His ghost has been sited several times by a lot of people. If that wasnt creepy enough, visitors have been known to hear the sounds of a rocking chair moving back and forth as they pass. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. People are fascinated with abandoned sites. At this playground set up near the cemetery, the ghosts of children play and swing on the swingsets. The A ghost named George is said to live here, a former construction worker who fell from a scaffold as the place was being built. It is said to be haunted by the men and women who died during the raid. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. This building now houses a geriatric treatment facility but when it was a hospital, employees claimed it was haunted by a ghost named Homer. Homer would roam the halls as a dark shape. The chain purchased Sears. It was rebuilt and operated until 1923. Abandoned rail shops at the Western Railway of Alabama at 701 North Perry St. in Montgomery are shown in the 1960s. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. Winter Place is actually a complex with two huge homes; the second is that both homes are in dire need of renovation. Bass Cemetery is located off a dirt road in the woods. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. The ghost of a boy who died there is said to haunt the park. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. The Alabama Center for the Arts, a 44,000 square foot arts education facility, and the Princess Theater, a historic art-deco theater built in 1919 are also nearby. Some say they can hear the call of a bird that soon morphs into a young girls screams. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). The hangings were carried out inside the jail, and the spirits of those men reportedly never left. Are the former owners of this home-turned-library angry at the intrusion into their afterlives or just trying to say hello? Jemison Center, former insane asylum for African Americans. The Chamber of Commerce building, above right, was constructed in 1910 as a bank. It was used during the Civil War as a hospital. The most haunted bridge in our state is aptly named Hell's Gate Bridge, located in Oxford. Legends surrounding this church are astounding in number and scope. Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. 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. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. The reason there are all these caves . Completely inundated, this abandoned town exists in a watery grave. Members of Steel City Urbex were allowed into the bank area and the basement that are being developed for a business such as a restaurant or wine cellar, he said. In some cases, homes and buildings on the verge of collapse were saved. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. The Victoria Inn was built ca. The date of the photograph is unknown, but it was probably taken in the late 19th or early 20th century, after the building had been used as a grist mill. It is no longer standing. What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama? The Decatur Mall is anchored by Belk, jcpenney Outlet, Sears and Regal Cinemas. The most infamous haunted location in Alabama is The Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham. ", StrangeUSA.comsays ghosts of inmates can be heard: "Legend has it that their screams can be heard as they were being burned to death, and you can hear the laugher of the guards that stood by watching.". 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. And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. (Historic American Engineering Record/Library of Congress). 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. Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War. For 75 years, the stone structures built by the Works Progress Administration in Chalkville sheltered girls labeled "incorrigible," "delinquent," or "wayward," although most arrived at the Alabama Training School for Girls because of behavioral and emotional problems and had committed no crimes, according toits superintendent in 1966. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. Abandoned Places In Alabama 1. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. William J. Samford Hall in the Auburn University Historic District. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. Unclaimed/Abandoned Vehicle Portal - Alabama Atlanta Prison Farm - Atlanta, Georgia - Atlas Obscura According to legend, the site is haunted by spirits of numerous people hung from the limbs of the tree in its 200- to 300-year history. Battle of Decatur - Digital Alabama IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. The spirit of a murdered woman is said to haunt a dirt road behind a Texaco station in this small community. Every year during Halloween a pumpkin mysteriously makes its way into Romeo's hands. We know not everyone will agree about the legend in his or her county. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. It is named for war veteran and politician Joseph Wheeler, as is nearby Wheeler Lake. The historic rock building is said to be haunted by two ghosts: one of an older man whose spirit reportedly sets things on fire and slams doors, and one of a little boy whose laughter is heard throughout the theater. Metal Detecting in Alabama: 50 Secrets You Need to Know Nebo Baptist Church. People claim to hear singing and voices in the area surrounding the property and some claim they have seen the apparition of a woman walking the grounds. Winter Place at 454 Goldthwaite Street is one of the most iconic properties in Montgomery and in the state, both because of its Second Empire-style beauty and its history, which includes acting as offices for the Confederate Army and, according to legend, being the place where F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre met, setting off one of the most fiery romances of the Jazz Age. Legend claims a phantom woman would appear to children, but only at night. Don Robinson State Park, Cedar Hill has a plethora of ruins. You may even stumble upon an old, abandoned homestead site in the woods. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. Mining continued in Arbacoochee until the 1930s, but the town never recovered and became a ghost town by 1990. These assets may be in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, insurance benefits or even valuables from safe deposit boxes. The Grace Evans house in Cahaba, the states first capital city, in the 1930s, decades after the town was abandoned due to flooding. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! Read more 0 Get more stories delivered right to your email. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. 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. Today, the only thing remaining in the area is the Prairie Bluff Cemetery. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Find out if abandoned structures in these vintage photos were saved - al An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. 