OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. It was reportedly closed in 1924 and was later opened as a medical hospital. Jemison Center, former insane asylum for African Americans. 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. The first Dennemora Hotel was built at the height of the Civil War, in 1863, along what is now Shelby County Road 42, five miles southwest of Columbiana. 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. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. The ghost of a woman who died after being hit by a truck is said to haunt this stretch of road. Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." It's notorious for the vast amount of caves, and also for the true cavers spirit among its inhabitants. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. People claim to hear knocking on the floors and walls. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. Read more 0 That's right, allegedly there are sightings of a ghost sweeping. 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. This is one of the outbuildings at the site. Site of Consolation Church and Cemetery, Greenville. 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. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. 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. The historic courthouse is used for events and education art displays. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. Kelly Kazek |kkazek@al.com. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. Connie Pearson 1. (Picture: Prairie Bluff, taken from the Alabama River in 1894), Blakeley, founded in 1813, is a ghost town in Baldwin County, Alabama and was a location of a major fort during the American Civil War. It says, "Anne E. Kirtley gave many years of her life as a beloved professor at Judson. The site is reportedly haunted by numerous spirits with the most famous known as Pegues Ghost. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . The Penney Building is a 31,000-square-foot structure in downtown Dothan. Passersby often say they can see the swings moving on their own volition, as well as orbs or spectral figures. See map for precise location. Trespassing is punishable by law. 5. Two Federal gunboats patrolled the river. A massive oak at the junction of the Pea and Choctahatchee rivers is known as the Constitution Oak and is one of the largest in the state. 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. When his spirit would pass people in the halls, they would feel cold. People report hearing maniacal screaming among other reported paranormal activity. The Rawls Hotel was built in 1903 by Capt. The 1893 Peyton building in downtown Bridgeport in the 1930s. 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. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. Combined, the TAG area contains more than 14,000 caves (9,200 in Tennessee and 600 in Georgia). A pearly white marble known as Chewacla Marble was mined in the quarry. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. Flickr/Annie Chartrand. 10. During the Confederate occupation General John Bell resided there and during the Union occupation, General Sherman himself stayed at Wesleyan. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. Jacksons Military Road passed through the town. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. 2. Listed below are eight creepy Alabama ghost towns worth a visit. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. The penthouse is still up for sale, he said. When filming was completed, the owners of the property on Jackson Lake Island near Millbrook told director Tim Burton to leave the sets rather than bulldoze them. The Tennessee River railroad bridge on Alabama Highway 43 in Florence is shown in the late 1960s. Today only ruins remain. The historic, two-story jail was built in ca. The Knight Sanitorium is a three-story brick building. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. Both federal and state laws govern this activity. If you go, drive by only. Click here to see a five-part history of the Mt. 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. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. This popular ghost town was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Legend claims a phantom woman would appear to children, but only at night. There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! According to legend, Jenny and her remaining sons set out to get revenge. These display caskets left inside Memorial Mound still had price tags on them. However, the family cemetery remains. No matter what part of the state you are in, if you ask around youre sure to be pointed to a haunted site. 3. Thank you! Nebo Baptist Church. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, a scarecrow apparition moves from room to room on this floor. Sketoe's Hole is the site where Methodist minister William "Bill" Sketoe Sr. (1818- 1864) was hanged during the Civil War. People claim the churchs pastor went mad one day and murdered his entire family and their spirits haunt the grounds. 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 most haunted bridge in our state is aptly named Hell's Gate Bridge, located in Oxford. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. 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. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). People who cross the bridge hear the sounds of a babys cries. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins. A photo of the Richard Crocheron mansion in the 1880s, when it was already an abandoned ruin. Those people still haunt the road. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX All rights reserved (About Us). 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. 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. It is named for war veteran and politician Joseph Wheeler, as is nearby Wheeler Lake. Today, only its stone foundations remain. Abandoned slave quarters and workshops behind the Cabaniss House at 603 Randolph St. in Huntsville. Others have claimed to see odd sights while driving the road, from lights darting through the trees to ghostly figures. 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! The spirit of an inmate who committed suicide in the building is reported to walk its halls. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. 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. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. It was torn down in 1952. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. The Victoria Inn was built ca. They were holding candles, and her hair caught fire. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who hanged herself back in the day when the Center was a teaching college. (Submitted by Callum Swift). The third floor of this historic courthouse formerly housed a row of cells, dating back to the early twentieth century. Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. To visit Norwood, take exit 126B off Interstate 20/59, just north of downtown Birmingham. The legend was recorded by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. At least two, possibly . Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. 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. 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. 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. Cemeteries near Decatur, AL InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula when it was abandoned. In the 1830s, settlers continued to move into the area to use Arcola as a river landing. See the last slide for links to more photos of abandoned sites in Alabama. Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out. Trespassing is illegal. Located at 112 Moulton Street E Decatur, AL 35601; Scares start Friday, October 22, from 7-11 p.m. . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. People claim to see Marys spirit on the bridge, searching for her lost child. The laws of the state of Alabama first and foremost follow the laws of the ARPA (the Archaeological Resources Protection Act). The bank was founded in the 1850s. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. Its surprising how many ghost towns are in Alabama. Winter Place 32.3713, -86.31589 History: Winter Place is the name of two old conjoined homes that date back to the mid-1850s. But this playground is different. The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. If. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The home was reportedly built atop old slave quarters and a cemetery. Guests of the inn reported seeing apparitions on the porch and downstairs of a woman in Victorian dress and a little girl. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. 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. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. Some claim to see the orb today. Shown: The Old Shelby Hotel in Shelby County. The hotel closed in the 1970s. Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. 