Root House Museum
145 Denmead Street
Marietta, Georgia
The internet has made mounds of information available for mining. Among these mounds of information are content sites like Examiner.com, Associated Content and Suite101. Sometimes denigrated as “content farms,” these sites provide a platform for writers on all levels and can also provide some financial income as well. Certainly these sites may be mined for information on haunted places and they can produce junk but also occasional gems, like this article from Rhetta Akamatsu.
Akamatsu, the author of the recent Haunted Marietta, has provided a well-researched and informative article on The Root House Museum. Built around 1845, this middle class residence has been moved twice in the name of progress and has finally been preserved by the Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society some two blocks away from its original location. The house is now open as a house museum with costumed docents guiding visitors through the home filled with period furnishings and gardens planted with plants appropriate to the period.
The house was the home to William Root, the town’s first druggist and a merchant. While residing here, Root was a founder of St. James Episcopal Church and served as its Sunday School Superintendant for many years. He also served as the county coroner for two terms. His family did experience a loss in the house, one of his sons died at a young age which was sadly a common occurrence at the time.
According to Akamatsu there has been paranormal activity experienced in the main bedroom of the house. Some have claimed to see the spirit of a woman, quite possibly that of Mrs. Root. Both the article and the book report that Mrs. Root’s spirit has been seen by passersby peering from the bedrooms windows. The book goes on to explain that the room contains an antique rope bed that is sometimes appears to have been slept in when the house is opened in the mornings. The bed, it is noted, is tightened every night before the house is closed. Sleep well, Mrs. Root!
Sources
- Akamatsu, Rhetta. Haunted Marietta. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2009.
- Akamatsu, Rhetta. “The Root House Museum, Marietta, GA.” com. 30 June 2011.
- “The Root House Museum.” Cobb Landmarks and Historical Accessed 1 July 2011.
I just love that! Oh my gosh! Our house used to be on the historic tour and I loved putting on a hoop skirt and greeting folks. As a kid, I was ashamed of living in a big old antebellum mansion and all the creepy antiques, flocked wallpaper and artifacts in display cases, the multi-tiered Waterford crystal chandeliers, and ornate fireplaces. My friends lived in modern 70s split-level homes with chrome furnishings and bean bag chairs. I felt like one of the Munsters. In retrospect, I'm so thankful I grew up that way. I would love to tour this place. It sounds divine.
I grew up like your friends but I had cousins who lived in an old house. There's a marvelous picture of one of my cousins in a hoop skirt and standing in front of a pier mirror. I was always jealous. Perhaps that's why I went into theatre, for the costumes and cool sets.
For some reason, I never saw this until now. Thank you so much for the great article and the praise for my article and book!