It is now the site of a Hampton Inn. It was used during the Civil War as a hospital. The legend was recorded by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. 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. The able-bodied patients at Jemison worked on a hospital farm. Please follow the law and be safe. It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. The son of former Alabama governor, Robert Patton is said to be one of many ghosts to haunt the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. Passersby often say they can see the swings moving on their own volition, as well as orbs or spectral figures. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. ", 3. It is said that a mysterious fog covers this area day or night, and it surrounds the gravestones. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. A stretch of Highway 5 between Natural Bridge and Jasper is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a teenage girl who was killed while returning from prom. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. "Abandoned Alabama: Exploring The Heart of Dixie," by Leland Kent, (Arcadia Publishing), 2021, 96 pages, softcover. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. Each tour gets on and off the bus throughout the night at the most haunted places in town and includes indoor locations, where you might just have the chance to meet a deceased Decatur resident face-to-face! Residents hear screaming and footsteps and other ghostly sounds. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. The 1893 Peyton building in downtown Bridgeport in the 1930s. Nebo Baptist Church. 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.. On Feb. 4, a fellow student spilled cleaning fluid onto the open stove and the kitchen caught fire. Every year during Halloween a pumpkin mysteriously makes its way into Romeo's hands. People have claimed to hear wails of banshees and see ghostly hell hounds and apparitions of Confederate soldiers. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. These display caskets left inside Memorial Mound still had price tags on them. These auctions tend to occur less frequently than typical public car auctions in Alabama. (Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). Are the former owners of this home-turned-library angry at the intrusion into their afterlives or just trying to say hello? Locals get an eerie feeling around this building. See map for precise location. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. 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. Rock Run is a residential community in Cherokee County where a small pocket of residents live in well-kept homes. The face appeared on the grave of Thomas second wife, Mary Jane Kittrell. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. During the Civil War, her husband and oldest son were reportedly murdered by members of the Home Guard because the son refused to join the army. The book, "Haunted Places: The National Directory" by Dennis William Hauck claims that this section of highway is haunted by the spirits of displaced Creek Indians and has resulted in an "accident rate that is well above average." Ruins of theMemphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. Winter Place 32.3713, -86.31589 History: Winter Place is the name of two old conjoined homes that date back to the mid-1850s. Click hereto see more photos. 15. 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. 3. Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." 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. Thank you! He was arrested January 1878, and confined to the garret of the present building. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. It was reportedly closed in 1924 and was later opened as a medical hospital. The destruction of these burial mounds cast a mysterious pall over the city -- a darkness that continues to linger today. The Haunted Decatur Tours are based on the bestselling book by Troy Taylor, HAUNTED DECATUR. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In the era of segregation, it was central to the cultural life of black Birmingham residents. In life, she reportedly lived in a shack in the woods. An old bridge off Mothershed Road is known as Mary Daniel Bridge. At the WHBC frat house, they say former Youth Minister Anthony Stephens' spirit walks through the house later at night. The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. 1888 as a private residence. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. In 2015, the church burned in a fire presumed to be caused by arson. These assets may be in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, insurance benefits or even valuables from safe deposit boxes. 1 of 16 1. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. It is now a concert venue. However, in the 2010s, no one was managing the site and vandals began tearing up the facility. Unfortunately, the introduction of new railroads following the American Civil War really hurt the town. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . It is no longer standing. An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. If you have a specific location from the list below An elevator that runs by itself. After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. Vice districts, gambling parlors and brothels sprang up in the wake of the railroads and the Civil War, bringing bloodshed and violence to the city. A pyromaniac ghost? Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. . According to legend, Jenny and her remaining sons set out to get revenge. People who cross the bridge hear the sounds of a babys cries. 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. What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama? This account of the hauntings comes from RawlsBandB.com: Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. The house is reportedly haunted by the spirit of an invalid woman who killed herself in the home in the 1960s. 2 bedrooms (5 homes) $159,629. He is reportedly always looking toward the Tombigbee River, where his beloved steamboat exploded. White orbs also appear in the childrens room. The remains were removed in 2015. It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. Read more 0 Abbie's House Guntersville, Alabama 39.5 miles from Decatur, AL This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. (Megan Willis via Forgotten Alabama Facebook page). Crime truly came to Decatur in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroads. When Hood arrived at Decatur on October 26, he found a Federal infantry force of 3,000 to 5,000 men defending an entrenched line that included two forts and 1,600 yards of rifle pits; a much heavier force than Roddey had believed. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. The ruins of the building that served as the Alabama Capitol from 1826-1846 have been preserved as Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa. 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. HAUNTED DECATUR is part of AMERICAN HAUNTINGS INKEMAIL: GHOSTS@AMERICANHAUNTINGS.NET Copyright 2023 by American Hauntings Ink. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. A marker on Court Square North in Carrollton tells of the Pickens County portrait: "A freedman, Henry Wells, was accused of burning the second on November 16, 1876. This abandoned town is reportedly haunted by spirits if former residents. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. 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." Cook Museum. Click hereto see more photos of Robinson's Switch. In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. It was also once the site of Castle Morgan, used to house prisoners of war during the Civil War. Contact this Facility Decatur Mill 2050 Market St NE Decatur, AL 35601 256-280-4761 Number of Team Members: 40+ What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. (Submitted by Callum Swift). The J.W. Flickr/Renee May. Coffins were stacked on racks like a storage facility. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. Today, only its stone foundations remain. The war ended before the plant went into operation. Cahawba, or Cahaba, was the state capital from 1820-1825 but was eventually abandoned because of flooding from the Alabama and Cahaba rivers. These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that were abandoned or otherwise not claimed by their owners after a period of time. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. William J. Samford Hall in the Auburn University Historic District. Many people claim theyve seen a face behind the barred windows of the second floor but the building was empty. See the last slide for links to more photos of abandoned sites in Alabama. However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. Some say the noises come from the ghosts of the original owners. He playfully flushed toilets and used ice machines. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY! Abandoned collapsing mines below the surface were to blame, but others suspect that the first building too closely resembled a grim medieval castle, and was scrapped for a more modern cottage design. Others have claimed to see odd sights while driving the road, from lights darting through the trees to ghostly figures. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. 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. For tour information and fees, visit the ghost town's websitehere. And why? (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). 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 She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. Detail of the abandoned mansion on Goldthwaite. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. Gen. John Brahan, a veteran of the War of 1812, began construction on Sweetwater Plantation in the 1830s. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. 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. They will come with a title that will be put into the auction bidder's name. NOTE: This site is continually monitored with video surveillance. This photo of the Alabama Capitol in Tuscaloosa was taken in the 1890s or early 1900s. Today, Jackson Lake Island is open to the public for camping and fishing. 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. Listed below are eight creepy Alabama ghost towns worth a visit. 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. It was torn down in 1952. Flickr/Annie Chartrand. Abandoned rail shops at the Western Railway of Alabama at 701 North Perry St. in Montgomery are shown in the 1960s. 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. The chain purchased Sears. 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). 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. It is named for war veteran and politician Joseph Wheeler, as is nearby Wheeler Lake. The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. What are the most haunted places in Alabama? It was also a very thriving town. During the Confederate occupation General John Bell resided there and during the Union occupation, General Sherman himself stayed at Wesleyan. Go north on AL-67 approximately 7 miles. 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. 35.2 miles from Decatur, IN This 1912 former hotel now houses the offices of a paranormal investigative team, who claim that the building is one of the most haunted in the entire state. Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. His ghost has been sited several times by a lot of people. However, the family cemetery remains. The last of our abandoned places: Balaklava, Ukraine. And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. 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. 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. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! 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. If you'd like to see the "behind the scenes" drama of Decatur's haunted past, then this is the tour for you! We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. We only offer a very limited number of these tours each season and it's one not to miss! According to legend, a female student was killed while she was trying to sneak out after curfew. 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. 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. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. People are fascinated with abandoned sites. 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. 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. We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! The church is now a ruin but the adjoining cemetery remains. The ROW can still be made out in many places . All rights reserved (About Us). People claim to hear disembodied laughter. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. Norwood, a community in Birmingham, is known among photographers and urban explorers for its crumbling abandoned mansions. This site was visited with permission. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. You may experience the presence of a Native American ghost named Mary who knocks things over, plays electrical pranks, alters the temperature, and whispers over the drive-through speakers.