THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The historic Taylor-Grady House has produced numerous reports of unexplained activity, including running footsteps, apparitions, mysterious perfume, the sounds and smells of an unseen party and the presence of a young girl in old-fashioned clothing.
Dating to approximately 1844-1845, the Greek Revival Taylor-Grady House is one of Athens' most important historic residences. Over the years, staff and visitors have reported numerous unexplained experiences throughout the property. Accounts collected by Athens-Clarke County include footsteps seeming to run down the stairs, hazy visual phenomena, the sensation of a crowded gathering accompanied by the smell of liquor, an apparition resembling a Confederate soldier, a little girl dressed in old-fashioned clothing, unexplained drafts or breath, an overpowering scent of old-fashioned lilac perfume and a woman dressed in black. In July 2022, Athens-Clarke County Communications worked with Ghosts of Georgia Paranormal Investigations to conduct an overnight investigation of the property and publicly released the resulting program, report, EVP recordings and other material. The investigation does not scientifically establish paranormal activity but makes the Taylor-Grady House one of the better-documented haunted locations in Athens.