Sometime in the early 1800s, a traveling preacher passed through downtown Augusta, Georgia. The preacher wanted to spread the gospel and preach the word next to a stone pillar near the farmer’s market at 5th and Broad Street, but local authorities forbade it.
The preacher cursed the area and stated that if they didn’t allow him to preach in that very spot, a strong, catastrophic wind would strike the market, and that stone pillar would be the only thing left standing.
In February 1878, a rare winter tornado struck Augusta, destroying the market and leaving only the stone pillar intact. Anyone who dared to try to move, or even lay hands on it, supposedly died.
In 1931, Will Jennings served as mayor of Augusta and hired the press to publicize the curse of the pillar, hoping to attract tourism.
Through the years, many auto and freak accidents have occurred in that spot, and every time, the pillar was rebuilt until December 17, 2016. The two-car wreck destroyed the stone pillar, and one resident involved claimed that it saved his life.
The city of Augusta stated that it would rebuild it at a later date.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Image Credit: Historic Augusta/ Older Image