The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. Visitors here may see ghostly children coming out to play. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. Some report that is you park on the bridge, your car will begin to rock. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! This site was visited with permission. In the absence of documented fact, people are free to claim their own version of history and never is that more Reported sightings of paranormal activity at this cemetery include a fiery orb that floats through the air. Sardis is home to a truly creepy rumor claiming that a man with fiery red eyes and the ghostly figure of a Confederate soldier has also been spotted wandering the property of the Adams Grove Presbyterian Church. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. (Source: ecjmartin1 via Wikimedia Commons). 15 most haunted places in Decatur. All rights reserved (About Us). This is not just a collection of ghost stories, but a true history of how the city became so haunted -- which means we also include local sites of death, unsolved murders, strange crimes, gambling parlors, vice districts and more plagued the city in days gone by. Chalkville Training School for 'Incorrigible' Girls. Legends surrounding this church are astounding in number and scope. What are the most haunted places in Alabama? Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. A former slave plantation, it is believed to be haunted by slaves that lived and died here and also possibly by the ghosts of its former owners. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. Kids and adults will enjoy exploring various hands-on exhibits, including a gallery of bees, turtles, alligators and snakes, a recreated Alabama cave, insect galleries, a 15,000-gallon aquarium, and more. A shadow, a moan, a creak lead visitors to wonder if the five crew members who died in a 1944 turret explosion are still on duty, refusing to let even death end their watch. Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. The house is reportedly haunted by the spirit of an invalid woman who killed herself in the home in the 1960s. According to legend, she was driving her baby in a horse-drawn carriage one night. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. Sketoe's Hole is the site where Methodist minister William "Bill" Sketoe Sr. (1818- 1864) was hanged during the Civil War. Thank you! We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. We have the list of places to check out! (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. This historic hotel is the home of a disruptive entity known only as 'the knocker.' It gets its name from the fact that when it appears on the sixth floor, knocking loudly on hotel room doors in the dead of night! Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893. It is named for a woman who lived in the area in the late 1800s or early 1900s and was thought to be a witch. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. The tale of its resident ghost, a Confederate soldier named Sydney Grimmett who died there, is the most popular ghost story on campus. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). She is buried in Birminghams Elmwood Cemetery. Winter Place in Montgomery. Beelitz Military Hospital, Berlin. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. ", 3. After a mummified woman was discovered in her home, people claimed she was a witch. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. The swings sometimes can be seen swinging by themselves, and the sounds of laughter Urban legend tells of a man who was hit by a car and killed while walking across this bridge. Following the deaths of John Drish and his wife Sarah, the home was used as a school from 1906 to 1925 and was used as an auto parts warehouse for several years. The Forks of Cypress Plantation in Florence was one of the most beautiful antebellum mansions in the state, built by the Jackson family who is buried on the plantation grounds. Childrens laughter has been heard by those working on the third floor, and even outside the bathroom down in the restaurant when there have been no children around. Late at night, people have reported hearing eerie footsteps echoing on the decks of the War World II-era battleship USS Alabama. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The woods along here is reportedly the site where a group of freed black slaves set up a settlement following the Civil War that was burned out and destroyed by the KKK. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Huntsville. Today, it is house museum that can be toured by appointment. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person Today, only its stone foundations remain. Jacksons Military Road passed through the town. The city was the capital after Huntsville was the temporary capital city in 1819 so a Constitutional Convention could be held to choose the first official capital, which was Cahawba. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. However, they say eventually the happy noises turn to unhappy ones, as if the children are screaming for their lives. In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. 10. Visitors to the inn and restaurant have reported hearing disembodied footsteps and eerie noises throughout the home. Jemison Center, former insane asylum for African Americans. The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. The training school, shown when it was in use at left, was abandoned after a tornado destroyed several buildings and a new facility was built in 2015. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. The story was told by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. 12 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama. By the end of 1888, the R&D had built 51 miles of track from Rome, GA to Attalla (west of Gadsden), AL. This private property houses the infamous ghost bridge that has numerous claims of haunting. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. Sloss Furnaces (Birmingham, AL) 20 32nd St. N., Birmingham, AL 35222 (205) 254-2025 In the years following the Civil War, Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces became the mecca of pig iron needed for thousands of steel products around the country. (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). Because after an entire life of drudgery and cleaning, that's how every woman wants to spend her afterlife. This photo was taken in 1973. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. A photo of the Richard Crocheron mansion in the 1880s, when it was already an abandoned ruin. We're sure this Victorian home in rural Missouri was once quite beautiful. 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. For this feature, Ive combined those two loves. History and Hauntings Tours of Decatur's Spirits, Scandals & Sins, TOURS:The Haunted Decatur Tours run either 3 or 4 hours in length -- depending on the tour - and travel by bus to various locations throughout the city. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. The ruins of Fort Morgan, built in 1819, are spooky on their own. The firefighters felt that is simply wasn't worth the risk to aggressively try to stop the fire, and to let the fire burn itself. (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. However, the family cemetery remains. Soon, the family heard the sounds of Evelyn playing the piano down there and decided to send her body to Virginia to be buried in her familys cemetery. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. The oddest sighting is an apparition that appears to be half-wolf and half-man. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. 1. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. Dicksonia Plantation in Lowndesboro had a reputation in its day as a stately mansion in picturesque surroundings. He was arrested January 1878, and confined to the garret of the present building. The historic, two-story jail was built in ca. The national recognized museum first opened in 1980 and was reinvented and reopened in summer 2019. The northeast of Alabama is part of the TAG area (the region where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet). Alabama, Should Be on Your Radar. 30+ Abandoned Industrial Buildings In Alabama | Abandoned Alabama Archive - Industrial Western Railway of Alabama February 13, 2023 Add comment | City/Town: Montgomery The Montgomery Railroad, later known as the Western Railway of Alabama, was one of the earliest railroads in the South. Take I-65 to Decatur, Exit 334. Updated at 1 p.m. after the owner of the home previously mentioned said the details were incorrect and there are no legends surrounding his home. For decades, even before the great ship's arrival in Mobile Bay in 1965 when she was established as a tourist attraction, people have reported hearing strange noises and seeing shadowy figures below decks. Possibly among the most inane of haunted reports, people claim to see a green light in the cemetery at night. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. were demolished but the main house remains, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends. Red Lady of Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Pratt Hall, a dorm at Huntingdon College, is haunted by a spirit known as the Red Lady because she is always dressed in red. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). She would die from her burns on Feb. 6 at the age of 17. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. It is also home to numerous legends and ghost tales. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. Parts of the building have been renovated into living space but the penthouse, basement and old bank area remain abandoned and off-limits, awaiting restoration. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. An old well house at the Chalkville Training School for Girls. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). (Source: Edward Bennett/Gaines Ridge Dinner Club Facebook page). In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. In 1854, Colonel Dan Conklin started a whiskey distillery, racetrack and brothel on the outskirts of Decatur, which would earn the city its first unflattering nickname of "Hell's Half Acre." 2. In life, she reportedly lived in a shack in the woods. Today only ruins remain. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. The Tennessee River railroad bridge on Alabama Highway 43 in Florence is shown in the late 1960s. (Submitted by Callum Swift). The buildings flank Alabama Avenue.. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. Although there are no detailed legends about this site, many believe it is haunted. At this playground set up near the cemetery, the ghosts of children play and swing on the swingsets. All the locals know it as "Abbie's House," as it was built and lived in by Abbie Smith, who founded the United Methodist church in nearby Warrenton, AL. Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. Measured by other resorts built in Alabama in the 1800s, such as nearby Shelby Springs Hotel or Blount Springs Resort, the Dennemora Hotel offered a pared-down version of entertainment. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. Find museums in Decatur, AL, Dead Children's Playground - Maple Hill Cemetery, Off Campus Book Store - University of North Alabama, University of North Alabama - Romeo and Juliet statues, Wesleyan Hall - University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium - University of North Alabama. This popular ghost town was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. The reason there are all these caves . Some say they can hear the call of a bird that soon morphs into a young girls screams. The Haunted Decatur Tours are based on the bestselling book by Troy Taylor, HAUNTED DECATUR. 3. He playfully flushed toilets and used ice machines. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. The rare folk-art stones, declared historic sites by the National Park Service, have unfortunately been all but destroyed by vandals. Legend says it is haunted by a woman named Annie, who acted as a nanny for the children in the home and was later the owners caretaker. It is alleged that you can hear the screams of soldiers who died in the Civil War at this cemetery. McCandless Hall auditorium, which opened in 1914, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Abigail Burns, an opera singer. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The property is still owned by the Department of Mental Health and is trespassing is illegal. Connie Pearson 1. At the heart of the Deep South, the state of Alabama offers a wealth of opportunities for urban explorers. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. 15. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. . Vernon Hospital for the Colored Insane. Location: 30338 Lester Road, Lester, Alabama Hours: 7 to 11 p.m. Website: Click here Haunted House of Horror About: Wander around an 8,000 square-foot town filled with supernatural scares. The Victoria Inn was built ca. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. According to legend, Burns performed at the buildings opening night and was carrying a bouquet of roses as she boarded her carriage to return to her hotel in Huntsville. Click herefor more photos. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. One version of the story claims Molly was the ghost of a woman who had lost an infant who dealt with the tragedy by hugging local children. Tuscumbia, Alabama 39 miles from Decatur, AL A former slave plantation, it is believed to be haunted by slaves that lived and died here and also possibly by the ghosts of its former owners. According to legend, many apparitions haunt the house. There are several websites out there that state something to the effect of "Aunt Johnson would hang anyone who trespassed on her property and the rope can still be seen to this day." After the capital was moved to Montgomery, the Tuscaloosa building was used as the Alabama Central Female College. Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. Local legend claims that a woman appears should a visitor kiss the tallest tombstone. More history, more hauntings, and more off-the-bus locations, this 4-hour tour delves into the most ghost-infested people and places in Decatur's history. From vacant factories and industrial sites to long-shuttered schoolhouses, our list of the 10 most amazing abandoned places in Alabama has a little bit of everything. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. Rural Southwest Alabama says, It was constructed using hand-hewn yellow pine timbers joined together with large wooden pegs. It has been moved twice and now rests across Duck Pond at the University of West Alabama. Either way, the photos are intriguing. The historic courthouse is used for events and education art displays. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. He may flush the toilet as well. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. As Ive discovered over the years, people are fascinated with abandoned places. The cotton press in the Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. The newly renovated inn is now called Hotel Finial. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. The figure was as much as 7 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Don't Edit The Gainesridge Dinner Club has been named the "Most Haunted Restaurant" in Alabama. If you'd like to see the "behind the scenes" drama of Decatur's haunted past, then this is the tour for you! The slave quarters were demolished. Legend says if you stop by the cemetery gate and put your car in neutral, the Lady in White will push you away from the spot where she was killed so youll be safe. The 1833 Old State Bank of Alabama in Decatur as it was getting a coat of paint in 1934 after it had been abandoned for decades. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling. White orbs also appear in the childrens room. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. Best Restaurants in Decatur, AL - The RailYard, Two Fish & A Toad, The Moody Crab, Simp McGhee's, Brick Deli, Francesco's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Bank Street Grill, Hard Dock, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Sushi Sumo Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. The family reportedly had the image sandblasted from the stone but it soon returned. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. Legend claims a phantom woman would appear to children, but only at night. Get more stories delivered right to your email. From lost burial grounds to haunted theaters, the Haunted Decatur Tour is much more than just a run-of-the-mill ghost tour! With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. (Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). B.B. Jack Cole Road is a dirt road in a densely wooded area off Highway 7. secret traditions. Japeth Rawls. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). Decatur Alabama is a city in Morgan and Limestone counties in the State of Alabama. Check out the 15 most haunted places in Decatur then learn more by visiting HauntedDecatur.com. Cemeteries near Decatur, AL People report hearing maniacal screaming among other reported paranormal activity. Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? I worked there as a jailor in the county jail there in the old part when it was on the 2nd floor. The ruins of the building that served as the Alabama Capitol from 1826-1846 have been preserved as Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa. 5. Some sources sayit opened in the 1890s as a mental hospital. It is now an event venue. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. At least one of the buildings at Robinson's Switch has the shape of a depot and another long building appears to have been a railroad warehouse. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. This account of the hauntings comes from RawlsBandB.com: Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. As the Drish mansion lore goes, the ghost of Sarah was furious about this and occasionally locals will see the third-story tower lit in flames. Find . The Penney Building is a 31,000-square-foot structure in downtown Dothan. In the 1830s, settlers continued to move into the area to use Arcola as a river landing. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. Melton also writes that Hall married Mary E. Scruggs of Lawrence County, Tennessee in 1859 where they resided until his death on May 28, 1880. NOTE: These homes and buildings are located on private property. 1820 plantation house. She is said to have died instantly. Local residents have reported seeing a strange mist rise up in the area in front of the statue of boxing great Joe Louis, who was born in Chambers County. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. 1890s commissary that served the mining families still stands but the vine-covered building is said the be the site of miners killed at the site. As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. As the river trade continued to increase, the town continued to grow. Our "history tour with ghosts" reveals not only the highlights of the city's history, but also reveals the history "that no one wants you to know" -- from crime scenes, to scandals, unsolved murders, and more. Mining continued in Arbacoochee until the 1930s, but the town never recovered and became a ghost town by 1990. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. One surviving example is the stone on the grave of Korea Nettles, which has three faces said to be those of her children. In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. The Decatur Mall is anchored by Belk, jcpenney Outlet, Sears and Regal Cinemas. Locals get an eerie feeling around this building. The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. Legend says the face of a woman appears on a tombstone in Sandlin Cemetery. Legend says if someone says, We have your baby, she will attack. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. Another popular tale is the appearance of theapparition of the ghost ship of the Eliza Battle, which burned on the Tombigbee River in 1858 killing more than 30 people. It was destroyed by Union forces in 1865. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. It was designed in the Eastlake style of. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. Located in Decatur, Alabama, the Ardent Mills Decatur facility is a pneumatic mill and one of the most automated mills in the United States. According toGhostsofAmerica.com: "We heard a sound like chains clinking together right behind us and beside us. Cook Museum. In the small south Alabama town of Mount Vernon, one of the state's greatest historical treasures is slowly being consumed by kudzu, time and apathy. She never harmed them, other than perhaps causing some ringing in their ears. People also love vintage photos that show what those past lives were like in Alabama. You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. Click hereto see more from Cottage Hill. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. Stewartfield in Mobile. 33.7 miles from Decatur, TX A former gambling parlour in 1910, the Bull Ring is located in the historic district of the Fort Worth Stockyards. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. During the Confederate occupation General John Bell resided there and during the Union occupation, General Sherman himself stayed at Wesleyan. In 1902 the new facility was finished, featuring 33 buildings, a power station, and a general store. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! This photo was taken in 1934 when the home was abandoned. No matter what part of the state you are in, if you ask around youre sure to be pointed to a haunted site. Although the spot where the Dallas Mill was is now open field, legend has it was once haunted by a man who died while working there. The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. Reportedly, an unusually high number people who lived along the road have died; some say 68 since 1890.