Cemeteries near Decatur, AL The historic Josephine Hotel, built in 1880 in downtown Union Springs, now houses a cafe, art studio and gift shop. At this playground set up near the cemetery, the ghosts of children play and swing on the swingsets. See map for precise location. Guests of the inn reported seeing apparitions on the porch and downstairs of a woman in Victorian dress and a little girl. 16. We know not everyone will agree about the legend in his or her county. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. Click hereto see more photos. This research was done using searches of a variety of sites about local haunts. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. Legends of hauntings in the home include one about a screaming woman dressed in Victorian clothing. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. (Historic American Engineering Record/Library of Congress). When the Gold Rush began in California, residents headed west. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. Flatwoods was a settlement of freed slaves during Reconstruction but it was later burned. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! During the Civil War, her husband and oldest son were reportedly murdered by members of the Home Guard because the son refused to join the army. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. The Victoria Inn was built ca. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. 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). It once consisted of 25 buildings constructed in the 1870s or 1880. The population in 2010 census was 55,683. Home Size. 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. They are evidence of past lives and of the history we are in danger of losing. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. The remains were removed in 2015. It is privately owned and closed to the public. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. The war ended before the plant went into operation. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. Due to the owner's financial difficulties, the house is run-down and in need of repair. The historic rock building is said to be haunted by two ghosts: one of an older man whose spirit reportedly sets things on fire and slams doors, and one of a little boy whose laughter is heard throughout the theater. Those people still haunt the road. Dicksonia Plantation in Lowndesboro had a reputation in its day as a stately mansion in picturesque surroundings. (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. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young singer who died on the night of her greatest triumph. No trespassing. 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. The church is now a ruin but the adjoining cemetery remains. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. Several of the brick structures that Pratt built are still used today for an industry manufacturing cotton gins. 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). (Source: Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). The story was told by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Employees claim they've heard disembodied footsteps and voices. Go north on AL-67 approximately 7 miles. Folks say that when you stand outside the crypt, you can hear the rocking chair rocking. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. Flickr/Jon Dickson. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. 9 Best . St. Stephens is located nearly 70 miles north of Mobile and served as the capital of Alabama between the years 1817-1819, until Cahawba became the capital. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. What it did offer was good food, comfortable bedrooms, outdoor activities and, according toa history of Shelby Iron Works, the first accommodations with electricity and indoor plumbing in the state. These assets may be in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, insurance benefits or even valuables from safe deposit boxes. Kids and adults will enjoy exploring various hands-on exhibits, including a gallery of bees, turtles, alligators and snakes, a recreated Alabama cave, insect galleries, a 15,000-gallon aquarium, and more. You may even stumble upon an old, abandoned homestead site in the woods. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. 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. He was buried in Bladon Springs Cemetery alongside the graves of his three children who died before the age of six, including Bertha Jaquetta, Mabel Clare, and James Alfred. Some report that is you park on the bridge, your car will begin to rock. As Ive discovered over the years, people are fascinated with abandoned places. People claim that her ghost still haunts her Bankhead Forest property, angry at anyone who trespasses. Rawls, who repeatedly took down window treatments he tried to install. Although the mist is not thought to be connected to the statue, it does form the shape of a figure as it rises, before disappearing. Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation. These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. The grounds are maintained and the site is available to rent for photography and events from Dorothy Skipper Rental LLC. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! 5) Higdon Hotel Joy Castello / Flickr The Higdon Hotel has been closed for business since 1920, but the beautiful building still stands. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Abandoned Places In Alabama 1. the inventory is constantly changing as new places come up for auction. ", 3. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? Legend says the spirits of the children buried in the cemetery, founded in 1822, come there to play. The buildings flank Alabama Avenue.. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY! Read more 0 Some have heard footsteps from the second floor and the sound of the piano playing when no one is there. People report hearing strange noises and seeing apparitions at the site. Gen. John Brahan, a veteran of the War of 1812, began construction on Sweetwater Plantation in the 1830s. Others claim to have witnessed the spirit of a mysterious mist, a crying baby and a strange man dressed in black. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. ", 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. 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 house has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Site of Consolation Church and Cemetery, Greenville. After a fire and years of deterioration, only a few buildings remain but it has become a popular destination for tourists and photographers. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. This abandoned town is reportedly haunted by spirits if former residents. What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama? The cemetery remains. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. 1. Shortly after the American Civil War, Cahawba became a ghost town. This site was visited with permission. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. The destruction of these burial mounds cast a mysterious pall over the city -- a darkness that continues to linger today. 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. The image turned out to be a silhouette etched into the stone. The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. All Rights Reserved. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. The building is believed to be haunted by several apparitions and ghostly voices are heard. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. The cotton press in the Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home. 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. These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that were abandoned or otherwise not claimed by their owners after a period of time. 