St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. Decatur Alabama Population Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. 16. The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation. The ruins of the building that served as the Alabama Capitol from 1826-1846 have been preserved as Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa. NOTE: This site is continually monitored with video surveillance. 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. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. 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. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. Kelly Kazek |kkazek@al.com. . 1830s to 1866. Simp McGhee's SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! Rock Run is a residential community in Cherokee County where a small pocket of residents live in well-kept homes. Brick Deli specializes in sandwiches and live music at night. The slave quarters were demolished. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. It says, "Anne E. Kirtley gave many years of her life as a beloved professor at Judson. Sometimes its because they bring back memories of places they once loved. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Locals get an eerie feeling around this building. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. Today, the Old State Bank in Decatur is open for tours. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young singer who died on the night of her greatest triumph. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. 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. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. The third floor of this historic courthouse formerly housed a row of cells, dating back to the early twentieth century. During the Confederate occupation General John Bell resided there and during the Union occupation, General Sherman himself stayed at Wesleyan. Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. It hasnt been used since 2000. Home Value*. It is said that a mysterious fog covers this area day or night, and it surrounds the gravestones. Located at 112 Moulton Street E Decatur, AL 35601; Scares start Friday, October 22, from 7-11 p.m. . (Source: Judyanne Waters via FindaGrave.com), Grave of Norman Staples and Ghost Ship, Bladon Springs. She would die from her burns on Feb. 6 at the age of 17. There is a place in the Talladega National Forest, shown above, were a road was laid over some graves, according to legend. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. the interior, seen here from the doorway, is closed to the public because it is unsafe. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Flatwoods was a settlement of freed slaves during Reconstruction but it was later burned. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. Either way, the photos are intriguing. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. 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. ", StrangeUSA.comsays ghosts of inmates can be heard: "Legend has it that their screams can be heard as they were being burned to death, and you can hear the laugher of the guards that stood by watching.". The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Huntsville. To visit Norwood, take exit 126B off Interstate 20/59, just north of downtown Birmingham. B.B. The Jemison Center changed focusin the 1970s because of desegregation laws and closed in the 1980s. Find . It was reportedly closed in 1924 and was later opened as a medical hospital. Home Size. After the main asylum became known as Bryce Hospitalin 1900, the Jemison Center was often called "Old Bryce Hospital," despite the fact that Bryce was built first. However, they say eventually the happy noises turn to unhappy ones, as if the children are screaming for their lives. An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. (Source: Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). The woods along here is reportedly the site where a group of freed black slaves set up a settlement following the Civil War that was burned out and destroyed by the KKK. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that were abandoned or otherwise not claimed by their owners after a period of time. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. Some say the noises come from the ghosts of the original owners. It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. According to legend, a small bridge on an isolated road is haunted by a baby who died there. Ashland Place Historic District in Mobile. Rawls, who repeatedly took down window treatments he tried to install. In 2015, the church burned in a fire presumed to be caused by arson. 30+ Abandoned Industrial Buildings In Alabama | Abandoned Alabama Archive - Industrial Western Railway of Alabama February 13, 2023 Add comment | City/Town: Montgomery The Montgomery Railroad, later known as the Western Railway of Alabama, was one of the earliest railroads in the South. 9. 1 of 16 1. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. Legends often say that he was hanged on trumped-up charges for deserting the Confederate army, although details vary. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. People report hearing maniacal screaming among other reported paranormal activity. Today, the only thing remaining in the area is the Prairie Bluff Cemetery. Visitors here may see ghostly children coming out to play. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute 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. The A ghost named George is said to live here, a former construction worker who fell from a scaffold as the place was being built. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. It was also once the site of Castle Morgan, used to house prisoners of war during the Civil War. . Montevallo, established in 1896, is reportedly haunted by the spirit of student Condie Cunningham. The J.W. 