The Mercer-Williams House Museum, formerly known as the Mercer House, is a historic home with a rich and colorful history. It lay abandoned for many years until Jim Williams, a private restorationist, saw its potential and purchased the home in 1969. He worked tirelessly for two years to restore the property to its former glory.

It is one of more than 50 local homes Mr. Williams saved during his career, but it's perhaps the most famous, or infamous. In 1981, Williams' assistant, Danny Hansford, was shot dead in the home in the so-called “Garden of Good and Evil” murder. Williams was initially convicted of Hansford's murder, which many thought came after a lover's quarrel, but the conviction was overturned on appeal when Williams claimed he shot his assistant in self-defense. Hansford's ghost is thought to roam its halls to this day.

Williams' sister, Dorothy Kingery, currently owns the Mercer-Williams House Museum and keeps it open to the public for tours. Guests can admire art and furniture from Williams' private collection while they try to catch a glimpse of Hansford's spiri

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