Moon River Brewery

History of the Moon River Brewing Building Moon River Brewing Company is located in the former City Hotel. Elazer Early, a native of Charleston, S.C, built the City Hotel in 1821. Not only was it the first hotel in Savannah, but it was also home to the first branch of the United States Post Office in Savannah, as well as a branch of the Bank of the United States. It must have been convenient having a hotel, post office, bank and bar all under one roof! Many notable people stayed at the City Hotel, including War of 1812 hero Winfield Scott, the Marquis de Lafayette, the first three commodores of the U.S. Navy and naturalist James Audubon. Audubon stayed six months while attempting to sell books full of his wildlife sketches. In 1851 Peter Wiltberger bought the City Hotel. He renovated it and put a live lion and lioness on display to draw attention to his business. City Hotel’s final guest checked out in 1864, just before the arrival of General Tecumseh Sherman during the war of Northern Aggression and the subsequent closing of the City Hotel. At the turn of the century, the building was used as a lumber and coal warehouse. As the use of coal slowly died off, the building was used for general storage. In the 1960s the space was renovated as an office supply store, complete with a large printing press. Hurricane David forced this business to close in 1979 when it blew the roof off the structure. The building sat empty until 1995 when it was renovated into its current configuration as a brew pub. The Moon River Brewing Company debuted in this space on April 10, 1999. Taken from the Moon River Brewery Web Site. Used with permission.

Investigation Report

Historic Ghost Watch and Investigation Moon River Brewery, Savannah Georia May 27th, 2006 Time of Investigation: 1:00 am to 3:30 am Team 1: Paul, Cristin & Michele Team 2: Ed, Kimber & Elizabeth Base: Kevin & Tim   Investigation Report   Downstairs Cellar - High EMF readings were reported but thought to be caused by electrical boxes. One of our sensitive team members reported a feeling of nausea and dizziness. This was thought to be due to high EMF readings.   Downstairs Dining Area- One of the team's sensitives reported a feeling of sadness. Also felt ill and a loss of energy in this area. Sensitive "saw" a blond man beating on the wall with one hand in sadness. The sound of a "foot scraping" was heard coming from this room also.   Pool Room- Sensitive team member "saw" a shadow of a head and shoulders near the bar. Team reported .2 EMF reading and a "heavy" presence is felt near the bar and pool table.   Bar Area- Team reported hearing a "breath" sound coming from being the bar. The team was sitting at the bar at the time. Radio transmission problems were reported in this area.   Main Floor (entry level) Base- Team members at base reported hearing the sound of "a foot scraping the ground" coming from area in front of base.   Second Floor 2nd Floor Back Left Room- One of teams recorded a cold spot registering at 76 degrees while receiving a EMF reading of 10. Team was able to track the aforementioned cold spot around the room. Later in the investigation, the team attempted to recreate temperature and EMF reading but were unable to do so. Shadows were reported to be seen in this room while team was in room across the hall. An "evil" laugh was heard in this room but was debunked as noise coming from a nearby patio.   2nd Floor Hallway- Footsteps were heard coming down stairs across the hall from the flight of stairs the team was in the process of going down. A team member had a threatened feeling and another team member heard a growl in this area. Team also reported a temperature drop of 15 degrees.   Third Floor Soon after entering the 3rd floor, one of the teams report the possibility of the cold spot following them. A temperature of 71 is recorded along with an EMF reading of 10. Also of interest on this floor is the occurrence of radio problems. Both teams and base reported problems with radio transmission.   3rd Floor Hallway- As a team member was going up the stairs to the 4th floor, he reported a pain in his leg when he reached the top of stairs. After returning to the 3rd floor, the pain subsided.   3rd Floor Right Front Room- A team member recorded an EMF reading of 1.3 in the doorway. Team was unable to recreate this reading.   3rd Floor Left Front Room- One of the teams reported hearing the sound of "a foot scraping" coming from this room. This occurred as team was asking questions for EVPs. Team returned to room to investigate sound but found nothing to explain sound heard.

