Rock Run is a residential community in Cherokee County where a small pocket of residents live in well-kept homes. 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. (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). Add 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! It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. Mary survived. This church on AvenueU in Pratt City has been empty since it was struck by a tornado. Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama shedin Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. Some say it is haunted by a mother in search of her long-lost child. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. From vacant factories and industrial sites to long-shuttered schoolhouses, our list of the 10 most amazing abandoned places in Alabama has a little bit of everything. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion 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. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. It was reportedly closed in 1924 and was later opened as a medical hospital. Battleship Island, Japan. Every community has a ghost tale that everyone has heard, often related to an old or abandoned house, a spooky cemetery or a dark and creepy road. 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. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. 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. Jesse James is rumored to have holed up in the canyon. A pearly white marble known as Chewacla Marble was mined in the quarry. 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." Read more 0 Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends. 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. According to legend, Burns performed at the buildings opening night and was carrying a bouquet of roses as she boarded her carriage to return to her hotel in Huntsville. 10. These buildings are the longest continuously occupied industrial buildings in the state. The bank was founded in the 1850s. Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. At this playground set up near the cemetery, the ghosts of children play and swing on the swingsets. Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation. Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . Click hereto see more from Cottage Hill. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. Legends of hauntings in the home include one about a screaming woman dressed in Victorian clothing. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON:Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per PersonGhost Hunter's Bus Tours: $42 Per PersonTOURS DEPART: Decatur Civic Center411 East William Street | South Parking LotFree Parking in Lot. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. People who cross the bridge hear the sounds of a babys cries. Her ghost is said to look down from the upstairs window. The legend was recorded by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. It is to her that witnesses attribute the sound of footsteps, lights that turn on and off by themselves, cold spots, and a phantom Locals tell a tale of playground sounds that can be heard at night: children laughing, playing and having fun. Tuscumbia, Alabama 39 miles from Decatur, AL 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. (Source: Rivers Langley via Wikimedia Commons). The reason there are all these caves . For the next 100 years,the mansion was owned by members of the Winston family. 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. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. Don't Edit This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. 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. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. Have you visited any before? 1888 as a private residence. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. The first reports of a haunting was around 1919 after a teenage boy who slept at the house had a . A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. These assets may be in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, insurance benefits or even valuables from safe deposit boxes. According to legend, Jenny and her remaining sons set out to get revenge. According to Judson.edu, the Anne Kirtley dorm is haunted by its namesake. Home Size. Stewartfield in Mobile. 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. "Abandoned Alabama: Exploring The Heart of Dixie," by Leland Kent, (Arcadia Publishing), 2021, 96 pages, softcover. Properly called Jackson Ford Bridge, there are currently plans to demolish the bridge due to vandalism and decay making for a safety hazard. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. The ghost of a woman who died after being hit by a truck is said to haunt this stretch of road. All rights reserved (About Us). The image turned out to be a silhouette etched into the stone. Also, the construction of Millers Ferry Lock and Dam in 1963 was really overwhelming. 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. Click hereto see more. This abandoned railway line was originally chartered as the Rome and Decatur Railroad sometime after the Civil War to build a line from Rome, GA across Alabama to Decatur, starting in 1887. It was destroyed by Union forces in 1865. In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. 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. She reportedly haunts her old room on the third floor. The Penney Building is a 31,000-square-foot structure in downtown Dothan. The Victoria Inn was built ca. Although this hospital is now closed and operates a geriatric-psych ward, employees tell tales of "Homer" a ghost who roamsthe halls. Others claim to have witnessed the spirit of a mysterious mist, a crying baby and a strange man dressed in black. Today, the only thing remaining in the area is the Prairie Bluff Cemetery. 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. The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. No matter what part of the state you are in, if you ask around youre sure to be pointed to a haunted site. It's notorious for the vast amount of caves, and also for the true cavers spirit among its inhabitants. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. 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. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. Because after an entire life of drudgery and cleaning, that's how every woman wants to spend her afterlife. Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? This site was visited with permission. Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. Mt. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. The most haunted bridge in our state is aptly named Hell's Gate Bridge, located in Oxford. Read more 0 Abbie's House Guntersville, Alabama 39.5 miles from Decatur, AL This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. At least, nothing human. 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. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. Click hereto see more photos. What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. A staircase in the Empire building before renovations began. 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. 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. The hotel closed in the 1970s. 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 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. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person These display caskets left inside Memorial Mound still had price tags on them. The laws of the state of Alabama first and foremost follow the laws of the ARPA (the Archaeological Resources Protection Act). In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! If that wasnt creepy enough, visitors have been known to hear the sounds of a rocking chair moving back and forth as they pass. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. (Source: Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. It is now home to the Lowndesboro Town Hall. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. 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. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, "Haunted Places: The National Directory. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The ruins of the building that served as the Alabama Capitol from 1826-1846 have been preserved as Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. On October 27, Hood arranged his army as it arrived to encircle Decatur. The Gainesridge Dinner Club has been named the "Most Haunted Restaurant" in Alabama. The historic Josephine Hotel, built in 1880 in downtown Union Springs, now houses a cafe, art studio and gift shop. Detail of the abandoned mansion on Goldthwaite. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. 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. HAUNTED HISTORY TOUR: Our longest-running tour is a spirited bus tour that takes guests on a 3-hour excursion to Decatur's most haunted locations. The property is for sale. They are evidence of past lives and of the history we are in danger of losing. Whatley home no longer stands, it is shown above in 1936, but legend says the site is still haunted. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. She would die from her burns on Feb. 6 at the age of 17. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. In 1909, Kirkseys wheelchair-bound daughter Margaretta Eliza, who was 29 years old, fell from the second-floor balcony. The interior of the Goode-Hall house in the 1930s. Her spirit can also be seen floating past windows on the second floor. (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). Rawls, who repeatedly took down window treatments he tried to install. Click hereto see more photos. This home was allegedly the site of the murders of an entire family that haunts the site. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who hanged herself back in the day when the Center was a teaching college. A photo of the Richard Crocheron mansion in the 1880s, when it was already an abandoned ruin. (Source: Don and Susie via FindaGrave.com). 1890s commissary that served the mining families still stands but the vine-covered building is said the be the site of miners killed at the site. This is one of the outbuildings at the site. The preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. 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. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The tale was repeated in Kathryn Tucker Windham's"13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey." Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Please follow the law and be safe. Cook Museum of Natural Science 123 Science Museums Educational sites By alwildflower3 It's fun for groups, children of all ages, and solo adults or couples. The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. 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 say theyve heard voices and felt cold spots inside the jail. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. Now, it's just old and long abandoned. Eerie. 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. This cemetery is reportedly haunted by the sweetheart of a real man named Robert Musgrove, who was killed in a train wreck in 1904. Others claim to have seen the apparition of a man in a top hat in the parlor. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). 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 served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners. The city was the capital after Huntsville was the temporary capital city in 1819 so a Constitutional Convention could be held to choose the first official capital, which was Cahawba. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out. Legend says the spirits of the children buried in the cemetery, founded in 1822, come there to play. Both federal and state laws govern this activity. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . (Submitted by Callum Swift). Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. . Winter Place 32.3713, -86.31589 History: Winter Place is the name of two old conjoined homes that date back to the mid-1850s. 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. A local storyteller dressed in period clothing leads the one-mile tour of haunted hotels, infamous murder sites, cemeteries, and more. Montevallo, established in 1896, is reportedly haunted by the spirit of student Condie Cunningham. It is reportedly haunted by men killed during training. 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. Abandoned Places In Alabama 1. All rights reserved (About Us). Shelby Iron Co. began operations in the 1840s. I worked there as a jailor in the county jail there in the old part when it was on the 2nd floor. People claim that her ghost still haunts her Bankhead Forest property, angry at anyone who trespasses. InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula. The cotton press in the Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." Coffins were stacked on racks like a storage facility. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. At the WHBC frat house, they say former Youth Minister Anthony Stephens' spirit walks through the house later at night. 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. 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. We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. Take a look. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. Jeff E. Newman of Steel City Urbex took photos. The historic courthouse is used for events and education art displays. Others have claimed to see odd sights while driving the road, from lights darting through the trees to ghostly figures. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. Tales of Huggin' Molly also can be found in Louisiana and Florida, with variations. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. 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. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. The Jemison Center changed focusin the 1970s because of desegregation laws and closed in the 1980s. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. But this playground is different. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. Support@storageauctoins.com (866) 944-8530 . 1914. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. When the Gold Rush began in California, residents headed west. Located among the graves is an open tomb missing its corpse. Cook Museum. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. The three-story tower was added to the home after the Civil War. 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. Either way, the photos are intriguing. The building is believed to be haunted by several apparitions and ghostly voices are heard. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 159 Nature & Wildlife Areas By 460LizF Outstanding location to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. It was also once the site of Castle Morgan, used to house prisoners of war during the Civil War.