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. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. The chain purchased Sears. Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. It's now underwater and the only remnant left of the town is a cemetery. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. This cemetery is reportedly haunted by the sweetheart of a real man named Robert Musgrove, who was killed in a train wreck in 1904. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. 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. But in the 1800s, it was a town that grew around the Rock Run Mine and Furnace. Reportedly, an unusually high number people who lived along the road have died; some say 68 since 1890. Bass Cemetery is located off a dirt road in the woods. Love Alabama? Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. 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. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama shedin Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. People are fascinated with abandoned sites. According to Judson.edu, the Anne Kirtley dorm is haunted by its namesake. 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. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. If you have a specific location from the list below 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. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. According . Get directions Red Hat Road Decatur , Alabama , 35601 USA Coordinates: 34.65420, -87.07780 Cemetery ID: 21888 Members have Contributed 3 Memorials 0% photographed 0% with gps About these numbers Photos No additional photos. 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. According to legend, a small bridge on an isolated road is haunted by a baby who died there. The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. Eerie. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. secret traditions. Alabama, Should Be on Your Radar. Sometimes its because they bring back memories of places they once loved. The area is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the mines. People report hearing strange noises and seeing apparitions at the site. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. 1. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It was destroyed by Union forces in 1865. The story was told by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. 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 The buildings, built only for filming exteriors, were not completed and not built to code. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. The buildings flank Alabama Avenue.. Her ghost is said to look down from the upstairs window. These buildings are the longest continuously occupied industrial buildings in the state. It is privately owned and closed to the public. 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. Temple B'nai Shalom in Huntsville's Old Town Historic District, in Huntsville. Decatur Alabama is a city in Morgan and Limestone counties in the State of Alabama. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. 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. TheMcNab Bank Buildingin Eufaula, formerly Eastern Bank of Alabama. Nancys spirit is distraught over not being able to bury her son. This photo of the Alabama Capitol in Tuscaloosa was taken in the 1890s or early 1900s. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. Before that period, the canyon was used as a holding pen for Indians who were removed from their land. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions. Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. 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. B.B. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. NOTE: These homes and buildings are located on private property. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Information with the photo said: This building stood on the southeast corner of Vine Street and First Street North. Folks say that when you stand outside the crypt, you can hear the rocking chair rocking. Click hereto see more. Within 15 years, the town had 5,000 residents. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! Ashland Place Historic District in Mobile. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. Others claim to have witnessed the spirit of a mysterious mist, a crying baby and a strange man dressed in black. Local lore says that this 1857 mansion built by cotton broker Foster Kirksey is haunted by the spirit of a woman who died on the property. 1 of 16 1. 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. This cemetery, established in 1834, is said the be haunted by the spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers. The Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. It was used during the Civil War as a hospital. The caskets were left neglected and families were angry. The first reports of a haunting was around 1919 after a teenage boy who slept at the house had a . It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. Adjoining Huntsville's historic Maple Hill Cemetery is a playground that looks much like any other, featuring a swing set and slide. 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. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. 14. Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. Remember, the majority of homes are occupied, private residences and those that are abandoned are marked "No Trespassing" and are a hazard. (Illustration from a photo of Old Cahawba/Will Elrick), Old Cahawba Archaeological Site is the preserved remnants of the ghost town of Alabamas first capital city. It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. Other times, its merely because they are so haunting and raise the questions: Who would leave such beautiful places to rot? Visitors here may see ghostly children coming out to play. The land this was built on was at one time a cemetery. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. 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. A hearse can be seen inside the garage of the abandoned Wards Funeral Home in Opelika. People claim that her ghost still haunts her Bankhead Forest property, angry at anyone who trespasses. Tales of Huggin' Molly also can be found in Louisiana and Florida, with variations. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. 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. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON:Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per PersonGhost Hunter's Bus Tours: $42 Per PersonTOURS DEPART: Decatur Civic Center411 East William Street | South Parking LotFree Parking in Lot. The church is now a ruin but the adjoining cemetery remains. Simp McGhee's (Picture: The Boyaux fortification at the Blakeley battleground). The abandoned Peerless Laundry building at Royal and Conti streets in Mobile. 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 destruction of these burial mounds cast a mysterious pall over the city -- a darkness that continues to linger today. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. Flickr/Jon Dickson. He is reportedly always looking toward the Tombigbee River, where his beloved steamboat exploded. The J.W. 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. It had no ballroom, no gold-leafed interior, no orchestra. Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. Either way, the photos are intriguing. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. . (Source: Rivers Langley via Wikimedia Commons). The original portrait of Miss Kirtley hangs in the freshman dorm, Kirtley Hall, but often makes surprise appearances in elevators, closets, and beds! "Forks of Cypress" ruins near Florence. McCandless Hall auditorium, which opened in 1914, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Abigail Burns, an opera singer. One of the most important factors to keep in mind is that metal detecting on historical grounds is prohibited. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 159 Nature & Wildlife Areas By 460LizF Outstanding location to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. Local writer and historian Lee Peacock said the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 65 between Evergreen and Greenville is known as "The Haunted Highway." It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. Late at night, people have reported hearing eerie footsteps echoing on the decks of the War World II-era battleship USS Alabama. This Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1837 by Dr. John R. Drish who died in 1867. An old well house at the Chalkville Training School for Girls. 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. 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. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. According to legend, many apparitions haunt the house. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. She would die from her burns on Feb. 6 at the age of 17. Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation.