There’s claims that the owner drank himself to death and haunts the property, but the true story behind why he would do it is even more fascinating.
The Webers were a family of grocers. Intensely German, they were super strict and had a large family. The mother and father never wanted their children to marry or go to school, but one son had different ideas. An artist at heart, James was very melancholy because he wanted a better life. Every year he’d beg his parents to let him go to art school and they finally gave in on his 18th birthday. The son excelled and received offers to paint in Paris. One day he receive a telegram with only two words: come home. He was forced to run the family grocery and became a sullen, old man never able to pursue his dream. James let it be known that when he died he wanted all of his paintings burned, but they were so beautiful that no one could do it.
Fast track to only a few years ago when the second story of the Sudgen Book Store was turned into an art gallery. The new owners found over fifty of James’ paintings and wanted to share them with residents and visitors to Marietta. They meticulously set up the art pieces and left for the day as the next day was the gallery’s opening day. When the owners arrived they were shocked at the sight: the paintings were strewn about and a book was open to a specific page on the desk. When they looked closer they found the real estate report with the deed from James Weber’s studio in 1932. The new owners removed the paintings from the space and put them back in storage.