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. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. To visit Norwood, take exit 126B off Interstate 20/59, just north of downtown Birmingham. The caskets were left neglected and families were angry. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Whatley home no longer stands, it is shown above in 1936, but legend says the site is still haunted. For 75 years, the stone structures built by the Works Progress Administration in Chalkville sheltered girls labeled "incorrigible," "delinquent," or "wayward," although most arrived at the Alabama Training School for Girls because of behavioral and emotional problems and had committed no crimes, according toits superintendent in 1966. There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! A defunct prison said to have been in operation from 1945 to 1995. The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. This slideshow includes photos gathered from state archives and from two federal programs that helped document our history: The Historic American Buildings Survey taken in the 1930s, and the Historic American Engineering Record from the late 1960s. This photo was taken in 1973. 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. It was named for nearby Sweetwater Creek. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. Information with the photo said: This building stood on the southeast corner of Vine Street and First Street North. This photo of the Alabama Capitol in Tuscaloosa was taken in the 1890s or early 1900s. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. Jacksons Military Road passed through the town. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Ive noted those of which I am aware. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. According to Judson.edu, the Anne Kirtley dorm is haunted by its namesake. This abandoned funeral home in Opelika still has hearses and caskets inside its casket showcase room. For decades, even before the great ship's arrival in Mobile Bay in 1965 when she was established as a tourist attraction, people have reported hearing strange noises and seeing shadowy figures below decks. They will come with a title that will be put into the auction bidder's name. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. It would go on to boast others, including the "Second Most Corrupt City in Illinois." Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? 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. When Huntingdon was a Methodist female college, a young woman allegedly committed suicide in the dorm and continues to haunt it. She never harmed them, other than perhaps causing some ringing in their ears. Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. Stewartfield in Mobile. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. 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 hangings were carried out inside the jail, and the spirits of those men reportedly never left. At least two, possibly . Vernon Hospital for the Colored Insane. . Legend says the apparition of a woman named Nancy, for whom Nancys Mountain is named, haunts a path to the river on Haines Island, shown above. 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. His ghost has been sited several times by a lot of people. Some sources sayit opened in the 1890s as a mental hospital. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. Mining continued in Arbacoochee until the 1930s, but the town never recovered and became a ghost town by 1990. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Huntsville. 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. It was rebuilt and operated until 1923. Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. Huntsville, Alabama 27.7 miles from Hartselle, AL The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. 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. The three-story tower was added to the home after the Civil War. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. Prairie Bluff disappeared from maps around 1900. 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. Mary survived. After Old Main burned in 1887, the Chapel was used for classrooms until Samford Hall was built. 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. (Source: Karen Manasco via FindaGrave.com). We only offer a very limited number of these tours each season and it's one not to miss! It was also once the site of Castle Morgan, used to house prisoners of war during the Civil War. Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. 1820 plantation house. Although there are no detailed legends about this site, many believe it is haunted. The area is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the mines. Today, it is house museum that can be toured by appointment. The Tennessee River railroad bridge on Alabama Highway 43 in Florence is shown in the late 1960s. An old well house at the Chalkville Training School for Girls. He is reportedly always looking toward the Tombigbee River, where his beloved steamboat exploded. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. At least one of the buildings at Robinson's Switch has the shape of a depot and another long building appears to have been a railroad warehouse. 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. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. 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. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. 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. (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). Some say it is haunted by a mother in search of her long-lost child. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. If you'd like to see the "behind the scenes" drama of Decatur's haunted past, then this is the tour for you! Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). 3. Stories of figures haunting cemeteries, ghostly marching soldiers, and mysterious music playing in empty abandoned buildings are told in every corner of our state. People also love vintage photos that show what those past lives were like in Alabama. Cahawba, or Cahaba, was the state capital from 1820-1825 but was eventually abandoned because of flooding from the Alabama and Cahaba rivers. Local writer and historian Lee Peacock said the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 65 between Evergreen and Greenville is known as "The Haunted Highway." All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. This home was allegedly the site of the murders of an entire family that haunts the site. 1914. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. We're sure this Victorian home in rural Missouri was once quite beautiful. 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. 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. Not much info on this, apart from the fact that it is an old, abandoned butcher's shop on the side of this dirt road, about 1.5 miles south from Fletcher Road. According to the Auburn University Libraries, this is the only known interior photograph of the building that served as the Dallas County Courthouse at Old Cahaba from ca. Rumored to be haunted by an old man ghost with a fondness for flammables as well as a young boy who is often heard laughing. 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. Alabama, Should Be on Your Radar. Read about the Brights and the plans for the island by clickinghere. It is now the site of a Hampton Inn. Nebo Baptist Church. See more onSteel City Urbex's Facebook page. The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. The abandoned Peerless Laundry building at Royal and Conti streets in Mobile. And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. secret traditions. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). Cook Museum. 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