The Haunted Pillar of Augusta Georgia
Lydias Assistant April 27th, 2007
At the corner of Broad and Fifth streets stands one of Augusta Georgia’s most famous relics. A humble 10 foot tall piece of concrete Augustans call The Haunted Pillar.
The story of the pillar got its start way back in 1830. That year a new Farmer’s Market was built over what was then called Center Street. The pillar was part of a row of columns that held up the large front Greek portico. And so it stood, until a freak tornado struck downtown Augusta in February of 1878. The entire farmer’s market was destroyed, except for the one remaining column.
Shown above - The Haunted Column
Now tornados are rather rare on the east coast, especially in February. The legend began…Local lore claims that if you happen to touch the pillar, you will be struck dead.
The most commonly heard tale is that a traveling preacher, angry at being prevented from giving a sermon at the market, cursed the building, “A great wind will destroy this place except for one pillar… and whomever tries to remove this remaining pillar will be struck dead!”
Others claim that slaves were sold at the market, and that the slaves were chained to the pillar and whipped. A slave woman cursed all the market, causing it’s destruction, and the stain of that curse remains in the haunted pillar. However, there is no evidence that any slaves were ever sold at the market.
At any rate, most Augustans of the time were glad to see the market gone. The decor had not fit the tastes of the time. Even worse, the building had blocked off what is now Broad Street, causing exasperating traffic jams as horse-drawn buggies slowly made their way past huge freight wagons loaded with produce. As one local newspaper put it, ”It was, at best, an unsightly edifice and marred the grand boulevard upon which it was mistakenly located.”
Strangely enough, the pillar we see today is neither ‘real’ nor is it in the original spot. It was destroyed in 1935 in an automobile incident. The column was rebuilt by local business owners, and a year later was moved to the corner of 5th and Broad street, where it can be seen today.
Friday the 13th, 1958, a cotton bale fell off a passing truck and knocked the pillar over. It was quickly re-erected. No one was injured on the truck or on the construction crew. That we know of, anyway.
- Historical
- Comments(37)
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This is really creepy. I think that the rich history and lore that surrounds the pillar may have been inflamed to unrealistic proportions though. I am amazed however at how something that supposedly brings death with it, was destroyed but then reinstalled. I guess the business owners wanted the pillar there, to get some cash in all the urban legend that accompanies it. Talk about making it some sort of tourist destination. Lol.
Anyway, still very interesting. Hmmm, I wonder when my mother in law will want to pass by Augusta? I’d surely like to have her touch that pillar and see. Lol, kidding of course…
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i live in augusta and have all of my 53 years. there have been different construction projects, all tried to knock the pillar down in some form or the other, to no avail, and to death. so say what you wann’a say, the pillar is cursed. the city has tried having it removed, the people are dead, today, do you understand what i am telling you? if not, then offer your assistance, remove it. you won’t know it, but your family will bury you. i heard from my great grandmother the stories about the slave market and how blacks were beaten and sold on broad streeet.
okay i know this story seems really scary and it is true what happens to people who try to remove it but me and plenty of other i know of have touched and leaned on this pillar and no harm has ever came to any of us so what i’m trying to say is as long as you don’t try to remove it and you respect it nothing will happen to you.
Ok be crazzy and try to move it or do something to it
that gone to damage the pillar and see jest what will
happen to you.
mr neither real or ture we would love to see you go and move the pillar because people has tryed and fail dead
and i dont belive it ever was rebuilt or destroyed to many
people wanted the pillar tooken down in the past and no
one was able to do it.
I was told that there were four pillars and three of them were torn down. When it came to moving this exsiting pillar they could not. It was said that the city tried to bull doz it down and the the operator of that bulldozer fell dead with a hear attack.
It was also said that it was cursed by a slave and they were sold in that area.
I believe this because there is a slave grave yard on Watkins Street which is actually in walking distance of this pillar. The name and address is below:
Cedar Grove Cemetery
(706) 821-1748
120 Watkins St, Augusta, GA
i hope no one touched this pole becauser i heard you can die if you do
ummm im scared to even look at that pole.. but i think the story behind it is tragic but interesting to know…. DONT TOUCCCHHH!!!!
