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O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7 M A C O N M A G A Z I N E | 23 HAY LORE AN ONGOING SERIES ABOUT HAY HOUSE LORE, TRADITIONS AND HISTORY MANY LEGENDS AND STORIES SURROUND THE 158-YEAR-OLD HAY HOUSE, from folklore of underground tunnels to supernatural experiences. However, most of these tales have never been told to visitors. Since the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation acquired the building in 1977, Hay House staff and guests have experienced a wide range of macabre experiences – from apparitional sightings to moving objects – many of which have been withheld from the public. After much demand, Hay House is once again ready to reveal its secrets to the public as part of its second "Legends and Lore" tour from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 30. Visitors will be given a special tour of Hay House, featuring a recounting of the legends and personal eyewitness accounts. The huge mansion that is Hay House has many secrets and legends. Local folklore tells of hidden tunnels from Hay House to the Ocmulgee River, and others tell of Mr. Johnston's hidden Confederate gold. Some secrets are visible, like the "Secret Room," a linen closet on the staircase to the second floor. Others, like the reputed tunnels under the house that run from the building to the river, have yet to be discovered and therefore remain a mystery. Evidence suggests, however, that these tales may be closer to the truth than once believed. It is known that Mr. and Mrs. Johnston did have a personal spring or "spring house," used to provide their running water and for cold food storage. The spring house is now located under the Harris-Hall- Bennett House on Georgia Avenue. It also will be featured in this tour and the beautiful house built above it has legends and lore of its own. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation acquired Macon's Johnston- Felton Hay House in 1977. Prior to the acquisition of the building there were no records or stories of any supernatural experiences occurring in the house. Ghostly experiences rose dramatically in spring 1981 as the first restoration of the building began under the aegis of the Georgia Trust. In April and May, the director of Hay House, the late Fran LaFarge, went public with the stories, published in the Macon Telegraph. Separate sightings included figures of two men, two women and a child. Even the Hay's longtime butler, Chester Davis, who had been working in the house for 29 years, first saw the ghosts in that month as did the director herself. Both LaFarge and Davis thought that the restoration and the electrical and structural work brought forth the spirits of these former occupants. Since then, many other ghoulish encounters have occurred. It's clear that after 158 years, the Hay House is still revealing its secrets. For Legends and Lore tickets and more information, visit hayhousemacon. org or call 478-742-8155. – WILLIAM AULTMAN, HAY HOUSE CURATOR OF EDUCATION & JONATHAN POSTON, HAY HOUSE DIRECTOR Wonderful Wine Wednesdays HERE'S THE NEWEST WAY TO GET OVER THE MID-WEEK HUMP - get a reservation for the brand new wine dinner every Wednesday night at Dovetail. For a prix fixe price ranging between $60 and $75 a person, guests will dine on four different courses paired with wine. Each week the menu and the wine will change, but always influenced by the restaurant's uniquely crafted, southern cuisine. As always the dishes will be inspired by seasonal availability as the chefs use their expertise to highlight quality and flavor in special creations that pair with new wines. It will be a way for Dovetail guests to sample new tastes in food paired with new wines chosen by the experts who only want you to relax and enjoy. JOHN LEGG