The true story of Lavinia Fisher can be read in the book by local author Bruce Orr. It's called Six Miles to Charleston. While it is a fantastical tale that most tour guides in this area give with regard to her being the first serial killer, and some trap door tales and bodies buried around the inn, and myths about oleander tea, it is inaccurate and local newspapers of the day do not support any of this. And she was not hanged in her wedding dress. All very cool scary stories but the true story takes all of this myth and tosses it out the window
This is so true,Nancy. I researched the Fishers for three years along with the Old City Jail. Lavinia was NOT a serial killer, nor is there any documentation on either her nor her husband John for any murder(s). They were arrested on the charge of highway robbery, which is questionable due to the corrupt politics of Charleston in 1819, when they were arrested. They did run six mile house, which no longer stands, but no trap doors, no poisons. The tour groups of Charleston rely heavily on urban legend to sell tickets. However, the jail has things, unexplained things going on and are really worth the tour, because of the activity of paranormal events happening there.
EXACTLY!! The wedding dress story is totally fake! She isn't even buried where they say she was (Unitarian cemetery) but in a potters field that is now located under MUSC. (Medical University of South Carolina) I live in Savannah and while we have some great ghost stories, at least they're TRUE, for the most part!!
