Mercer Williams House – Haunted Mansion in Savannah, Georgia

The Mercer Williams House is where Southern Gothic elegance meets true crime and supernatural mystery, a stunning mansion that gained worldwide infamy through the book and film “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Built in the 1860s, this Italianate masterpiece has been the site of not one but two mysterious deaths in the same room under strikingly similar circumstances, leading many to believe the house itself is cursed or that vengeful spirits manipulate the living toward violence within its ornate walls.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1860s (construction began in 1860, completed after the Civil War)

Original Purpose: Private residence designed by architect John S. Norris for General Hugh W. Mercer, great-grandfather of songwriter Johnny Mercer

Significant Events: The house gained international notoriety when antiques dealer Jim Williams shot and killed his assistant Danny Hansford in the study in 1981, claiming self-defense in a case that sparked four murder trials and endless speculation. Even more disturbing, Williams himself died in the same room, in the same spot, and at the same time of night as Hansford just eight years later in 1990—this eerie coincidence has fueled decades of ghost stories and theories about supernatural revenge or a cursed location within the mansion.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The study where both deaths occurred is the epicenter of paranormal activity, with visitors reporting overwhelming feelings of dread, sudden temperature drops, and the sensation of being watched by hostile, invisible eyes. Disembodied voices have been heard throughout the house, including what sounds like two men arguing violently, followed by a gunshot that echoes through empty rooms despite no physical source.

Shadowy figures are frequently seen moving past windows from the street outside, even when the house is closed and unoccupied, and some witnesses report seeing a young man’s face peering out from the study window looking terrified or angry. Objects move on their own throughout the mansion, doors slam shut with tremendous force despite no drafts, and some visitors report feeling invisible hands pushing or grabbing them, particularly near the spot where the shootings occurred.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Danny Hansford’s spirit is believed to haunt the study and surrounding rooms, his angry presence felt by psychics and sensitive visitors who describe him as confused, violent, and unable to accept his death. Some witnesses claim to see a young man with dark hair standing in the study before he vanishes, and others report hearing his voice saying “it wasn’t supposed to be like this” or cursing in rage.

Jim Williams’s ghost has also been reported, with some believing he’s trapped in an eternal confrontation with Hansford’s spirit, doomed to relive that fatal night forever. A few visitors claim to have seen both apparitions simultaneously in the study, facing each other as if frozen in the moment before the shooting, creating a chilling tableau that disappears when observers blink or look away.

The ghost of a Civil War-era woman in period dress has been spotted on the grand staircase and in the parlor, possibly a member of the Mercer family or someone connected to the house’s early history. Staff and visitors report hearing piano music playing when no one is at the instrument, and the overwhelming scent of cigar smoke fills certain rooms despite the house being smoke-free for decades.

Local psychics and paranormal investigators claim the house sits on spiritually active ground and that Jim Williams’s interest in voodoo and the occult may have opened doorways to darker entities. Some believe Hansford’s spirit was manipulated by these forces or that Williams himself cursed the location through dabbling in dark practices, creating a supernatural trap that continues to hold both men’s souls.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The study on the first floor, where both Danny Hansford and Jim Williams died, is undeniably the most intensely haunted location in the mansion—many visitors refuse to enter this room after feeling overwhelming negative energy. Tour guides report that their electronic devices consistently malfunction in this specific room, cameras refuse to work properly, and some people experience sudden nausea, dizziness, or panic attacks that vanish the moment they step back into the hallway.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Limited—the house operates as a private museum with guided tours available

Entry Fee: Approximately $12.50-$20 for guided tours (prices subject to change)

Tour Availability: The Mercer Williams House Museum offers guided tours Monday through Saturday, with multiple tour times throughout the day; reservations are recommended as tours fill quickly, especially during peak tourist season. Tours last approximately 30-40 minutes and cover both the history and the infamous events.

Photography Allowed? Limited—photography is typically not allowed inside the house during tours, though policies may vary

Visiting Hours: Tours generally run from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday-Saturday; closed Sundays and major holidays (confirm current hours before visiting)

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity is reported year-round, though many investigators believe late evening and early morning hours would yield the most encounters—unfortunately, overnight investigations are not offered as this remains a private residence. October through December seems to bring increased reports of supernatural activity, and some claim that activity peaks around December 22nd, the anniversary of Danny Hansford’s death in 1981.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Tour guides have shared numerous experiences over the years, including one who reported in 2016 that she watched a chair in the study slide across the floor several inches while giving a tour, with all twelve guests witnessing the movement. A visitor in 2019 captured a photograph in the study that shows a strange mist or fog in one corner that wasn’t visible to the naked eye and appears to have a vaguely human shape.

A psychic medium who visited in 2015 claimed she made contact with Danny Hansford’s spirit and that he’s angry, confused, and insists he was murdered rather than shot in self-defense as Williams claimed. Former caretakers have reported hearing footsteps on the upper floors when the house is empty, doors opening and closing on their own, and the distinct sound of furniture being dragged across floors despite everything remaining in place.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

While extensive private investigations haven’t been publicly documented due to the house’s status as a private residence and museum, several paranormal researchers have visited during tours and reported significant EMF spikes in the study. Psychic investigators who’ve been granted special access report sensing two distinct male presences engaged in an eternal argument, with one energy being aggressive and violent while the other is defensive and frightened.

Some investigators who’ve used audio recording equipment during regular tours have captured EVPs in the study, including what sounds like a young man’s voice saying “he killed me” and an older male voice responding “you gave me no choice.” The temperature in the study reportedly drops suddenly and dramatically even on hot summer days, a classic sign of spirit manifestation and energy manipulation.

Local Legends & Myths

The most prevalent legend suggests that Jim Williams’s death in the exact same location as Danny Hansford, at precisely the same time of night, was supernatural revenge—some believe Hansford’s spirit literally pulled Williams’s soul from his body eight years to the day after his own death. This “curse of the study” has become one of Savannah’s most chilling ghost stories, with many believing the room itself is haunted by the violence it witnessed and demands continued tragedy.

Another legend claims that Williams’s involvement with voodoo practitioners and alleged occult activities in the years following the shooting were attempts to protect himself from Hansford’s vengeful spirit, but these efforts ultimately failed. Some locals whisper that Williams made a deal with dark forces to win his legal battles and avoid prison, but the price was his own life, collected in the same manner and location as his victim’s.

Stories persist that anyone who spends the night in the study will experience terrifying nightmares or violent encounters with unseen entities, and some believe the room is cursed to claim more victims in the future. A particularly eerie legend suggests that if you stand in the exact spot where both men died at precisely 2:00 AM (the approximate time of Hansford’s death), you can hear the echo of the fatal gunshot and feel the presence of both spirits simultaneously.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The Mercer Williams House remains a private residence despite operating as a museum, and visitors must stay with their tour groups and follow all guidelines strictly. Photography restrictions are in place to protect the privacy of the family and the integrity of the collection, and visitors who become disruptive or disrespectful are asked to leave.

Some visitors have reported feeling physically ill in the study or experiencing panic attacks, and tour guides are trained to assist anyone who needs to step outside for fresh air. The house requests that visitors with known sensitivity to paranormal activity or those who become easily distressed consider whether they’re comfortable learning about violent deaths and potentially disturbing supernatural claims before booking a tour.