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. This abandoned funeral home in Opelika still has hearses and caskets inside its casket showcase room. These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. Abandoned Fitness Decatur Al - 2023 | UsFitnessFinder.com Whatley home no longer stands, it is shown above in 1936, but legend says the site is still haunted. Sketoe's Hole is the site where Methodist minister William "Bill" Sketoe Sr. (1818- 1864) was hanged during the Civil War. According to the Auburn University Libraries, this is the only known interior photograph of the building that served as the Dallas County Courthouse at Old Cahaba from ca. Since it was erected in 1922, the Masonicbuilding has a public library for black residents and home to offices for prominent black doctors and lawyers, as well as the local NAACP. (Source: Karen Manasco via FindaGrave.com). List of ghost towns in Colorado - Wikipedia White orbs also appear in the childrens room. According to the Dothan Eagle, employees noticed strange sights in Bella's and Colby's restaurants on the lower floors, including lights turning off and on by themselves and dishes crashing to the floor. It is reportedly haunted by men killed during training. Built in 1842, the old Coosa County Jail, known as the Old Rock Jail, is the oldest surviving stone jail in Alabama. This isolated, one-lane bridge in rural Chilton County is said the be haunted by a malevolent spirit that chases people who cross it. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. Posted: (10 days ago) Decatur, AL: 1802 Central Pkwy SW Decatur, AL 35601-5808 1 520.30 Haywood County, NC: 2147 Asheville Rd Waynesville, NC 28786-3139 1 520.90 Rogers Water Utilities, AR: 601 S 2nd St Rogers, AR 72756-4608 3 521.10 Galax, VA: 111 E Grayson St Galax, VA 24333-2903 View Details Govdeals.com Fitness View More Inside Alabama's abandoned Ruffner Mountain mine, site of 1971 explosion, These abandoned Alabama bridges will make you wonder what's on the other side, Eerie abandoned campus of Alabama's girls reform school, Ghost boats: Abandoned Alabama watercraft, Inside the spooky skeleton of Bryce, Alabama's historic insane hospital, 15 riveting ruins that recount Alabama's past, Crumbling Shelby Hotel gives spooky glimpse into Alabama's resort era. They were holding candles, and her hair caught fire. The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. The land this was built on was at one time a cemetery. If you stop on the bridge and turn off your lights, the couple will enter your car and leave behind a wet stain on your car seat. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. This Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1837 by Dr. John R. Drish who died in 1867. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. This floor is allegedly haunted by an inmate who hanged himself in one of the cells, where visitors have reported feeling a sad presence. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. An old well house at the Chalkville Training School for Girls. According to legend, she was driving her baby in a horse-drawn carriage one night. Because the ground was frozen at the time, she was placed in a coffin in the cellar. People claim that her ghost still haunts her Bankhead Forest property, angry at anyone who trespasses. Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. The able-bodied patients at Jemison worked on a hospital farm. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893. It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. Click hereto see more photos. Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama - Southern Living 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. Residents hear screaming and footsteps and other ghostly sounds. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Her spirit can also be seen floating past windows on the second floor. At least, nothing human. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. That's right, allegedly there are sightings of a ghost sweeping. The burned-out shell of the Dicksonia mansion was left after a 1964 fire because the damage to the foundation was too extensive for repairs. Following her death in 1962, people claimed to see a kneeling figure at the grave, according to "Haunted Places: The National Directory." When she finally reached her home and reported the accident to her husband, the man began drinking to soothe his grief. Montevallo, established in 1896, is reportedly haunted by the spirit of student Condie Cunningham. As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. 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. Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. the interior, seen here from the doorway, is closed to the public because it is unsafe. 14. Within 15 years, the town had 5,000 residents. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, "Haunted Places: The National Directory. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. When they turn to look, nothing is there. It is to her that witnesses attribute the sound of footsteps, lights that turn on and off by themselves, cold spots, and a phantom Locals tell a tale of playground sounds that can be heard at night: children laughing, playing and having fun. At the WHBC frat house, they say former Youth Minister Anthony Stephens' spirit walks through the house later at night. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. GHOST HUNTER'S TOUR: Created in 2005, the extended Ghost Hunter's Tour is a supernatural bus trip with an extra hour of spirits, scandals and sins! The ruins of Fort Morgan, built in 1819, are spooky on their own. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Some have heard footsteps from the second floor and the sound of the piano playing when no one is there. 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. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. Haunted Places in Decatur, Indiana Abandoned slave quarters and workshops behind the Cabaniss House at 603 Randolph St. in Huntsville. Having promised her adoring audience she would return, she was killed in an accident on the way. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. Kelly Kazek |[email protected]. 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. It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. Listed below are eight creepy Alabama ghost towns worth a visit. 1820 plantation house. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. He playfully flushed toilets and used ice machines. The old Bibb County Jail, built ca. 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. Decatur, Alabama | Ghostly World All rights reserved (About Us). Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. Amazing Abandoned Places in Alabama: Top 10 Choices In 2023 Haunted Places in Hartselle, Alabama This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. McCandless Hall auditorium, which opened in 1914, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Abigail Burns, an opera singer. (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). In 1909, Kirkseys wheelchair-bound daughter Margaretta Eliza, who was 29 years old, fell from the second-floor balcony. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Haunted Places in Decatur, Alabama Go north on AL-67 approximately 7 miles. 1. According to legend, as Wells peered out of the north window, at a mob gathering below, lightning struck nearby, indelibly etching his image on the pane. Officials have marked the site with an arrow so visitors can spot the face.. Alabama's Official Travel Guide Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person Nancys spirit is distraught over not being able to bury her son. Isaac Nettles Sr., a black inventor born in the 1880s, created cement masks of people in life and later used them to adorn headstones in the cemetery adjoining Mt. StorageAuctions is the best place to find online storage auctions. 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. Hall Hotel dates to 1895 and residents of Gurley hope to restore it. This private property houses the infamous ghost bridge that has numerous claims of haunting. Murder Creek Bridge is located on this stretch. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. (Source: Don and Susie via FindaGrave.com). Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. It is alleged that you can hear the screams of soldiers who died in the Civil War at this cemetery. Fort Gaines, a historic fort on Dauphin Island, was established in 1821 and is well known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. NOTE: This site is continually monitored with video surveillance. He is known to flush toilets, independently operate ice machines and brush past people leaving them with chills. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. Located in Decatur, Alabama, the Ardent Mills Decatur facility is a pneumatic mill and one of the most automated mills in the United States. 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. The Empire Building, one of four that make up the "Heaviest Corner on Earth" in downtown Birmingham, is a 16-story, 247-foot-tall Classical Revival-style skyscraper. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. This courthouse was built in 1868 when Seale was the county seat from 1866-1942. 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. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. Trespassing is illegal. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama shedin Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. 10.7K subscribers Exploring Abandoned Kmart Decatur Alabama Kmart is a chain of big box department stores headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. The population in 2010 census was 55,683. 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. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. Several of the brick structures that Pratt built are still used today for an industry manufacturing cotton gins. Many people claim theyve seen a face behind the barred windows of the second floor but the building was empty. What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. The courthouse burned in 1866 and was rebuilt. According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. The 13 Most Haunted Hotels in Alabama | Haunted Rooms America Legend says those who face the front of the house will feel a tap on their shoulders and see a dark figure running across the roof. Some people claim Sydneys ghost followed the drama students to the Telfair Peet Theater when it was constructed in the 1970s. Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. (Picture: The Boyaux fortification at the Blakeley battleground). As Ive discovered over the years, people are fascinated with abandoned places. Today, it is house museum that can be toured by appointment. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). 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. If you agree to give him a ride, witnesses Alabama is fond of getting into Hell it seems. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. During the Confederate occupation General John Bell resided there and during the Union occupation, General Sherman himself stayed at Wesleyan. 15. This abandoned railway line was originally chartered as the Rome and Decatur Railroad sometime after the Civil War to build a line from Rome, GA across Alabama to Decatur, starting in 1887. The stately relics are located, oddly, on the outskirts of a neighborhood of beautifully restored turn-of-the-20th-century cottages, a beautifully restored 1925 elementary school, churches and a few businesses. What it did offer was good food, comfortable bedrooms, outdoor activities and, according toa history of Shelby Iron Works, the first accommodations with electricity and indoor plumbing in the state. From it's earliest days, the city of Decatur gained a reputation as a place where ghost stories were common -- from tales told by the settlers to haunted houses and hotels. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. She reportedly haunts her old room on the third floor. Police Impound and Abandoned Tow Auctions in Alabama Combined, the TAG area contains more than 14,000 caves (9,200 in Tennessee and 600 in Georgia). (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. Storage Auctions in Alabama - AL - StorageAuctions.com The building was constructed in 1930. Months after Pegues was killed in battle in 1862, strolling lovers claimed to see an orb in the garden behind the home. The Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. ", 3. For tour information and fees, visit the ghost town's websitehere. Youve Never Experienced Anything Like The Epic Old Railroad Bed Trail, An Abandoned Railroad Hike In Alabama, The Alabama Ghost Town Thats Perfect For An Autumn Day Trip, A Haunting Road Trip Through Alabama Ghost Towns To Take If You Dare, Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural Alabama, This Small Alabama Town Is One Of The Creepiest Ghost Towns In America, This Abandoned Funeral Home In Alabama Will Chill You To The Bone, Nature Is Reclaiming This Deserted Alabama Resort And Its Actually Amazing, Everyone In Alabama Should See What This Abandoned Film Set Looks Like. 10 Must-Try Decatur Alabama Restaurants | Where to eat - Foodie Flashpacker Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. It was named for nearby Sweetwater Creek. Click hereto see more photos of Robinson's Switch. Others have claimed to see odd sights while driving the road, from lights darting through the trees to ghostly figures. . This photo was taken in 1973. But at night, people have reported seeing shadowy figures wandering inside the crumbling walls, as well as strange mists and odd noises. Alabama Unclaimed Property - Official State Website The church is now a ruin but the adjoining cemetery remains. In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble.