Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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 site is reportedly haunted by numerous spirits with the most famous known as Pegues Ghost. The ghost of a woman who died after being hit by a truck is said to haunt this stretch of road. The national recognized museum first opened in 1980 and was reinvented and reopened in summer 2019. If. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. Those people still haunt the road. These auctions tend to occur less frequently than typical public car auctions in Alabama. All rights reserved (About Us). The Chamber of Commerce building, above right, was constructed in 1910 as a bank. Due to the owner's financial difficulties, the house is run-down and in need of repair. 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. Today, the only thing remaining in the area is the Prairie Bluff Cemetery. Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. This gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. 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. He is known to flush toilets, independently operate ice machines and brush past people leaving them with chills. This church on AvenueU in Pratt City has been empty since it was struck by a tornado. The laws of the state of Alabama first and foremost follow the laws of the ARPA (the Archaeological Resources Protection Act). It was also once the site of Castle Morgan, used to house prisoners of war during the Civil War. At least, nothing human. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. 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. Various urban legends have arisen around the claims that Cry Baby Hollow and the bridge going across it are haunted. Now, it's just old and long abandoned. His wife Sarah was said to have become obsessed with planning an elaborate funeral for him and insisted on saving the candles from the funeral to be burned at her own. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. Read more 0 The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. The old Bibb County Jail, built ca. Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble. . This isolated, one-lane bridge in rural Chilton County is said the be haunted by a malevolent spirit that chases people who cross it. Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. Winter Place in Montgomery. Mary survived. After a mummified woman was discovered in her home, people claimed she was a witch. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. According to legend, many apparitions haunt the house. According to legend, a small bridge on an isolated road is haunted by a baby who died there. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. For information, call 334-320-5330 or visitthe Facebook page. And why? Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. A little farther to the east is a waterway known as Gun Island Chute that leads to the Alabama River. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. For the next 100 years,the mansion was owned by members of the Winston family. According to Prattvilleal.gov: Pratt's "love of beauty is evidenced in Prattville in his manufactories which feature graceful arches, soaring ceilings and vast open spaces, interesting brick and stonework and a picturesque site alongside Autauga Creek. This popular ghost town was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. By the end of 1888, the R&D had built 51 miles of track from Rome, GA to Attalla (west of Gadsden), AL. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins. An old bridge off Mothershed Road is known as Mary Daniel Bridge. Today, Jackson Lake Island is open to the public for camping and fishing. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama shedin Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. 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. Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners. Please follow the law and be safe. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Measured by other resorts built in Alabama in the 1800s, such as nearby Shelby Springs Hotel or Blount Springs Resort, the Dennemora Hotel offered a pared-down version of entertainment. The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. The war ended before the plant went into operation. Legends of hauntings in the home include one about a screaming woman dressed in Victorian clothing. According to legend, Jenny and her remaining sons set out to get revenge. It was abandoned for years and is currently being refurbished. Legend says it is haunted by a woman named Annie, who acted as a nanny for the children in the home and was later the owners caretaker. . (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). It is no longer standing. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). 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. Cook Museum. The oddest sighting is an apparition that appears to be half-wolf and half-man. . the interior, seen here from the doorway, is closed to the public because it is unsafe. Support@storageauctoins.com (866) 944-8530 . Click hereto see more. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. We only offer a very limited number of these tours each season and it's one not to miss! 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. Alabama, Should Be on Your Radar. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. Read about the Brights and the plans for the island by clickinghere. Dicksonia ruins have been used to film an opening scene in the 2003 movie"Big Fish,"was the site of a photo shoot by legendary celebrity photographerAnnie Leibovitz,who photographed actressNatalie Portmanfor the May 1999 issue of Vanity Fair magazine, and is now a sought-aftervenuefor artistic photography and weddings. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home. Passersby often say they can see the swings moving on their own volition, as well as orbs or spectral figures. Others have reported seeing large, panther-like cats cross the highway in this area.". Hall Hotel dates to 1895 and residents of Gurley hope to restore it. 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. Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. At night, ghosts of the people buried there haunt the area. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. 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. When they turn to look, nothing is there. Don't Edit Sketoe's Hole is the site where Methodist minister William "Bill" Sketoe Sr. (1818- 1864) was hanged during the Civil War. Apparitions have been seen, and captured on film by paranormal society investigations; orbs have been reported as well. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). But at night, people have reported seeing shadowy figures wandering inside the crumbling walls, as well as strange mists and odd noises. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. A local storyteller dressed in period clothing leads the one-mile tour of haunted hotels, infamous murder sites, cemeteries, and more. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. The son of former Alabama governor, Robert Patton is said to be one of many ghosts to haunt the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. The spirit of a murdered woman is said to haunt a dirt road behind a Texaco station in this small community. 12 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama. The third floor of this historic courthouse formerly housed a row of cells, dating back to the early twentieth century. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". That might be a first. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. 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. (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. Find . The historic, two-story jail was built in ca. The destruction of these burial mounds cast a mysterious pall over the city -- a darkness that continues to linger today. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Decatur, Dothan, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and more. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. 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. 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. Sometimes its because they bring back memories of places they once loved. The Empire Building, one of four that make up the "Heaviest Corner on Earth" in downtown Birmingham, is a 16-story, 247-foot-tall Classical Revival-style skyscraper. It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. The preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. She founded many of the things Judson students still love: theConversationalistyearbook, theTriangle(student newspaper), theScrimshawliterary magazine, the college archives, and several (shh!) It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. Cemeteries near Decatur, AL 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. 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. Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. It says, "Anne E. Kirtley gave many years of her life as a beloved professor at Judson. Connie Pearson 1. 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. 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. 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. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX Click here to read more. The northeast of Alabama is part of the TAG area (the region where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet). Jeff E. Newman of Steel City Urbex took photos. At least two, possibly . (Source: Karen Manasco via FindaGrave.com). The grounds are maintained and the site is available to rent for photography and events from Dorothy Skipper Rental LLC. ", 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. The cemetery remains. 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. The interior of the Goode-Hall house in the 1930s. The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. It was rebuilt and operated until 1923. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. Some claim to see the orb today. After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. Having promised her adoring audience she would return, she was killed in an accident on the way. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. Trespassing is punishable by law. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. Water faucets that turn on and off. Legend says if someone says, We have your baby, she will attack. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). Gen. John Brahan, a veteran of the War of 1812, began construction on Sweetwater Plantation in the 1830s. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. Listed below are eight creepy Alabama ghost towns worth a visit. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. People have claimed to hear wails of banshees and see ghostly hell hounds and apparitions of Confederate soldiers. It hasnt been used since 2000. People claim to see Marys spirit on the bridge, searching for her lost child. Stewartfield in Mobile. The spirit of an inmate who committed suicide in the building is reported to walk its halls. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. (Submitted by Callum Swift). Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. Combined, the TAG area contains more than 14,000 caves (9,200 in Tennessee and 600 in Georgia). Some say it is haunted by a mother in search of her long-lost child. It is thought to be the face of Sarah Kittrell, wife of Thomas Kittrell, who disappeared in 1904. The slave quarters were demolished. 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. It was named for nearby Sweetwater Creek. 1 of 16 1. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. Kelly Kazek |kkazek@al.com. Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. The property is for sale. William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. 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 home was completed in 1835 by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and former Alabama governor. HAUNTED DECATUR is part of AMERICAN HAUNTINGS INKEMAIL: GHOSTS@AMERICANHAUNTINGS.NET Copyright 2023 by American Hauntings Ink. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 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. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. A hearse can be seen inside the garage of the abandoned Wards Funeral Home in Opelika. (Source: Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). Two Federal gunboats patrolled the river. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. This courthouse was built in 1868 when Seale was the county seat from 1866-1942. They are evidence of past lives and of the history we are in danger of losing. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY! 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. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? 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. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. B.B. Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. 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. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. This site was visited with permission. In this 1934 photo, renovation work had begun on Spring Villa in Opelika. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. They were holding candles, and her hair caught fire. After Old Main burned in 1887, the Chapel was used for classrooms until Samford Hall was built. If you agree to give him a ride, witnesses Alabama is fond of getting into Hell it seems. The hotel closed in the 1970s. These buildings are the longest continuously occupied industrial buildings in the state. 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. The Jemison Center changed focusin the 1970s because of desegregation laws and closed in the 1980s. The 1893 Peyton building in downtown Bridgeport in the 1930s. 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. 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." Isaac Nettles Sr., a black inventor born in the 1880s, created cement masks of people in life and later used them to adorn headstones in the cemetery adjoining Mt. From lost burial grounds to haunted theaters, the Haunted Decatur Tour is much more than just a run-of-the-mill ghost tour! No trespassing. That's right, allegedly there are sightings of a ghost sweeping. Typical cemetery haunting fare including orbs and reports that your car will die if you drive there on specific dates. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! This Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1837 by Dr. John R. Drish who died in 1867. The bank is defunct but the building is still in use. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. Battleship Island, Japan. As Ive discovered over the years, people are fascinated with abandoned places. He may flush the toilet as well. The historic courthouse is used for events and education art displays. At the WHBC frat house, they say former Youth Minister Anthony Stephens' spirit walks through the house later at night. In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. Find museums in Decatur, AL, Dead Children's Playground - Maple Hill Cemetery, Off Campus Book Store - University of North Alabama, University of North Alabama - Romeo and Juliet statues, Wesleyan Hall - University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium - University of North Alabama. Take a look. 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.