The Old City Jail at 21 Magazine Street may be the most haunted place in Charleston, but just about every spot in the Holy City is plagued with specters who continue to keep watch. From 1802 until 1939, the old jail housed pirates, Civil War prisoners, thieves, and even the most infamous, like Lavinia Fisher, who was alleged to be the first female serial killer in the United States, which is debatable.
The tormented souls trapped inside for eternity once lived in miserable and horrifying conditions, often facing torture. Thousands of men, women, and children passed through the doors here, wrongly jailed or not- met their demise inside.
Visitors claim to see objects move and hear disembodied voices and doors slamming.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Image: John G. Clark Jr. (September 2023)