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. Following her death in 1962, people claimed to see a kneeling figure at the grave, according to "Haunted Places: The National Directory." Read more 0 (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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. Read more 0 We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! Youve Never Experienced Anything Like The Epic Old Railroad Bed Trail, An Abandoned Railroad Hike In Alabama, The Alabama Ghost Town Thats Perfect For An Autumn Day Trip, A Haunting Road Trip Through Alabama Ghost Towns To Take If You Dare, Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural Alabama, This Small Alabama Town Is One Of The Creepiest Ghost Towns In America, This Abandoned Funeral Home In Alabama Will Chill You To The Bone, Nature Is Reclaiming This Deserted Alabama Resort And Its Actually Amazing, Everyone In Alabama Should See What This Abandoned Film Set Looks Like. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. We only offer a very limited number of these tours each season and it's one not to miss! 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. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins. 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. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. There are several websites out there that state something to the effect of "Aunt Johnson would hang anyone who trespassed on her property and the rope can still be seen to this day." The ruins of Fort Morgan, built in 1819, are spooky on their own. 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. Possibly among the most inane of haunted reports, people claim to see a green light in the cemetery at night. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. On Feb. 4, a fellow student spilled cleaning fluid onto the open stove and the kitchen caught fire. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. The Marengo House was originally built in 1847 in Autauga County before being disassembled in 1854 and moved to its current location. Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. When his spirit would pass people in the halls, they would feel cold. 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). Those people still haunt the road. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Its surprising how many ghost towns are in Alabama. 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. The area is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the mines. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. Winter Place at 454 Goldthwaite Street is one of the most iconic properties in Montgomery and in the state, both because of its Second Empire-style beauty and its history, which includes acting as offices for the Confederate Army and, according to legend, being the place where F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre met, setting off one of the most fiery romances of the Jazz Age. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! Pikeville was Marion Countys first county seat, serving from 1820-1882. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. Tales of Huggin' Molly also can be found in Louisiana and Florida, with variations. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. From lost burial grounds to haunted theaters, the Haunted Decatur Tour is much more than just a run-of-the-mill ghost tour! Norwood, a community in Birmingham, is known among photographers and urban explorers for its crumbling abandoned mansions. Shortly after the American Civil War, Cahawba became a ghost town. That's right, allegedly there are sightings of a ghost sweeping. Remember, the majority of homes are occupied, private residences and those that are abandoned are marked "No Trespassing" and are a hazard. These buildings are the longest continuously occupied industrial buildings in the state. The ghost of a woman who died after being hit by a truck is said to haunt this stretch of road. 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. The interior of the Goode-Hall house in the 1930s. A defunct prison said to have been in operation from 1945 to 1995. The house has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At this playground set up near the cemetery, the ghosts of children play and swing on the swingsets. Located among the graves is an open tomb missing its corpse. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". The able-bodied patients at Jemison worked on a hospital farm. The cemetery remains. This historic museum operated as a hospital during the civil war, so the rumours of haunting's appear to have a leg to stand on; which can't be said for some of the apparitions supposedly reported. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. (Source: ecjmartin1 via Wikimedia Commons). Winter Place in Montgomery. He may flush the toilet as well. The historic, two-story jail was built in ca. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. This isolated, one-lane bridge in rural Chilton County is said the be haunted by a malevolent spirit that chases people who cross it. The bank is defunct but the building is still in use. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! Some people say they've heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. At the heart of the Deep South, the state of Alabama offers a wealth of opportunities for urban explorers. The abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. This home was allegedly the site of the murders of an entire family that haunts the site. were demolished but the main house remains, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Brick Deli is housed in a building that dates back over a century. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. (Megan Willis via Forgotten Alabama Facebook page). The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. It is alleged that you can hear the screams of soldiers who died in the Civil War at this cemetery. Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. Get more stories delivered right to your email. It is now home to the Lowndesboro Town Hall. The three-story tower was added to the home after the Civil War.
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