Investigation Log

Historic Ghost Watch and Investigation Moon River Brewery, Savannah Georgia May 27th, 2006 Team 1: Paul, Cristin & Michele Base: Kevin & Tim Investigation Log Sheet Time of Event Phenomena Witnessed Location 1:00am Investigation begins. Upper Right Room 1:00am Teams investigation director, Paul, reports that because of being granted access to areas not previously scouted, his team will do an initial quick sweep of upper rooms. His team will return to hot spots for further investigation. Upper Right Room 1:05am Team reported baseline temperature of 82E and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Upper Right Room 1:10am Team enters front upstairs hallway. Upstairs Hallway 1:12am Team reported baseline temperature of 81E-83E and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Upstairs Hallway 1:14am Team reported baseline temperature of 81E-83E and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Upper back left room 1:14am Team reported a cold spot of 76 while recording an emf reading of 10.0 Upper back left room 1:15am Team reports they are able to track the cold spot around the room. They record a temperature of 79 with an emf reading of 10.0 Upper back left room 1:16am Team continues to report cold spot activity. Upper back left room 1:17am Team moves to upper back right room. Upper back right room 1:19am Team reported baseline temperature of 84-85 and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Upper back right room 1:19am Team reports seeing "things" in upper back left room. Upper back right room 1:20am Michele defines the "things" as shadows. Upper back right room 1:21am Team moves to third floor Third floor 1:23am Team reported baseline temperature of 84E Third floor 1:24am Team reports possibility of being followed by the cold spot. They recorded a temperature of 71and a baseline emf reading of 10.0 Third floor, front left room 1:25am Team moves into front right room. Front right room 1:25am Team reported baseline temperature of 84-88 and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Third floor, front right room 1:27am Team moves into the back left room. Third floor back left room 1:29am Team reported baseline temperature of 84 and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Third floor back left room 1:31am Paul reports that his entire left leg is in severe pain. He experienced the pain at the top of the stairs, going to the fourth floor. As soon as he came down the stairs the pain subsided. Third floor hallway 1:31am Radio trouble begins. Third floor front right room ****Explanation of Radio Trouble**** During the period of radio trouble, both teams and base experienced bizarre events with our two way radios. Paul’s team reported that they were receiving the radio transmissions being reported to base by Ed’s team. Base, which was located between the two teams, never received radio transmissions from Ed’s team, but, was able to hear Paul’s team reporting hearing Ed’s transmissions. Neither team was able to hear transmissions coming from base. 1:35am Radio trouble ends. Third floor front right room 1:50am Paul reports that he and Michele heard footsteps coming down the stairs across the hall from the stairs the team was coming down. Upstairs hallway 1:51am Cristin feels threatened. Upstairs back of hallway 1:52am Team is unable to duplicate emf readings and is unable to record a temperature lower than 83 Upper back left room 1:53am Evil laugh is reported by team. Upper back left room ****DEBUNK**** Evil laugh is debunked by team. Sounds are reported to be coming from nearby patio. 2:00am Team begins vigil in hallway. Upstairs hallway 2:02am Team reports that temperature dropped from 83 to 68 Upstairs hallway 2:03am Paul reports that Michele heard a "growl" Upstairs hallway 2:05am Investigation ends.         Historic Ghost Watch and Investigation Moon River Brewery, Savannah Georia May 27th, 2006 Team 2: Ed, Kimber & Elizabeth Base: Kevin & Tim Investigation Log Sheet Time of Event Phenomena Witnessed Location 12:45am Hi 8 begin taping in "cellar" Basement 1:00am Investigation begins at back pool tables. Pool Room 1:05am Team reported baseline temperature of 74E and a baseline emf reading of 0.2 Pool Room 1:20am Team enters cellar Cellar 1:22am Team reported baseline temperature of 78E and a baseline emf reading of 1.8 Cellar 1:22am Team reported high emf readings due to electrical boxes. Kimber feels nauseous and dizzy. Thought to be caused by high emf. Cellar 1:26am Team enters downstairs dining area. Downstairs Dining Area 1:27am Team reported baseline temperature of 74E and a baseline emf reading of 0.2 Downstairs Dining Area 1:28am Kimbers feels "Sad" and feels like she could cry. Downstairs Dining Area **** Explanation **** Kimber began to feel ill in the dining area, she felt she lost all of her energy. She felt she saw a blond man with a mustache, but did not recall seeing any clothes. She reported seeing him beating the wall with one hand in sadness. 