Sorrel-Weed House | Savannah

The Sorrel-Weed House is one of Savannah, Georgia’s most architecturally significant and historically rich antebellum mansions. Built between 1835 and 1840, it stands as a remarkable example of Greek Revival and Regency architecture, combining classical elegance with Southern grandeur. The house is located at 6 West Harris Street, prominently positioned on Madison Square, a historically important area in Savannah’s carefully planned city grid.

1. Architectural Overview

The Sorrel-Weed House was designed by the distinguished Irish-born architect Charles B. Cluskey, who played a pivotal role in introducing Greek Revival style to the American South. Cluskey was renowned for his sophisticated and well-balanced architectural designs, and the Sorrel-Weed House is often cited as one of his finest works.

Size and Structure: The mansion is expansive, with approximately 16,000 square feet of living space, making it one of the largest private residences built during its era in Savannah.

Exterior Design: The house is constructed with brick that is coated in smooth stucco, painted to resemble stone blocks, a common Greek Revival technique. The symmetrical façade includes tall, imposing columns and wide verandas (porches) that wrap around multiple sides of the house, providing shade and outdoor living space suited to the warm climate.

Columns and Verandas: The grandiose two-story columns at the front are of the Doric order, lending the house an air of classical temple grandeur.

Roof and Windows: The roof is low-pitched and hidden behind a parapet, while tall, evenly spaced windows with decorative lintels allow natural light to flood the interiors.

Interior Features: Inside, the house is centered around a large central hallway that runs from the front to the back, a typical Southern design promoting airflow. The hallway boasts a sweeping curved staircase that is one of the mansion’s most celebrated architectural features.

Oval Library: The home includes an exquisite oval-shaped library room, a distinctive design element that reflects European Regency influences.

Decorative Elements: Other notable details include intricate plasterwork, classical moldings, and a variety of ornamental woodwork throughout the rooms.

2. Historical Context and Owners

Francis Sorrel, the original owner, was a wealthy Savannah merchant of French-Haitian descent. He commissioned the house to symbolize his social and economic standing in the city’s elite planter and merchant class.

The mansion is located on land near Madison Square, which itself holds historical significance as the site of part of the 1779 Siege of Savannah during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1859, the property was sold to Henry D. Weed, a prominent businessman, whose family occupied the house until 1914, giving the house the combined name "Sorrel-Weed."

The home has witnessed many changes over the decades, including periods of decline and restoration, and today it stands as a preserved historic house museum.

3. Cultural and Historical Significance

The Sorrel-Weed House holds importance not only for its architectural merits but also for its connections to key historical figures and events:

It was a social hub for Savannah’s elite in the mid-19th century.

The house was a close friend’s residence of General Robert E. Lee, who visited the home on several occasions, including just before his death in 1870.

It was the boyhood home of Brigadier General Moxley Sorrel, a young Confederate general noted for his leadership during the Civil War.

These connections embed the house deeply in Savannah’s antebellum, Civil War, and post-war histories.

4. Paranormal Reputation

The Sorrel-Weed House is famously regarded as one of Savannah’s most haunted homes, a city already well-known for its rich paranormal lore. The house’s ghost stories have become an integral part of its allure and public interest.

Matilda Sorrel Legend: One of the most enduring tales involves Matilda Sorrel, the wife of Francis Sorrel. According to legend, upon discovering her husband’s affair with a young enslaved woman named Molly, Matilda tragically ended her life by jumping from a second-floor window.

This story, along with other reports of unexplained phenomena such as apparitions, strange noises, and sudden drops in temperature, has made the Sorrel-Weed House a focal point for ghost tours and paranormal investigations.

The house has been featured on numerous television programs and publications exploring hauntings, contributing to Savannah’s reputation as a top destination for ghost enthusiasts.

5. Restoration and Public Access

The Sorrel-Weed House is now a fully operational museum, meticulously restored to reflect its antebellum grandeur.

Visitors can tour the house to experience its stunning architecture, period furnishings, and the compelling stories of both its inhabitants and its paranormal legends.

The museum’s interpretive programming blends historical education with storytelling, allowing guests to appreciate both the cultural significance and the mysteries that surround the home.

The preservation of the house ensures that its architectural elements—such as the sweeping staircase, verandas, and period interiors—are maintained with high accuracy, providing an immersive glimpse into 19th-century life in Savannah.

6. The House in the Context of Savannah

The Sorrel-Weed House is part of Savannah’s well-preserved historic district, known for its unique city plan of squares and green spaces surrounded by historic architecture. It exemplifies the wealth and social aspirations of Savannah’s antebellum elite, as well as the cultural melding of European design and Southern traditions.

It stands today not only as a monument to architectural achievement but also as a complex historical artifact reflecting themes of wealth, race, family, and memory in the American South.

Summary

The Sorrel-Weed House is a grand antebellum mansion that combines Greek Revival and Regency architectural styles in a way that is both elegant and regionally distinctive. Its historical significance is heightened by its connections to prominent figures, its location on a historically important site, and its intriguing blend of Southern social history and ghost lore. The house’s status as a museum allows visitors to step back into the 19th century and explore the layered narratives of wealth, tragedy, and mystery that have come to define this iconic Savannah landmark.