the interior, seen here from the doorway, is closed to the public because it is unsafe. Alabama's 12 Most Haunted Places 1. 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 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. 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. His ghost has been sited several times by a lot of people. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. At least two, possibly . It is also home to numerous legends and ghost tales. And why? It is no longer standing. He was buried in Bladon Springs Cemetery alongside the graves of his three children who died before the age of six, including Bertha Jaquetta, Mabel Clare, and James Alfred. She founded many of the things Judson students still love: theConversationalistyearbook, theTriangle(student newspaper), theScrimshawliterary magazine, the college archives, and several (shh!) During the Confederate occupation General John Bell resided there and during the Union occupation, General Sherman himself stayed at Wesleyan. 5. 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. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. B.B. The spirit of a murdered woman is said to haunt a dirt road behind a Texaco station in this small community. Montevallo, established in 1896, is reportedly haunted by the spirit of student Condie Cunningham. The 1893 Peyton building in downtown Bridgeport in the 1930s. The activity is reportedly caused by the spirit of a woman who died on the top floor in the 1950s. It is named for war veteran and politician Joseph Wheeler, as is nearby Wheeler Lake. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. It hasnt been used since 2000. Click here to see a five-part history of the Mt. InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. 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. Not much info on this, apart from the fact that it is an old, abandoned butcher's shop on the side of this dirt road, about 1.5 miles south from Fletcher Road. It says, "Anne E. Kirtley gave many years of her life as a beloved professor at Judson. The most haunted bridge in our state is aptly named Hell's Gate Bridge, located in Oxford. A pearly white marble known as Chewacla Marble was mined in the quarry. 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.. (Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). The ca. 10.7K subscribers Exploring Abandoned Kmart Decatur Alabama Kmart is a chain of big box department stores headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. This historic fort is one of the best-preserved Civil War era masonry forts in the U.S. Fort Gaines has become a tourist attraction and on the property you'll find original cannons, a blacksmith shop, kitchens, a museum, gift shop and a few tunnels. (Source: Spyder_Monkey via Wikimedia Commons). During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. 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. The Jemison Center was built in the 1920s as part of Bryce Hospital, which opened in Tuscaloosa as the Alabama State Hospital for the Insane at the outset of the Civil War. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. She never harmed them, other than perhaps causing some ringing in their ears. Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. HAUNTED HISTORY TOUR: Our longest-running tour is a spirited bus tour that takes guests on a 3-hour excursion to Decatur's most haunted locations. 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. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. However, they say eventually the happy noises turn to unhappy ones, as if the children are screaming for their lives. Read more 0 (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). This site was visited with permission. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. Although the mist is not thought to be connected to the statue, it does form the shape of a figure as it rises, before disappearing. Flickr/Renee May. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. "Forks of Cypress" ruins near Florence. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. After Old Main burned in 1887, the Chapel was used for classrooms until Samford Hall was built. 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. Cook Museum of Natural Science 123 Science Museums Educational sites By alwildflower3 It's fun for groups, children of all ages, and solo adults or couples. Take a look. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. The abandoned Peerless Laundry building at Royal and Conti streets in Mobile. Across fromSt. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware, a tiny catch-all store at the crossroads of Lowndes County Roads 29 and 40, is a narrow, shaded dirt lane that leads to one of Alabama's best-kept secrets. 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). As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. 5) Higdon Hotel Joy Castello / Flickr The Higdon Hotel has been closed for business since 1920, but the beautiful building still stands. Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. The Victoria Inn was built ca. Please follow the law and be safe. It is now a concert venue. Hayden Pursley spent three years restoring the historic hotel and had several stories he often told to include seeing a girl around the age of 12 running down the halls. He also experienced a ghost, thought to Capt. ", 3. However, the family cemetery remains. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. 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. Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. An elevator that runs by itself. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA. 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. If you have a specific location from the list below It is now a concert venue. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Huntsville. Eerie. