The Hamilton Turner Mansion at 330 Abercorn Street, Savannah

In 1873 Samuel Pugh Hamilton built this Second Empire mansion for his family in downtown Savannah, Georgia. He was informally known as The Lord of Lafayette Square. In 1882 he opened “Hamilton’s Fine Watches and Jewelry” on the corner of Congress, Whitaker & St. Julian street. Later he sold his business to get a full time job at the Brush Electric Light & Power Company. Because of his work at the Brush Power Company the Hamilton Mansion was the first residence in Savannah with electricity. Electric lights were installed in the Salon in 1883. Hamilton later became President of the Power Company.

After his first wife passed he married his deceased brother’s widow Sarah Virginia Stillings on June 10th 1866. The great Savannah fire of 1898 nearly destroyed the mansion but the Connecticut lime stone roof is credited with saving the home. In 1915 Dr. Francis Turner purchased the ‘Grand Victorian Lady’ as it was known locally, from the Hamilton estate and lived here with his family until 1926. Since then, the mansion has had several owners and was written about in the book ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’. Apparently, the property manager, John Odum was said to throw some outrageous parties that made the Mansion notorious in Savannah.

If the Hamilton House seems familiar; like you might have seen it before, it’s because Walt Disney was said to have used the Hamilton home for inspiration for the infamous Haunted Mansion, (based off the first designs of Harper Goff in the 1950’s.) How cool is that? Growing up in Florida I’ve been going to Disney since I was small and I’ve always been mesmerized by the Haunted Mansion. I remember holding my Dad’s hand so tight standing in the large foyer waiting to enter the ride. Does this house give you Haunted Mansion Vibes? I’d love to know.