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. All rights reserved (About Us). If that wasnt creepy enough, visitors have been known to hear the sounds of a rocking chair moving back and forth as they pass. Some say theyve heard voices and felt cold spots inside the jail. Decatur | Encyclopedia of Alabama THE BEST 10 Restaurants in Decatur, AL - Last Updated March 2023 - Yelp In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. The burned-out shell of the Dicksonia mansion was left after a 1964 fire because the damage to the foundation was too extensive for repairs. According to legend, a female student was killed while she was trying to sneak out after curfew. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. At least, nothing human. Legends surrounding this church are astounding in number and scope. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. 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. The Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. . William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. The Gainesridge Dinner Club has been named the "Most Haunted Restaurant" in Alabama. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. The most infamous haunted location in Alabama is The Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham. The training school, shown when it was in use at left, was abandoned after a tornado destroyed several buildings and a new facility was built in 2015. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY! Alabama's Official Travel Guide Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. Winter Place is actually a complex with two huge homes; the second is that both homes are in dire need of renovation. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. 8 Ghost Towns And Abandoned Places In Alabama - OnlyInYourState The site is reportedly haunted by numerous spirits with the most famous known as Pegues Ghost. The third floor of this historic courthouse formerly housed a row of cells, dating back to the early twentieth century. It is said that in one of the crypts stands an antique rocking chair, a favorite possession of a lady who was buried in her family crypt. This research was done using searches of a variety of sites about local haunts. Decatur Mill | Ardent Mills According to legend, a small bridge on an isolated road is haunted by a baby who died there. The Victoria Inn was built ca. Some report that is you park on the bridge, your car will begin to rock. 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. These auctions tend to occur less frequently than typical public car auctions in Alabama. We have the list of places to check out! Located among the graves is an open tomb missing its corpse. One surviving example is the stone on the grave of Korea Nettles, which has three faces said to be those of her children. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. The chain purchased Sears. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. People claim that her ghost still haunts her Bankhead Forest property, angry at anyone who trespasses. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. The laws of the state of Alabama first and foremost follow the laws of the ARPA (the Archaeological Resources Protection Act). Click hereto see more. He is reportedly always looking toward the Tombigbee River, where his beloved steamboat exploded. 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. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. During the Civil War, Nancy lived with her husband and son on a small farm but her son was killed in the war and his body was never recovered. The face appeared on the grave of Thomas second wife, Mary Jane Kittrell. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. This private property houses the infamous ghost bridge that has numerous claims of haunting. The national recognized museum first opened in 1980 and was reinvented and reopened in summer 2019. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. Abandoned Property for Sale: How To Buy an Abandoned Home - realtor.com 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. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. After Old Main burned in 1887, the Chapel was used for classrooms until Samford Hall was built. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. Today, Jackson Lake Island is open to the public for camping and fishing. People claim to hear knocking on the floors and walls. Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. Having promised her adoring audience she would return, she was killed in an accident on the way. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. The son of former Alabama governor, Robert Patton is said to be one of many ghosts to haunt the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. An elevator that runs by itself. Find out if abandoned structures in these vintage photos were saved - al Brick Deli specializes in sandwiches and live music at night. History and Hauntings Tours of Decatur's Spirits, Scandals & Sins, TOURS:The Haunted Decatur Tours run either 3 or 4 hours in length -- depending on the tour - and travel by bus to various locations throughout the city. Legend says if you stop by the cemetery gate and put your car in neutral, the Lady in White will push you away from the spot where she was killed so youll be safe. And why? Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. Japeth Rawls. People have claimed to see a ghostly face in the windows of this historic covered bridge, known as the Livingston Covered Bridge and the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. 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. 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. One truck driver said that he struck the bridge after a ghostly horse-drawn carriage crossed the interstate in front of him. 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. 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 An old bridge off Mothershed Road is known as Mary Daniel Bridge. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. Jesse James is rumored to have holed up in the canyon. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. She is said to have died instantly. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. (Picture: The Boyaux fortification at the Blakeley battleground). She founded many of the things Judson students still love: theConversationalistyearbook, theTriangle(student newspaper), theScrimshawliterary magazine, the college archives, and several (shh!) Haunted Places in Decatur, Indiana Unfortunately, the introduction of new railroads following the American Civil War really hurt the town. It was also once the site of Castle Morgan, used to house prisoners of war during the Civil War. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. Go north on AL-67 approximately 7 miles. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. . Shelby Iron Co. began operations in the 1840s. Copper Center - Tonseno Lodge - A man was killed in the hotel, and now he's haunting it. 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. Take a look. 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." Others claim to have witnessed the spirit of a mysterious mist, a crying baby and a strange man dressed in black. We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! Crime truly came to Decatur in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroads. 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. 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. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. 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. When they turn to look, nothing is there. The buildings, built only for filming exteriors, were not completed and not built to code. (Source: Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). DECATUR MALL - $$ - 1801 Beltline Rd SW, Decatur, AL - Yelp 18 Abandoned Places in Missouri That Nature is Reclaiming - OnlyInYourState According to the Chamber of Commerce website, "Haunted Places: The National Directory. A pearly white marble known as Chewacla Marble was mined in the quarry. Gadsden, AL to Coosa, GA - Abandoned Rails 12 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama. Due to the owner's financial difficulties, the house is run-down and in need of repair. ", The Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton is widely known as the site of hauntings by the spirit of Henry Wells, who was once incarcerated in a jail cell on the second floor. Months after Pegues was killed in battle in 1862, strolling lovers claimed to see an orb in the garden behind the home. 112 Moulton St E, Decatur, AL 35601, United States // +1 256-355 Brick Deli is just around the corner from Josie's. It is open for lunch on Monday and Tuesday, lunch and supper on Wednesday through Saturday, and closed on Sunday. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. The courthouse burned in 1866 and was rebuilt. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! In 1909, Kirkseys wheelchair-bound daughter Margaretta Eliza, who was 29 years old, fell from the second-floor balcony. 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. (Source: Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners. Decatur, Alabama | Ghostly World The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. 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. 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. A defunct prison said to have been in operation from 1945 to 1995. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. Kelly Kazek |kkazek@al.com. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. 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 building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. 2. 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. 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 Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? Don't Edit For information, call 334-320-5330 or visitthe Facebook page. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Jemison Center, former insane asylum for African Americans. (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. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. Decatur is the nearest city to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, which includes 35,000 acres of land to provide a safe habitat for wintering and migrating birds in the eastern United States. Some people say they've heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the. (Source: Don and Susie via FindaGrave.com). 5. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. Parts of the building have been renovated into living space but the penthouse, basement and old bank area remain abandoned and off-limits, awaiting restoration. See more onSteel City Urbex's Facebook page. (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. At least two, possibly . It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. Others claim to have seen the apparition of a man in a top hat in the parlor. 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 penthouse is still up for sale, he said. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. Others may still have residents, but not as many as they once had, making them living ghost towns in Alabama. Some abandoned historic sites may even be classified as a ghost town, depending on the size of the site. The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! Both federal and state laws govern this activity. All rights reserved (About Us). Now, it's just old and long abandoned. 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. ", 3. 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. If you want to suggest another tale, email kkazek@al.com or comment below. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). 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. 1888 as a private residence. Police Impound and Abandoned Tow Auctions in Alabama 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 abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. According toGhostsofAmerica.com: "We heard a sound like chains clinking together right behind us and beside us. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. Mining continued in Arbacoochee until the 1930s, but the town never recovered and became a ghost town by 1990. Take I-65 to Decatur, Exit 334. The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. Some sources sayit opened in the 1890s as a mental hospital. 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. 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. 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. Another legend says if an 18-wheeler travels down the road, her spirit can be seen hanging onto the side of the truck so she can look inside and see if it is being driven by the same person who killed her. Some say it is haunted by a mother in search of her long-lost child. 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. Whatley home no longer stands, it is shown above in 1936, but legend says the site is still haunted. It's notorious for the vast amount of caves, and also for the true cavers spirit among its inhabitants. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who hanged herself back in the day when the Center was a teaching college. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. Flatwoods was a settlement of freed slaves during Reconstruction but it was later burned. The property is for sale. 10 Must-Try Decatur Alabama Restaurants | Where to eat - Foodie Flashpacker "Abandoned Alabama: Exploring The Heart of Dixie," by Leland Kent, (Arcadia Publishing), 2021, 96 pages, softcover. It is now an event venue. This cemetery, established in 1834, is said the be haunted by the spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers. (Sources: Alabama Department of Youth Services, left; Kelly Kazek, right). And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. In this 1934 photo, renovation work had begun on Spring Villa in Opelika. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 159 Nature & Wildlife Areas By 460LizF Outstanding location to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. 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. Home Value*. Other times, its merely because they are so haunting and raise the questions: Who would leave such beautiful places to rot? Thank you! When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. But Decatur's dark origins can be traced back to the earliest days of the city, when the original settlers built over the top of Native American burial grounds that were scattered throughout the downtown area of what would become Decatur. There is a place in the Talladega National Forest, shown above, were a road was laid over some graves, according to legend. 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. Connie Pearson 1. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. The building is believed to be haunted by several apparitions and ghostly voices are heard. Those people still haunt the road. In the 1830s, settlers continued to move into the area to use Arcola as a river landing. 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. According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. Nebo Baptist Church. The property is still owned by the Department of Mental Health and is trespassing is illegal. I worked there as a jailor in the county jail there in the old part when it was on the 2nd floor. Click hereto see more photos. 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 abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. Following her death in 1962, people claimed to see a kneeling figure at the grave, according to "Haunted Places: The National Directory." The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, was near collapse when this photo was taken in the 1930s. The tale was repeated in Kathryn Tucker Windham's"13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey." This courthouse was built in 1868 when Seale was the county seat from 1866-1942. On Feb. 4, a fellow student spilled cleaning fluid onto the open stove and the kitchen caught fire. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. Amazing Abandoned Places in Alabama: Top 10 Choices In 2023 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. were demolished but the main house remains, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Support@storageauctoins.com (866) 944-8530 . It is said that a mysterious fog covers this area day or night, and it surrounds the gravestones. Battleship Island, Japan.
Tanya Plibersek Faction,
Redrow House Build Stages,
Where Is The Research Facility In Cookie Clicker,
Politico Opinion Editor,
Articles A