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person It was used during the Civil War as a hospital. Princess Theatre in Decatur, Alabama M MSNHA Storage Buildings Old Barns Built In Storage Lauderdale Garages Sheds Beautiful Things Old Barn on Spring Avenue, Decatur, Alabama B Bonnie Goodman Little Theatre Old Signs Once In A Lifetime Movie Theater Performance Art Decatur Alabama great little Theater C Coil Billingsley Southern Homes When she finally reached her home and reported the accident to her husband, the man began drinking to soothe his grief. Built in 1842, the old Coosa County Jail, known as the Old Rock Jail, is the oldest surviving stone jail in Alabama. Click hereto see more from Cottage Hill. You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. The hospital closed for good in 1957 and the building was later used for a variety of purposes, including Dorsey Yarbrough's National School of Music. The Knight Sanitorium is a three-story brick building. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. Brick Deli is housed in a building that dates back over a century. At the site of Mount Vernon Arsenal, founded in 1828, more than 30 historic buildings are rotting where they stand, including those that housed, at differing times, Geronimo, a Civil War militia,Dr. Walter Reedand African American mental patients when it was the Mount Vernon Asylum for the Colored Insane, later known as Searcy Hospital. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. Others claim to have seen the apparition of a man in a top hat in the parlor. (Picture: St. Stephens Gravesite), Riverton, located in Colbert County, Alabama, was an old trade town that was destroyed when the Pickwick Landing Dam was built during the 1930s. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Folks say that when you stand outside the crypt, you can hear the rocking chair rocking. Groups such as Main Street Birmingham, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation have attempted to find a use for it and funding to refurbish it. The courthouse burned in 1866 and was rebuilt. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. Site of Consolation Church and Cemetery, Greenville. An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? The Haunted Decatur Tours are based on the bestselling book by Troy Taylor, HAUNTED DECATUR. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. A pyromaniac ghost? Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, a scarecrow apparition moves from room to room on this floor. According to legend, she was driving her baby in a horse-drawn carriage one night. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. It is said to be haunted by former patients. 100+ Abandoned Places In Alabama | Explore Alabama 2023 Recent Locations Judge A. E. Singleton House February 27, 2023 | City/Town: Union Springs Judge Singleton House This home located on North Prairie Street in Union Springs, Alabama was built by Judge A. E. Singleton sometime between 1900 and 1903. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. Guests of the inn reported seeing apparitions on the porch and downstairs of a woman in Victorian dress and a little girl. An old bridge off Mothershed Road is known as Mary Daniel Bridge. (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. The Tennessee River railroad bridge on Alabama Highway 43 in Florence is shown in the late 1960s. The cemetery is said to be haunted by the ghost of Norman Staples, captain of a sternwheel steamer who killed himself with a shotgun in 1913 at the age of 44. Late at night, people have reported hearing eerie footsteps echoing on the decks of the War World II-era battleship USS Alabama. 16) You Can Search for Gold in Several Public Places Gold mining and treasure hunting locations in Alabama start in Chilton County and continue northeast to the Georgia State line. See map for precise location. 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. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. A photo of the Richard Crocheron mansion in the 1880s, when it was already an abandoned ruin. It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. (Source: Edward Bennett/Gaines Ridge Dinner Club Facebook page). the inventory is constantly changing as new places come up for auction. 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. In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. Before long he was drunk and, in his anger, he dragged his wife to the bridge and hanged her from the railing before jumping to his death. In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. A baby is said to have died there, either from murder, a car accident, a wagon accident from pioneer days, or variations on the theme. Although this hospital is now closed and operates a geriatric-psych ward, employees tell tales of "Homer" a ghost who roamsthe halls. In life, she reportedly lived in a shack in the woods. The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. Now, it's just old and long abandoned. Ruins of theMemphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. Located in a beautiful 1820s home, the restaurant is known for its family of ghosts including a woman screaming and calling out as she floats past the windows and the ghostly reflection of a tall, bearded man in black, known as Old Ebeneezer Hearn. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. 1830s to 1866. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. Click here to read more. Kelly Kazek |kkazek@al.com. It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. The hotel's location next to the Shelby Iron Works, built in 1842 for access to a spring on the property, made it a popular weekend destination for the public but it was also used by employees of the Iron Works. 14. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. The spirit of an inmate who committed suicide in the building is reported to walk its halls. Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. 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. When Huntingdon was a Methodist female college, a young woman allegedly committed suicide in the dorm and continues to haunt it. 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. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. Hall Hotel dates to 1895 and residents of Gurley hope to restore it. Tales of Huggin' Molly also can be found in Louisiana and Florida, with variations. Find . Connie Pearson 1. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. A local storyteller dressed in period clothing leads the one-mile tour of haunted hotels, infamous murder sites, cemeteries, and more. But this playground is different. All rights reserved (About Us). Home Size. Click hereto see more photos. She is buried in Birminghams Elmwood Cemetery. 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. It's now underwater and the only remnant left of the town is a cemetery. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. Also, the construction of Millers Ferry Lock and Dam in 1963 was really overwhelming. The grounds are maintained and the site is available to rent for photography and events from Dorothy Skipper Rental LLC. The canyon's proximity to the Natchez Trace, which was known as the Devil's Backbone, made it a choice hideout for many outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers along the Trace. Legend says the apparition of a woman named Nancy, for whom Nancys Mountain is named, haunts a path to the river on Haines Island, shown above. Several of the brick structures that Pratt built are still used today for an industry manufacturing cotton gins. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. Possibly among the most inane of haunted reports, people claim to see a green light in the cemetery at night. Some people claim Sydneys ghost followed the drama students to the Telfair Peet Theater when it was constructed in the 1970s. Rumored to be haunted by an old man ghost with a fondness for flammables as well as a young boy who is often heard laughing. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. Some say theyve seen orbs of light that appear to float on the river. Unfortunately, the introduction of new railroads following the American Civil War really hurt the town. Months after Pegues was killed in battle in 1862, strolling lovers claimed to see an orb in the garden behind the home. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. Flickr/Annie Chartrand. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. Contact this Facility Decatur Mill 2050 Market St NE Decatur, AL 35601 256-280-4761 Number of Team Members: 40+ It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. This account of the hauntings comes from RawlsBandB.com: Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. But, after burning twice in its 186-year history, the elegant mansion is more famous in its ruinous state than it ever was as a family home. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. 2. The Decatur Mall is anchored by Belk, jcpenney Outlet, Sears and Regal Cinemas. Visitors here may see ghostly children coming out to play. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. Some people say they've heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. It is reportedly haunted by men killed during training. In the 1830s, settlers continued to move into the area to use Arcola as a river landing. Because after an entire life of drudgery and cleaning, that's how every woman wants to spend her afterlife. Gen. John Brahan, a veteran of the War of 1812, began construction on Sweetwater Plantation in the 1830s. If you agree to give him a ride, witnesses Alabama is fond of getting into Hell it seems. We know not everyone will agree about the legend in his or her county. Temple B'nai Shalom in Huntsville's Old Town Historic District, in Huntsville. The home was featured in the late Katherine Tucker Windham's book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey., The skeletal facade ofan abandoned jail lurks in the woods in the community of Townley in Walker County, near Carbon Hill. 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. An obituary written by J. T. Melton states that Hall was born on March 3, 1830, in Lawrence County, Tennessee, although there is conflicting evidence that he was actually born on March 4, 1924. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. The house has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The ruins of the building that served as the Alabama Capitol from 1826-1846 have been preserved as Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa. It was rebuilt and operated until 1923. Matt Glasscock, who took the photo at left, and members of Steel City Urbex were invited by the owner to tour some of the closed portions of the City Federal building in downtown Birmingham. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. In this 1934 photo, renovation work had begun on Spring Villa in Opelika. These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. Local writer and historian Lee Peacock said the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 65 between Evergreen and Greenville is known as "The Haunted Highway." The oddest sighting is an apparition that appears to be half-wolf and half-man. 1914. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). Cook Museum. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). If you want to suggest another tale, email kkazek@al.com or comment below. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. This home was allegedly the site of the murders of an entire family that haunts the site. According to legend, many apparitions haunt the house. In 1902 the new facility was finished, featuring 33 buildings, a power station, and a general store. Trespassing is punishable by law. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. The historic Josephine Hotel, built in 1880 in downtown Union Springs, now houses a cafe, art studio and gift shop. All Rights Reserved. Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. Peacock said it's the "site of numerous unusual accidents over the years, including several that have resulted in fatalities and catastrophic fires. One truck driver said that he struck the bridge after a ghostly horse-drawn carriage crossed the interstate in front of him. Today, the only thing remaining in the area is the Prairie Bluff Cemetery. The property is for sale. The able-bodied patients at Jemison worked on a hospital farm.
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