

This sofa is not the actual piece of furniture that I am telling you about, but one that I saw on an unpaved part of the Beltline. It reminded me of a story that I was told almost 20 years ago, and never forgot.

My friend Anyes received a call from her friend, who was moving into an apartment in a 1920s era building in Virginia Highlands. She was repainting before she moved in, and the rooms were all empty, except for this one piece of furniture. It was an old Victorian fainting couch that had curiously been left behind. Although very pretty, in amazing condition and of a style she liked, she did not feel comfortable seeing the way it sat in the front room. It had an odd presence, as if it were watching her, but she thought it could perhaps be moved somewhere else and repositioned in another place.

She was working very late, painting the bathroom in the back, and as she was finishing up and preparing to leave, she felt an overwhelming sensation of dread wash over her. It was coming from the front room. There were no working light bulbs where the small sofa sat, backlit by the streetlights outside, as if ominously blocking her path with some type of malevolent energy. She was in a confused panic and wanted to leave, but the only exit path led by the settee. This is crazy she thought, after a long period of feeling trapped, and summoning all her courage, rushed toward the exit, but as she passed by the sofa a tangible wave of vile aura enwrapped her, covering her in chill bumps and making her neck hairs raise. Once she was out and driving away, the sensation started to clear, but it took some time for her heart to stop pounding.

So Anyes went the next day to help, and totally understood why her friend was so apprehensive about returning to the apartment that morning. She described the sofa as exuding a thick and nasty forcefield that led her to wonder if perhaps this lovely antique could contain a murder weapon hidden within or even body parts! Bracing themselves, they got the settee down the stairs, leaving it out by the curb with a sign that read “FREE”. Once removed, the apartment took on a relaxed and peaceful air. After putting together the breakfast Anyes had brought, they sat together to dine on the little balcony, overlooking the street. As cars would pass by, they would slow down, seeing the lovely antique offered there for the taking, and several did stop. A couple got out, and each grabbed a side lifting it up, but then quickly dropped it, got into their car and hurried away. Continuing to sip coffee from their perch, the two girls watched this pattern repeat all morning. Then a white truck arrived, and two big guys got out, easily swinging it up onto the truck bed. But then they both just stood there, stunned and looking at it. After a quick glance at each other with raised eyebrows, they hurriedly drug it back off, replaced it at the curb, and left. But then about 10 minutes later, the same truck returned, the two men hurriedly got out, grabbed and loaded it, and quickly sped off again. The haunted settee was never seen again.