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The Haunted Ware-Lyndon House

Given all the vibrant city of Atlanta offers, it would be easy to miss some of the smaller attractions that lie off the beaten path. Yet somehow, the unearthly occupants of the Ware-Lyndon House refuse to let that happen.

Situated in the cultural center of Athens, northeast of Atlanta, resides a property with a remarkable past. While the town of Athens may offer a robust assortment of activities, from live music and performing arts to scintillating cuisine, it also bears a vast history.

The Ware-Lyndon House predates the American Civil War, standing at over 170 years old. Thankfully, the city has maintained its breathtaking exterior, continually investing in expanding its rich history. Perhaps this dedication keeps the property’s resident ghost from disturbing the visitors too often. 

Who haunts the Ware-Lyndon House?

Ghost standing in study
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A particular gentleman appears to roam the Ware-Lyndon House. As to who this ghostly figure is, we can only speculate. Many guests and staff within this antebellum house have sighted a man pacing on the landing, always dressed the same. Some believe this is the house’s second owner, Dr. Lyndon, but others aren’t so sure. 

Journey on to uncover the story surrounding this curious apparition and the rich history of this antebellum estate. Are you prepared to enter into the world of the unknown in person? Book a ghost tour with Atlanta Ghosts!

Haunting Activity: The Doctor Is In

The Ware-Lyndon Historic House dates back to the mid-1800s, with the respected physician Edward Ware erecting the house circa 1850. Its Greek revival architecture with subtle Italianate elements is stunning to behold, and inside it is even more bewitching. 

In 1880, the house found a new owner: pharmacist Edward S. Lyndon. Dr. Lyndon bought the home from Mrs. Ware, relocating his family from Newnan to Athens to reside in what his family would call the Lyndon house

A previous surgeon in battle, unlike many survivors of the Civil War, Lyndon had retained much of his wealth. His family updated the former home of the Wares, adding Victorian features and raising their six children inside. Along with this, Dr. Lyndon acquired a drug store in downtown Athens and owned a foundry and millwork company called the Lyndon Mill. 

The City of Athens obtained the house in 1939 for use as government offices. It was used as the location of the nearby USO during World War II and finally came under the protection of the Recreation Department in 1950.

Restored in 1960, it was in the 70s that the Lyndon House Arts Foundation would be formed to aid in maintaining and running the Lyndon House Art Center. Now considered a Historic Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Ware-Lyndon House operates as a museum with an adjoining art gallery and community arts center.

Today, the property remains the sole standing house in Lickskillet — a previously much-in-vogue neighborhood in the 19th century. Its richly restored interior has been furnished with period decor and other artifacts fitting to the historic home. 

Yet lavish furnishings aren’t the only things residing in this property. What else lurks inside this charming estate?

The Man in Black

Ghost in a Victorian hallway
Copyright US Ghost Adventures

While the phantom figure seen around the Ware-Lyndon House doesn’t appear nefarious, his presence is nonetheless unnerving. The reoccurring figure is repeatedly seen in the same location in this timeworn residence and does not often deviate from his routine.

A book of local haunts titled Ghosts of Athens: History and Haunting of Athens, GA, by Tracy Adkins, has rounded up many of the unsettling stories flitting around the streets of Athens. Of the Ware-Lyndon House, she speaks of numerous people seeing a man pacing about, glancing at his pocket watch. 

This figure is well-known to those of the Ware-Lyndon House, being seen by staff and visitors alike. While some have seen a tall figure dressed in a black cloak, most have simply spied a well-dressed figure pacing on the landing.

This landing, placed halfway between two stairwells that lead to the second floor, is a place of frequent ghostly sightings. The mysterious man’s apparel is always the same: a black vest with black pants and a white shirt. Some observers have noticed him pacing nervously. Others report that he walks back and forth without agitation. 

While it may be hard to believe ghost stories of outlandish entities slamming doors and blowing open curtains, the specter of the Ware-Lyndon House is relatively mundane. This makes his presence all the more believable. 

Why does this spectral stroller eternally walk the landing? A few guesses have been proposed. 

The Identity of Phantom Pacer

Many have speculated about the identity of this ghostly walker ambling about the Ware-Lyndon House. Most agree it could be one of two men: Edward Lyndon or Lonnie Spaulding. 

Edward Lyndon served in the American Civil War as a surgeon, where one of his tasks was performing amputations on wounded combatants. This burden left him with much unease even after the battle ended, and he underwent a breakdown after the war. 

He was known to be afflicted with insomnia and turned his attention to becoming a pharmacist rather than a physician. Observers of this eternal pacer theorize that the former Dr. Lyndon is experiencing an episode — perhaps reliving past traumas from the war as he anxiously paces the landing. 

Still, others believe the ghost might be that of the unlucky Lonnie Spaulding. Lonnie stayed at the Ware-Lyndon House in 1895. Hailing from coastal Georgia, the very pregnant Mrs. Spaulding had decided to come up on the train in her late stage of pregnancy. 

Her trip was marked by discomfort, and she soon went into labor upon her arrival in Athens. Lonnie had the unfortunate luck of being in town for business. After receiving the news of his wife’s condition, he rushed home.

In one of those tragic twists of fate, his haste likely led to his demise. Hurrying into the street, he was struck by a horse-drawn cart, with the horse’s hoof landing fatally on his skull. Local Athens historian Jeff Clarke believes this is who haunts the Ware-Lyndon House, lingering in the afterlife, hovering in wait for the child he would never meet. 

Could Lonnie’s spirit have made it home that day without his body? Perhaps his specter still paces the hallways, just as an anxious father-to-be might do while awaiting the birth of a child. 

Haunted Atlanta

The history of the Ware-Lyndon House remains constantly in flux. While the historic residence-turned-museum presents a detailed collection relating to the two doctors who lived there, historians are aware this does not encapsulate the full story of the property. Since 2019, a more comprehensive experience has attempted to include the stories of the enslaved plantation families and domestic workers involved with the site. 

What new mysteries will this new research uncover? Only time will tell. In the meantime, you’ll have to visit this location and absorb this fascinating home’s enigmatic ambiance. 

To immerse yourself in more stories of the spectral and spooky, check out our blog. To take the next step and venture into the world of the mysterious and uncanny, book a ghost tour with Atlanta Ghosts! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Georgia hauntings.

Sources:

https://www.visitathensga.com/blog/post/haunted-athens-a-guide-to-athens-spookiest-destinations

https://www.accgov.com/2779/Ware-Lyndon-Historic-House

https://athenshistorical.org/life-at-the-lyndon-house

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=199959

https://www.redandblack.com/culture/ghosts-of-the-classic-city-who-is-the-ghost-inside-the-lyndon-house/article_11e30f9a-ec98-11e9-b3f4-5ba195d8682f.html
https://www.visitathensga.com/things-to-do/black-owned/the-african-american-heritage-pathway/

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