If you want to suggest another tale, email kkazek@al.com or comment below. More history, more hauntings, and more off-the-bus locations, this 4-hour tour delves into the most ghost-infested people and places in Decatur's history. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. Another popular tale is the appearance of theapparition of the ghost ship of the Eliza Battle, which burned on the Tombigbee River in 1858 killing more than 30 people. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. "Abandoned Alabama: Exploring The Heart of Dixie," by Leland Kent, (Arcadia Publishing), 2021, 96 pages, softcover. The interior of the Goode-Hall house in the 1930s. Support@storageauctoins.com (866) 944-8530 . 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. Find . 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. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. StorageAuctions is the best place to find online storage auctions. Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. The Victoria Inn was built ca. 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 city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. Decatur Alabama Population This is one of the outbuildings at the site. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Are the former owners of this home-turned-library angry at the intrusion into their afterlives or just trying to say hello? Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. The remains were removed in 2015. The hotel closed in the 1970s. You may even stumble upon an old, abandoned homestead site in the woods. But in the 1800s, it was a town that grew around the Rock Run Mine and Furnace. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. People also love vintage photos that show what those past lives were like in Alabama. The tale of its resident ghost, a Confederate soldier named Sydney Grimmett who died there, is the most popular ghost story on campus. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Click hereto see more photos. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . Furthermore, it is not allowed for any person to excavate . Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. This cemetery, established in 1834, is said the be haunted by the spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers. Site of Consolation Church and Cemetery, Greenville. 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. This gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. Flickr/Renee May. One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Huntsville. Sloss Furnaces (Birmingham, AL) 20 32nd St. N., Birmingham, AL 35222 (205) 254-2025 In the years following the Civil War, Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces became the mecca of pig iron needed for thousands of steel products around the country. We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. (Historic American Engineering Record/Library of Congress). Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. Pikeville was Marion Countys first county seat, serving from 1820-1882. The Rawls Hotel was built in 1903 by Capt. Click hereto see more from Cottage Hill. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY! She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. Abandoned rail shops at the Western Railway of Alabama at 701 North Perry St. in Montgomery are shown in the 1960s. Legend says the face of a woman appears on a tombstone in Sandlin Cemetery. Other times, its merely because they are so haunting and raise the questions: Who would leave such beautiful places to rot? This Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1837 by Dr. John R. Drish who died in 1867. 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. Temple B'nai Shalom in Huntsville's Old Town Historic District, in Huntsville. The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. The slave quarters were demolished. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. The abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. 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. If you'd like to see the "behind the scenes" drama of Decatur's haunted past, then this is the tour for you! Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. It was abandoned for years and is currently being refurbished. The courthouse burned in 1866 and was rebuilt. 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. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. 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 Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. "Forks of Cypress" ruins near Florence. Gen. John Brahan, a veteran of the War of 1812, began construction on Sweetwater Plantation in the 1830s. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. The Knight Sanitorium is a three-story brick building. When the Gold Rush began in California, residents headed west. Rawls, who repeatedly took down window treatments he tried to install. 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. One version of the story claims Molly was the ghost of a woman who had lost an infant who dealt with the tragedy by hugging local children. (Source: ecjmartin1 via Wikimedia Commons). Located in Decatur, Alabama, the Ardent Mills Decatur facility is a pneumatic mill and one of the most automated mills in the United States. Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. Today, it is house museum that can be toured by appointment. 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. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person Some claim to see the orb today. The destruction of these burial mounds cast a mysterious pall over the city -- a darkness that continues to linger today. Eerie screams have been heard and ghostly apparitions have been seen haunting the Moncrief cemetery. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. 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. It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. It is said that a mysterious fog covers this area day or night, and it surrounds the gravestones. Today, the Old State Bank in Decatur is open for tours. 1. Bass Cemetery is located off a dirt road in the woods. Every year during Halloween a pumpkin mysteriously makes its way into Romeo's hands. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. However, they say eventually the happy noises turn to unhappy ones, as if the children are screaming for their lives. 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. He playfully flushed toilets and used ice machines. According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. 2 bedrooms (5 homes) $159,629. 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. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins. Click here to see a five-part history of the Mt. The building is believed to be haunted by several apparitions and ghostly voices are heard. Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out. A little farther to the east is a waterway known as Gun Island Chute that leads to the Alabama River. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama shedin Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. 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. 3. Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. (Source: Rivers Langley via Wikimedia Commons). Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. Folks say that when you stand outside the crypt, you can hear the rocking chair rocking. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. This building, constructed in 1856, has a rich and interesting history. (Submitted by Callum Swift). Don't Edit Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. The most infamous haunted location in Alabama is The Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham. As the river trade continued to increase, the town continued to grow. This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. 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. 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. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. A stretch of Highway 5 between Natural Bridge and Jasper is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a teenage girl who was killed while returning from prom. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. Winter Place is actually a complex with two huge homes; the second is that both homes are in dire need of renovation. An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. In 1902 the new facility was finished, featuring 33 buildings, a power station, and a general store. What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama? Inside a seven-story, Renaissance Revival-style building in downtown Birmingham, framed photos of unknown people linger on desks that haven't been used in three decades. The Marengo House was originally built in 1847 in Autauga County before being disassembled in 1854 and moved to its current location. The once flourishing Eastern Bank of Alabama at 201 Broad Street in Eufaula, was abandoned and in bad shape when this photo was taken in 1935. 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. By the end of 1888, the R&D had built 51 miles of track from Rome, GA to Attalla (west of Gadsden), AL. In 1909, Kirkseys wheelchair-bound daughter Margaretta Eliza, who was 29 years old, fell from the second-floor balcony. InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula when it was abandoned. Within 15 years, the town had 5,000 residents. Detail of the abandoned mansion on Goldthwaite. Flickr/Jon Dickson. When his spirit would pass people in the halls, they would feel cold. 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.