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JONES: I understand why you wrote your first book,
Haunted Savannah. You are a Savannah
tour guide and operate a ghost tour business, so the book was a natural
extension of your research for your tours. What inspired you to expand your
research to other cities?
CASKEY: I’ve always been a storyteller. When I was
younger I was an artist—I actually went to art school, and even in that
creative medium, my paintings had a strong linear narrative. My art told historical
stories, even the portraiture. Then in 2001 I got introduced to the world of
guided walking tours, and it was just a natural fit for me: I had already been
telling ghost stories for years, and it was sort of funny that there was this
flash like: Wait, I can get paid for
this?
I had been researching ghost stories even
before I opened Cobblestone Tours, and what I found surprised me: not only were
most of the ghost stories which other guides were telling as accepted truth
sometimes wrong, but their history was frequently way off base, as well. The
nighttime tour landscape back then was dotted with fictional tales of monsters (presented
as fact) that lived in lairs under the cemetery, that sort of thing. I wanted
to do better than that. I began writing initially as a way of giving my own
employees a study manual for their stories, my version of ‘Cliffs Notes for
Ghost Tours.’ I found that I really enjoyed the research aspect, and loved
sharing the stories because the true history was so much better than the bogus
folklore, most of the time. True life is almost always better than fiction.
Well, my little hobby grew from there. I was three years into this process when
I realized I was writing a book, a volume which eventually became Haunted Savannah. It published in 2005.
This is a very roundabout way of explaining
that once the Savannah book was in stores, I really missed that ‘researching
and writing’ process. It took me a long time to muster up the courage to tackle
another major writing project. Once I decided to do it, though, I really wanted
to engage a city with which I was completely unfamiliar. I mean, New Orleans is
over eleven hours away by car, one way, and I knew very little about it. It was
a big leap. The book is very much about that journey and exploration, and
fortunately I get a lot of feedback from readers that they find that level of
honesty refreshing. There was definitely a fear of failure, and some moments of
confusion, mixed in with the joy of unveiling an exotic and personally unknown
place. New Orleans has some great stories.
JONES: Your books are as much history as they are
ghost stories. What are the major problems you encounter in this type of
research?
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| James Caskey, Savannah author. |
CASKEY: Well, you have a certain type of person who
prefers the erroneous folklore: some just really want their pre-conceived
notions confirmed. However, the documented history I present in my books is
unvarnished, and often less tidy than the version you might hear on a ghost
tour. It can be an uncomfortable thing, to eviscerate a legend that another
person believes as fact. I know from our discussions that you experienced the
same exact thing regarding Lavinia Fisher when you wrote Wicked Charleston—the fictionalized wedding dress, the erroneously high
body count, etc. People will really argue for the campfire tale sometimes, even
if you can back your assertations up, point by point. I want to present both
sides: the legend AND the facts. If people just want a recounting of the bogus
folklore, well… those books are already out there. Don’t get me wrong, I love a
good story and folklore can be very entertaining, but you’re also going to
learn the truth from my books. I don’t research and write to satisfy people’s
expectations: my writing is really a process of discovery.
JONES: Why did you choose Charleston as the
subject for your third book?
CASKEY: Charleston SC is one of the most tragic and
historically violent places in North America. It is haunted by more than just
ghosts: secession, slavery, great fires, yellow fever, and a uniquely brutal
timeline. There was no question whether or not I was going to write about it,
the only question was when.
JONES: Are there major differences in the
paranormal history between New Orleans, Savannah and Charleston? If so, what
are they?
CASKEY: Honestly, I’m more fascinated by the
similarities. Each location once had a huge Native American population, if you
go back to before their contact with Spanish and English explorers. There was a
horrific genocide in the American South, starting in the mid-1500’s, on a scale
which is scarcely conceivable today. The American Indian populations were
largely eradicated. All three towns had their formation shortly after that
cauldron of disease, war, and death. It’s no wonder so many Southern seaport
cities have such haunted reputations!
JONES: What was your favorite Charleston ghost
story before you wrote the book? Is it still your favorite?
CASKEY: I probably liked the Old Exchange and
Provost Dungeon the most, going in. I still love it, but there are other
stories which sparked my interest a little more, like Madame Talvande and the
Sword Gates on Legare Street. Charleston has such a wonderfully twisted
history, and is a fertile ground for storytellers.
JONES: What was the most surprising story you
uncovered during your research about Charleston?
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| The Tavern, 120 East Bay Street |
CASKEY: There are more than a few good candidates,
but I would have to say that the story that most surprised me was the Tavern on
East Bay. It’s just this tiny little liquor store; looking at it from the
outside, one would never expect the supercharged ghost story it holds within. I
talked to owner Gary Dow for hours, and it was by far the most entertaining day
I’ve ever had as a researcher. The real surprise was his attitude toward the
supernatural things happening to him on a nearly daily basis: he is fiercely
protective of his ghosts. If you think the TV program ‘Ghost Adventures’ is the
way to deal with spirits, you know, taunting and aggressive, well, Gary will
politely take you to school on that subject. He likes his ghosts, and by every
indication, the feeling is mutual.
JONES: What is the most haunted location in
Charleston, and why?
CASKEY: I would have to say that block on Queen
Street between Meeting and King is the most haunted, if you’re asking about
concentration of stories. The Mills House, Poogan’s Porch, and Husk all have
stories. Following a hunch, one day I had lunch at 82 Queen in that same block,
and I casually asked my server if that spot was haunted. He looked at me like I
was crazy and said, “Yes, of course it is.” I do know that area burned in the
Great Fire of 1861, so perhaps the high number of hauntings in that area has
something to do with that tragic event.
JONES: Any plans to research and write about other
cities?
CAKSEY: Yes, although I plan on taking a little
break, I definitely would like to continue writing. There are a number of
cities on my haunted hit-list.
JONES: Other than reading your new book, what are
some of the must-do things to do during a visit to Charleston?
CASKEY: Eating and drinking have to be high on the
list for anyone visiting Charleston. It’s a city famous for its food and
hospitality. During one of my research trips while writing the book, I observed
a family checking in to the hotel that had packed coolers full of cheap
processed lunchmeat and sodas, and I couldn’t help but think that they were
missing a major component of their vacation. It was
oddly sad. To me, to not partake of the local cuisine would be like visiting
Nashville (Music City) and only listening to ‘bubblegum pop’ the entire time.
Other than that, I’d recommend taking a
cultural tour of Charleston. Try a carriage or walking tour, and a couple of
different house museums or heritage sites. The Old Slave Mart Museum on
Chalmers Street is especially worthwhile. Oh, and you simply have to experience
sunset at a rooftop bar. The view of the church-steepled skyline is pretty
spectacular.
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Contact James Caskey at JamesBCaskey.com.
To take a Savannah ghost or pub tour, contact GhostSavannah.com.
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