The birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girlscouts of America, is said to be haunted by her mother Nelly. Her father was seen waiting for Nelly when she passed, waiting to take her to the other side. Death, true love, and heartache are always the main ingredients in a recipe for haunting, the Juliette Gordon Low House in Savannah, Georgia is no exception.
Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon was born on October 31st, 1860 in Savannah, Georgia, the second of six children to Eleanor Kinzie Gordon and William Washington Gordon II. She was affectionately known as “Daisy”, a nickname Juliette’s Uncle appointed to her as an infant and one that stuck for the rest of her life.
Daisy’s father (who was from Savannah) fought in the Confederacy during the American Civil War, while her mother’s family from Chicago, Illinois, fought for the Union. Daisy’s grandmother Sarah, Aunt Eliza, the enslaved women workers of the home, the cook Nancy, and the nurse May, fought hard to make sure everyone was clothed and fed while the men were away fighting.
A delicate, empathetic, inquisitive, playful and headstrong young lady, Daisy showed compassion and concern for everyone; humans, animals, and nature alike. She enjoyed spending time with her siblings and cousins, dressing up and gathering everyone together for art projects and games of make-believe. She loved to paint & draw, swim in the nearby rivers, learn about animals, climb trees, and wander around in nature taking in the sights and sounds of the environment...all would later prove to be important characteristics of a Girl Scout.
Because Daisy’s parents were well-off, they could afford to send her and her siblings to exclusive boarding schools and finishing schools. Her favorite subject was art, a hobby she carried through the rest of her life in drawing, painting, and sculpting.
Young Daisy met a handsome man named William Low (called “Billow”) who was the son of a wealthy British businessman, Andrew Low of Savannah. They married in 1886 and had homes in both Savannah and England. Popular among the high society folk of England and Scotland where her husband’s family hailed from, Daisy’s life became full of hunting parties, dances, court presentations, and fancy celebrations that took up much of their time in Britain, where they spent much of their married life. Returning to Savannah often, Daisy visited her friends and family and kept up their Low home. An ultimately troubled marriage that neared final divorce, finally ended with Billow’s death in 1905.
Daisy was plagued with a lifetime of ear injuries and infections that resulted in near total hearing loss. An improperly treated abscess resulting from a piece of rice that was lodged in her ear during her and Billow’s wedding caused an infection and the resulting operation only further damaged what little hearing she had left.
Although she and Billow never had children of their own, Daisy set out to find her life’s purpose after her husband’s death. She traveled the world over, discovering herself along the way. Upon her return to London in 1911, she met the founder of the Boy Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell, and the rest, as they say, is history.
After an enduring and very private battle with breast cancer, Juliette died on January 17th, 1927 at her home in Savannah, Georgia. Two hundred Girl Scouts were in attendance and “Daisy” was buried in her Girl Scout uniform. She resides eternally at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah.
Juliette Gordon Low may have come from a family of privilege and married into wealth, but she was raised with a simple mantra in mind...to give back to the community and the country. She was a fiercely strong and independent woman that came from a long line of female descendants with the same attributes; attributes that would grant her a legacy that stands the test of time.
When Daisy met Boy Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell in 1911 after her adventurous trip of self-discovery, a seed was planted that would eventually give birth to the Girl Scouts of America. She excitedly telephoned her cousin in Savannah and announced: "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"
Upon her arrival back to her home in Georgia less than a year later, Daisy excitedly gathered 18 ethnically diverse young ladies from her cousin Nina Pape’s school and formed the very first Girl Scout troop. At a time when women were suppressed and still unable to vote or make important decisions, 51-year-old Daisy defied odds and created an environment where young women could learn and grow with each other in the ways of leadership and life skills, sparking a world-wide progressive movement.
Daisy’s talent for organizing social events and fundraisers, combined with her far-reaching list of family, friends, and supporters of her cause, ensured that the Girl Scouts of America would stand the test of time. She even used her own money to pay for the expenses of starting the organization and any time there was a shortage of funds.
“Juliette is credited with establishing and nurturing a global movement that has changed the world.” ~ The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
Daisy’s legacy is remembered today by the scholarships and educational resources named in her honor. Postage stamps, a WWII battleship, biographies, documentaries, and even an opera have all been used to share the amazing story of her adventurous life. President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Juliette Gordon Low posthumously in 2012, 85 years after her death. Her legacy continues today throughout the world, carried through the generations of women touched by the Girl Scouts organization.
Built by Elizabeth and James Moore Wayne in 1821, the Juliette Gordon Low House is a Federal-style home made of brick-covered stucco. Well-known English architect William Jay is believed to have designed the home that is known not only for its architectural beauty, but for its historical significance.
