Haunted Marietta (GA)

by Rhetta Akamatsu

Few places have continued to grow, prosper, and maintain a small-town atmosphere and sense of history like Marietta, Georgia. Of course, a sense of community is not the only preserved presence from the past . Paranormal specialist and Marietta resident Rhetta Akamatsu combines her research with a passion for history to deliver a one-of-a-kind glimpse into the area's rich and, in some cases, undying spirit. Hear the whispers of Confederate generals still echoing in the Kolb Farm House; cozy up with the unsettled spirits of the 1848 House; meet the phantoms lurking throughout Town Square; and brush up on
your local history if you dare summon the Ghosts of Marietta."

Genres: History, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2009

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book denoting Marietta Georgia's most haunted places. It discusses bridges, theaters, and of course cemeteries. It was a little more about the history of Marietta than I had expected, with only one or two actual pictures of ghosts, which I found interesting.

[Cheré Coen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book about the ghost tales of Marietta, well-written and researched.

[Cherie Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and educational. Learned a lot about the area's history as well as ghosts.

[Ione DeOllos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history of the town was nicely intertwined with the stories about the ghosts. This book was very well written.

[A.F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you believe in ghosts?

This question may come to mind when you pick up this book to read, but by the time you finish the last page it won’t matter. You will have simply enjoyed an engrossing story of a town’s history, which is in turn, personal, epic, tragic and yes, ethereal.

This book is one part history lesson, one part ghost story and one part paranormal primer, stirred into a delightfully entertaining read. The author takes you on a whirlwind tour of the town of Marietta, from its founding through the American Civil War, to contemporary day. Along the way, the reader is treated to fascinating stories of times past, shown the diversity of the town, and regaled with tales of its citizens, living and dead.

The paranormal aspects in the book are presented in a very factual, even subdued manner; no ghosts pop out and say boo (at least until the last chapter regarding the Haunted Doll; that tale spooked me a bit). The author documents well researched accounts of the hauntings, gives her opinions, and lays out eerie possibilities, deftly dangling the unexplained before the reader. Certainly some of the stories gave this reader something to consider.

Haunted Marietta is a wonderful look at a small slice of the Southern past, including some that may be lingering in the present. I highly recommend it.