Entry No. 16 — the Savannah file — filed under: haunted b&b
Kehoe House
Built in 1892 by iron-foundry owner William Kehoe, cast almost entirely from his own foundry's ironwork, the house later spent decades of the 20th century as a funeral home before becoming an inn. Two of Kehoe's own children reportedly died inside in a 'careless accident,' and guests in Room 201 report being woken by small unseen hands.
The story
When iron-foundry owner William Kehoe raised his Renaissance Revival mansion on Columbia Square in 1892, he built it as a multi-story showcase for his own industrial empire. What looks like hand-carved stone or elaborate woodwork from across the square is actually cast iron forged directly in Kehoe's own foundry—from the window pediments and grand decorative cornices to the exterior stairways, balcony railings, and heavy perimeter fences.
The building's narrative grew considerably darker after the Kehoe family sold the property in 1930. For decades during the mid-20th century, the home served as a commercial funeral home, holding viewings and preparing bodies in the exact same parlors where the Kehoe family once lived. That long stretch of grief, combined with persistent local reports of two Kehoe children dying inside in a tragic accident, cemented 123 Habersham Street as one of Savannah's central haunts.
Today the house operates as an upscale historic inn, but its past keeps bleeding through. Tour groups gather on the Columbia Square sidewalk every evening to point up at the upper story, while guests staying inside—most notably in Room 201—report midnight disturbances that range from sudden drops in room temperature to feeling tiny, invisible hands waking them in the dark.
What it's like
Stepping through the front doors, you'll find an atmosphere of polished historic quiet that belies what happened here in the 20th century. By day, the focus is on the iron craftsmanship and quiet square views, but after dark, the tone shifts as ghost tours cluster on the street outside. If you book Room 201, be prepared for strange night-time sensations—guests frequently report the feeling of small hands touching their skin or pulling at the bedding around 3:00 AM. If you're driving, drop your luggage first, as the inn's designated private parking lot sits a short three-minute walk down the block.
The move: Book Room 201 or a cupola-view room, then take a slow walk around the exterior tracing the exterior stairways, fences and columns the foundry cast for its own family home.
- 📍 Columbia Square, Historic District
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 123 Habersham St, Savannah, GA 31401
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Davenport House Museum — Artisan Spotlight Series — Right across Columbia Square, you can trade Kehoe's iron foundry legacy for hands-on historic craft workshops inside the Davenport House annex.
- 17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant — Walk a block north to President Street to contrast Kehoe's 1892 ironclad luxury with Savannah's oldest multi-building inn and its own famous room-specific ghost legend.
- Colonial Park Cemetery — A two-block walk south brings you to Savannah's oldest municipal burial ground, anchoring the neighborhood's heavy 19th-century history.
- Graveface Museum — Head down toward Factors Walk to exchange Victorian spectral legends for docent-led true crime exhibits and physical oddities.
Good to know
Why is the Kehoe House famous for its metalwork?
Owner William Kehoe used his own Savannah iron foundry to cast the building's architectural elements—including the window pediments, cornices, balustrades, and stairways—out of solid iron.
Was the Kehoe House actually a funeral home?
Yes. After the Kehoe family sold the mansion in 1930, it operated for decades as a commercial funeral home before eventually being restored as an inn.
Which room has the most reported paranormal activity?
Room 201 is the inn's most notorious space, where guests consistently report being nudged or touched awake by small, unseen hands.
Where do guests park when visiting?
The inn provides a private parking lot located about a three-minute walk from the property.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitsavannah.com
last checked: 2026-07-20