James Moore Wayne was a lawyer and judge who served on the Supreme Court, as well as a one time mayor of the city of Savannah. He sold the home just ten years later to William and his niece Sarah (Stiles) Gordon, Juliette’s paternal grandparents. William died young and Sarah lived at the residence until her death in 1882, the same year that Juliette’s father purchased the home to ensure it stayed in the Gordon family. Juliette was born at the residence on Halloween, 1860 and lived there with her siblings, parents, grandmother, and enslaved servants of the house until after the Civil War.
While Juliette moved into her husband’s family home on Lafayette Square after their marriage, the home stayed in the Gordon family until it was purchased by the Girl Scouts of America in 1953 and began its journey as a living house museum. A large investment was needed to restore the home to its original beauty. Revived and furnished with original Gordon family memorabilia, the historic house museum opened to the public in 1956 and serves as a living memorial to the founder of the Girl Scouts of America.
Registered as the first Savannah-based National Historic Landmark in 1965, the Juliette Gordon Low House is also simply known as “the Birthplace.” Each year, over 65,000 visitors tour the historic home and grounds in Savannah. Girl Scout troops from all over the country have made the pilgrimage to the Juliette Gordon Low House in Savannah to learn about their inspirational leader. The legacy of Juliette Gordon Low and the Girl Scouts of America are prominently honored here as an extraordinary museum dedicated to “Daisy’s” amazing life and work.
Many who visit the Juliette Gordon Low house in Savannah today believe that Daisy’s family still resides there, centuries later. Feelings of another presence in the room, sounds of footsteps, and the apparition of Nelly, Juliette’s mother, have all been reported by staff as well as visitors.
The story goes that the day of Nelly’s passing, Juliette and her immediate family, along with staff of the home, gathered around Nelly’s bedside saying their final goodbye’s when Nelly told her family not to cry for her, for she was soon going to be reunited with her soulmate, the love of her life, her Captain. Just then, frail Nelly abruptly sat straight up out of her death bed, outstretched her arms in greeting, smiled widely, then suddenly laid softly on her pillow and gently passed away. Meanwhile, Margaret (Nelly’s daughter-in-law) stared at the doorway with her mouth agape as she recalled to her husband that his father (Mr. William Gordon II) who had passed just a few years ago...just walked into his dying wife’s bedroom in his favorite grey suit and hat. When Juliette came downstairs to let the rest of the house know of her mother’s passing, the butler, wide-eyed and in disbelief of what he just saw, told her not to worry about Nelly, for her and the “Captain” (as she affectionately called her husband) just walked out the front door of the house arm in arm. You could say that not all ghost stories have to be scary, some are just the spirits of love sticking around to keep their family company.
The spirit of Ms. Nelly has been seen peering out the windows of the Juliette Gordon Low home. She has also been seen sitting at the dining room table sipping a cup of tea, and heard playing the piano in the living room. Her apparition tends to appear after hours when the home is quiet and closed to visitors.
Juliette’s paintings and drawings adorn the walls of the house museum. Gordon family heirlooms, furnishings, and memorabilia decorate every room and space in the home. They say residual spirits sometimes remain in personal belongings, we believe the artifacts of the Juliette Gordon Low House are no different.
One woman tells of an unexplained experience with her friends as young Girl Scouts when visiting the “birthplace.” With an “extremely heavy air”, they sensed a presence as soon as they entered the home and it kept them from enjoying the experience. Interested in “capturing” a ghost, her and her friends wielded their cameras in preparation, only to be told that photos were not allowed. One camera turned on by itself and took pictures in the direction of the floor, another’s full battery charge emptied, and another camera shut off by itself. This, needless to say, frightened the girls and had their hearts racing the entire tour. One girl even saw an orb fly past a doorway while on the tour. Sufficiently scared out of their wits, they recall these memories years later.
Whether Nelly is there to keep her home in check and live out eternity with her beloved Captain, or Juliette is there to greet every Girl Scout who steps over the threshold, one thing is for sure; spirits reside at this grand Savannah home, and they are eager to show you around.
The Juliette Gordon Low House is located at 10 E Oglethorpe Ave in Savannah, just one block south of Wright Square. Guided tours are available Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm. Because the historic home is at the top of the tourist experience list, the Juliette Gordon Low House tours often sell out; plan on purchasing your tickets in advance at www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org. The Birthplace is closed on Sundays, all major holidays, and some additional dates that are listed on the Juliette Gordon Low House website. No visit to Savannah is complete without a visit to the historic Juliette Gordon Low House, make sure to add it to your vacation itinerary!
If you are interested in learning more about our offerings in Savannah, please visit us at Ghost City Tours.
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