Lotz House for October Ghost Tours for the Fourth Year

Franklin, Tenn. – This October, Franklin on Foot’s Margie Thessin will share the stories of the presence of spirits at the Lotz House, many of which are believed to remain from those who suffered unspeakable horrors on the night of Nov. 30, 1864, during the Battle of Franklin. The tours start on Sept. 15 and will run every Friday through October.

The Lotz House, an 1858 home dubbed “The Second-most Terrifying Place in America” by the Travel Channel, boasts a rich history and a colorful past, along with quite a bit of unexplained phenomena. Visitors have seen a woman crying out for a loved one and a little girl staring out the window, heard drummers beating to battle cadence and noticed ordinary items that don’t stay put.

“When lives are cut short, sometimes spirits remain,” says Margie Thessin, owner of Franklin on Foot. “We are almost certain that’s what happened at the Lotz House.”

Margie Thessin co-founded Franklin on Foot in 2003. In addition to the ghost tours, the company offers a variety of other tours throughout the history-steeped city, including food, crime, cemetery and history tours. Margie is well-educated in Franklin’s history and is the author of “Ghosts of Franklin, Tennessee’s Most Haunted Town” and “Lizzie’s War,” a historical novel for elementary-age children set in Franklin during the Civil War.

“Margie is one of Franklin’s best storytellers, and we’re thrilled to partner with Franklin on Foot again this year,” says J.T. Thompson, executive director of the Lotz House Foundation.

Located just north of the Carter House on Columbia Avenue, the Lotz House was at the epicenter of the fighting during the Battle of Franklin. The Lotz family’s experience during the battle and the aftermath is a compelling story of civilian life during the War and occupation. These tragic tales will chill visitors as they view the house filled with period furnishings and decoration, along with the blood stains and scars from that awful November night, often referred to as the five bloodiest hours of the American Civil War.

Tours will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Lotz House located at 1111 Columbia Avenue. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for those under the age of 14. Reservations are required, and special tour times can be set for groups of six or more.

For more information, visit www.franklinonfoot.com or call Margie Thessin at (615)400-3808.