1:30am Radio trouble begins. Bar Area 1:35am Radio trouble ends. Bar Area 1:43 Team re-enters cellar. Cellar 1:50 Change tape on Hi 8. Basement 1:55 Team returns to dining area for vigil Downstairs Dining Area 1:59 Kimber saw a shadow "head & shoulders" near the bar. She was standing near the pool tables when she saw the shadow. Pool Room 2:01 Team reports a .2 emf reading. All three team members feel a heavy "presence" near the bar and pool table. Pool Room 2:04 Investigation ends. Pool Room   Historic Ghost Watch and Investigation Moon River Brewery, Savannah Georia May 27th, 2006 Team 1: Paul, Cristin & Michele Base: Kevin & Tim Investigation Log Sheet Time of Event Phenomena Witnessed Location 2:15am Begin downstairs investigation Downstairs 2:20am Team reported baseline temperature of 67E and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Pool Room 2:21am Team enters cellar Cellar 2:25am Team reported baseline temperature of 65E In front area of cellar 70 at back of cellar. Team also recorded an emf reading of 120+. Cellar 2:30am Team enters dining room area. Downstairs Dining Room Area 2:30am Team reported baseline temperature of 68E and a baseline emf reading of 0.1 Downstairs Dining Room Area 2:40am Team begins slower sweep of downstairs. Downstairs 2:52am Kevin and Tim hear the sound of a foot scraping the ground. Coming from area in front of base. Base 2:59am Team reports hearing a breath coming from behind the bar. Team is sitting at said bar. Bar Area 3:11am Team hears the sound of a foot "scraping" coming from the dining room. Dining Room 3:15am End of Investigation Dining Room   Historic Ghost Watch and Investigation Moon River Brewery, Savannah Georia May 27th, 2006 Team 2: Ed, Kimber & Elizabeth Base: Kevin & Tim Investigation Log Sheet Time of Event Phenomena Witnessed Location 2:15am Investigation begins. 3rd Floor 2:15am Team reported baseline temperature of 93E and a baseline emf reading of 0.2 3rd Floor Front R Room 2:18am In the doorway going from the hall to the front right room, Liz recorded an emf reading of 1.3 The team noted that the emf reading went back down to .2 and they were unable to recreate the high emf reading. 3rd Floor Front R Room 2:29am Team enters third floor front L room 3rd Floor front L Room 2:30am Team reported baseline temperature of 94E and a baseline emf reading of 0.2 3rd Floor front L Room 2:35am Team enters hallway Hallway 2:38am While standing at the back of the hallway, all three team members hear the sound of a foot scraping coming from front L room. The sound occurred while the team was asking questions for evps. Team returns to front left room to investigate sound. Front L Room 2:44am Team moving to second floor. Second Floor 2:46am Team enters second floor R room. Team reported baseline temperature of 89E and a baseline emf reading of 0.2 Front R Room 2:53am Team enters hallway Hallway 2:54am Team enters rear L room Rear L Room 2nd Floor 2:55am Team reported baseline temperature of 90E and a baseline emf reading of 0.2 - 0.4 Rear L Room 2nd Floor 3:02am Team enters rear R room Rear R room 2nd Floor 3:03 Team reported baseline temperature of 90E and a baseline emf reading of 0.2 Rear R room 2nd Floor 3:07 Team does vigil in second floor L rear room Second Floor L Rear Room 3:15am End of investigation

Recorded EVPs

EVPs we recorded while conducting our investigation of Moon River Brewery are listed below: "I died over here" "No" "Tell me" "Talk to me longer" Possible moans Whisper Unknown voices x4   Please remember that Electronic Voice Phenomena or EVPs are speculative and by their very nature open to the interpretation of an individual listener. What we state here is what we, as individuals, are hearing and only one of the possible conclusions for each of the EVPs.

Investigator Pictures

Our Conclusion

There was a great deal of activity to be found in the building during the time we were there. We captured numerous Electronic Voice Phenomena or EVPs throughout the building and recorded a significant amount of electromagnetic activity. We also encountered a cold spot that appeared to follow a team for several minutes across two floors. It is Historic Ghost Watch and Investigation's belief that the building is paranormally active and though we believe the building to be haunted, we can not prove it at this time. We look forward to more investigations at this location.