THE STORY IS REALLY SAD. IT IS KIND OF SCARER BUT ALSOFUN TO HEAR
OK I WAS TOLD THT LONG AGO BACK IN SLAVERY DAYS, SOMEONE BURNED DOWN THE BUILDING THE SLAVES WERE STAYING IN AND ONLY A FEW GOT AWAY… MEANING ALOT WERE KILLED, AND THOSE WHO DIED ARE NOW HAUNTING (protecting) THE PILLAR,THAT REMAINED STANDING,TILL THIS DAY!!! IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THOSE WHO TRIED TO KNOCK IT DOWN (because of their safety) HAS BEEN KILLED IN DIFFERENT WAYS…. SO IF I WAS YOU… I WOULDNT DARE TRY TO KNOCK IT DOWN….OR EVEN TOUCH IT…. DUH DUH DUH DUUUHHH
wow Ive lived in augusta georgia all my life and i have never heard of the pillar. we are doing a big essay on an myths and legends and one of the topics was “the haunted pillar (downtown Augusta)’so i mite just do my essay on this
ok well 1st thing is that wen i was 13 i leaned on ti carved it with a pen and chipped it coause i never knew the story…and ya im still alive so im guesing that the whoel “pillar”is full of crap cuz i kno i damaged it and im 35 now
it aint honted cause i touched it
hi jj
Omg >.< people can see me ahahaha!
its someone you all know and love <3
i do loves u
I have lived in Aug all my life(30 yrs) and every year ’round Halloween my family and I go to the Pillar, I and my oldest son have touched it, but with great respect. I would not be dumb enough to go and try to knock it down or damage it in any way….but thats just me.. the rich history of Aug is interesting and I have heard most of the stories…. So touching it should not be a problem , but to go there with malicious intent, could very well prove to be fatal…So all the tough guys out there go ahead …lets see what happens
y’all know whats funny
im at school right now XD
were not supposed to do this XDDDD i feel so silly
I live in George Walton’s Home. My house was the gates into what once was summerville. When they dug up our pool, they did find artifacts from the war. Also there are crypts From the university that just might be under here.
I am not sure about the pillar, but my house& the university across the street has ALOT of history. They soldier they say from the universitie’s cemetary, its true.
Nearly every building on my street is haunted.
wat a crock of shit!!
Interesting, I too would wonder if any one believes the legend, would they rebuild the Pillar. All things are possible. Maybe it is haunted. I do not plan to see. Did touch a few years ago but with respect. Did not push. Ooooooh Maybe they are compelled to rebuild if perchance it was destroyed. i too hear trying to remove it intentional or accidentally results in death
psh ive tried to push it down…ive carved things in it…im still alive
I gave it a big hug and it hugged me back. Apparently it will not harm a true southerner. God save the south and its glorious people.
goosh goit!!!
i also live in augusta and have a project to do about historic place, and used this as one of my places. i went to take pictures of it and was scared to touch it, but one of my friends went and kissed it, the next day she woke up with scratches all down her neck and back. scary huh.
to all of the people who have said they touched it and didnt die, that doesnt prove it isnt haunted, you have to try to move it or knock it over to be killed
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i’ve hugged it, and i seem to be fine. i think it’s only if you try to move it.
Ive took girlfriends to Augusta,my hometown,and I have pictures of all of them leaning on the pillar,There all as beautiful as ever.The story we grew up with is not to try to move it or something will happen to you.know one I knew would ever try to move it,not even on a promise of big bucks to give it a try with a big truck or something to that affect………..If its just a tale its certainly a good one that deserves some credit..
I just moved here and was looking up Augusta Haunts. This is very intresting. Im going to have to take a trip to see the haunted pillar.
I’m in the military and just got stationed here to Ft. Gordon (again). I’ve seen the pillar once before and touched it and got my picture taken with me leaning on it. Plan on taking my wife to go see it. Maybe this time I’ll kick it, but I should probably up my life insurance pollicy first.
Having struck the pillar in 83′ I was a student at T.W. Josey and I’m still alive. As far as the legend goes I’ve also heard that the pillar was part of the slave trade where the slaves were held during auction. So there are different stories to this myth with different endings. You be the judge.