The Lingering Echoes of Polly Barclay's Chains
The Fitzpatrick Hotel has been standing on the courthouse square of Washington, Georgia for more than a century now, its red-brick walls and Queen Anne trim casting long shadows over the townâs oldest streets. But around here, folks say it wasnât just the fire that cleared the way for the hotel to be builtâthere are darker stories too. Stories about graves left behind. About spirits that never moved on. And one name youâll hear more than any other is Polly Barclay. Back in 1806, Polly found herself at the center of one of Georgiaâs earliest true crime storiesâaccused of plotting her husbandâs murder and sentenced to die. She was beautiful, sharp, and by all accounts sure sheâd never see the gallows. But fate had other plans, and her execution would go on to spark one of the regionâs most enduring legends. Some say Polly never left. Some say she's still there, beneath the Fitzpatrick, rattling her chains on stormy nights when the wind kicks up just right. This week, weâre digging into the real story behind the legendâwho Polly Barclay really was, what really happened that night outside Washington, and why her ghost might still be walking among us today. Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free? â Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & Moreâ Â â Southern Gothic Premium on Spotifyâ â Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcastsâ â Into History: History Without Interruptionâ Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Website:â SouthernGothicMedia.comâ Merch Store:â https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merchâ Pinterest:â @SouthernGothicMediaâ Facebook:â @SouthernGothicMediaâ Instagram:â @SouthernGothicMediaâ X:â @SoGoPodcastâ Advertise on this podcast: â press@southerngothicmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Fitzpatrick Hotel has been standing on the courthouse square of Washington, Georgia for more than a century now, its red-brick walls and Queen Anne trim casting long shadows over the townâs oldest streets. But around here, folks say it wasnât just the fire that cleared the way for the hotel to be builtâthere are darker stories too. Stories about graves left behind. About spirits that never moved on. And one name youâll hear more than any other is Polly Barclay. Back in 1806, Polly found hers...