It was used during the Civil War as a hospital. Alabama's Official Travel Guide Visitors to the inn and restaurant have reported hearing disembodied footsteps and eerie noises throughout the home. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. This photo was taken in 1934 when the home was abandoned. (Source: Rivers Langley via Wikimedia Commons). 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." What are the most haunted places in Alabama? The abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. The penthouse is still up for sale, he said. One truck driver said that he struck the bridge after a ghostly horse-drawn carriage crossed the interstate in front of him. Haunted Places in Hartselle, Alabama 10 Must-Try Decatur Alabama Restaurants | Where to eat - Foodie Flashpacker Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. 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. Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. Eerie screams have been heard and ghostly apparitions have been seen haunting the Moncrief cemetery. Read more 0 (Megan Willis via Forgotten Alabama Facebook page). Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. 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. People have claimed to see a ghostly face in the windows of this historic covered bridge, known as the Livingston Covered Bridge and the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge. If you have a specific location from the list below These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. 28 Abandoned Alabama ideas | alabama, abandoned, historical - Pinterest An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. It's now underwater and the only remnant left of the town is a cemetery. (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. Unfortunately, the introduction of new railroads following the American Civil War really hurt the town. Flatwoods was a settlement of freed slaves during Reconstruction but it was later burned. Police Impound and Abandoned Tow Auctions in Alabama We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. Fort Gaines, a historic fort on Dauphin Island, was established in 1821 and is well known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War. 1830s to 1866. Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. 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. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. 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. Haunted Decatur 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 activity is reportedly caused by the spirit of a woman who died on the top floor in the 1950s. The bank was founded in the 1850s. . 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. It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. 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. This building, constructed in 1856, has a rich and interesting history. 2. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. Mt. 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. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. 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. 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. 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. Legend says the face of a woman appears on a tombstone in Sandlin Cemetery. When the Gold Rush began in California, residents headed west. Mary survived. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 159 Nature & Wildlife Areas By 460LizF Outstanding location to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. An old bridge off Mothershed Road is known as Mary Daniel Bridge. 1888 as a private residence. Some sources sayit opened in the 1890s as a mental hospital. 5) Higdon Hotel Joy Castello / Flickr The Higdon Hotel has been closed for business since 1920, but the beautiful building still stands. However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling. Furthermore, it is not allowed for any person to excavate . The 1893 Peyton building in downtown Bridgeport in the 1930s. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. Each tour gets on and off the bus throughout the night at the most haunted places in town and includes indoor locations, where you might just have the chance to meet a deceased Decatur resident face-to-face! 35.2 miles from Decatur, IN This 1912 former hotel now houses the offices of a paranormal investigative team, who claim that the building is one of the most haunted in the entire state. The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. Posted: (10 days ago) Decatur, AL: 1802 Central Pkwy SW Decatur, AL 35601-5808 1 520.30 Haywood County, NC: 2147 Asheville Rd Waynesville, NC 28786-3139 1 520.90 Rogers Water Utilities, AR: 601 S 2nd St Rogers, AR 72756-4608 3 521.10 Galax, VA: 111 E Grayson St Galax, VA 24333-2903 View Details Govdeals.com Fitness View More For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. Jemison Center, former insane asylum for African Americans. This research was done using searches of a variety of sites about local haunts. Because the ground was frozen at the time, she was placed in a coffin in the cellar. If. Here is a look at 21 of the most photographed abandoned sites in Alabama. Because after an entire life of drudgery and cleaning, that's how every woman wants to spend her afterlife. (Source: Spyder_Monkey via Wikimedia Commons). Princess Theatre in Decatur, Alabama M MSNHA Storage Buildings Old Barns Built In Storage Lauderdale Garages Sheds Beautiful Things Old Barn on Spring Avenue, Decatur, Alabama B Bonnie Goodman Little Theatre Old Signs Once In A Lifetime Movie Theater Performance Art Decatur Alabama great little Theater C Coil Billingsley Southern Homes The Marengo House was originally built in 1847 in Autauga County before being disassembled in 1854 and moved to its current location. 16 Strange and surreal abandoned places | Rough Guides 15. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. McCandless Hall auditorium, which opened in 1914, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Abigail Burns, an opera singer. The home was reportedly built atop old slave quarters and a cemetery. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. The Tennessee River railroad bridge on Alabama Highway 43 in Florence is shown in the late 1960s. Legend says if someone says, We have your baby, she will attack. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama - Southern Living 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. We know not everyone will agree about the legend in his or her county. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. Both federal and state laws govern this activity. Metal Detecting In Alabama (Laws,Locations,Gold,Clubs ) A local storyteller dressed in period clothing leads the one-mile tour of haunted hotels, infamous murder sites, cemeteries, and more. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. Click here to read more. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. The figure was as much as 7 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. (Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). No trespassing. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. 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. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. Some people claim Sydneys ghost followed the drama students to the Telfair Peet Theater when it was constructed in the 1970s. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. Decatur, Dothan, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and more. But in the 1800s, it was a town that grew around the Rock Run Mine and Furnace. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins. Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. Japeth Rawls. See map for precise location. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. She would die from her burns on Feb. 6 at the age of 17. Haunted Places in Alabama - Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group In the era of segregation, it was central to the cultural life of black Birmingham residents. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. In the 1830s, settlers continued to move into the area to use Arcola as a river landing. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Employees claim they've heard disembodied footsteps and voices. The original portrait of Miss Kirtley hangs in the freshman dorm, Kirtley Hall, but often makes surprise appearances in elevators, closets, and beds! The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. Atlanta Prison Farm - Atlanta, Georgia - Atlas Obscura Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. At right, a historical photo of City Federal. 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. 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 abandoned Peerless Laundry building at Royal and Conti streets in Mobile. Old abandoned, mill in Decatur, Alabama. | Historical place, Abandoned Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. Cahawba, or Cahaba, was the state capital from 1820-1825 but was eventually abandoned because of flooding from the Alabama and Cahaba rivers. People who cross the bridge hear the sounds of a babys cries. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. Find out if abandoned structures in these vintage photos were saved - al As Ive discovered over the years, people are fascinated with abandoned places. The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. Jeff E. Newman of Steel City Urbex took photos. Cemeteries near Decatur, AL This account of the hauntings comes from RawlsBandB.com: Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. Exploring Abandoned Yet Standing Kmart Decatur Alabama| the Showstopper List of ghost towns in Colorado - Wikipedia 9. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). Battle of Decatur - Digital Alabama The rare folk-art stones, declared historic sites by the National Park Service, have unfortunately been all but destroyed by vandals. 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 facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. The site is reportedly haunted by numerous spirits with the most famous known as Pegues Ghost. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. Remember, the majority of homes are occupied, private residences and those that are abandoned are marked "No Trespassing" and are a hazard. 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. . As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. Supposedly you can still hear what sounds like the body swaying on the second floor. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. Some say it is haunted by a mother in search of her long-lost child. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. 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. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. To visit Norwood, take exit 126B off Interstate 20/59, just north of downtown Birmingham. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. 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. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. The national recognized museum first opened in 1980 and was reinvented and reopened in summer 2019. 4 bedrooms (42 homes) $317,230. 8 Ghost Towns And Abandoned Places In Alabama - OnlyInYourState 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. The cemetery remains. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. Ive noted those of which I am aware. After Old Main burned in 1887, the Chapel was used for classrooms until Samford Hall was built. BOOK REVIEW: 'Abandoned Alabama' should be on historians' read list See the last slide for links to more photos of abandoned sites in Alabama. People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. The family reportedly had the image sandblasted from the stone but it soon returned. Hall Hotel dates to 1895 and residents of Gurley hope to restore it. Rawls, who repeatedly took down window treatments he tried to install. Two Federal gunboats patrolled the river. There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! Alabama Unclaimed Property - Official State Website Read more 0 33.7 miles from Decatur, TX A former gambling parlour in 1910, the Bull Ring is located in the historic district of the Fort Worth Stockyards. 14. TheMcNab Bank Buildingin Eufaula, formerly Eastern Bank of Alabama. Are the former owners of this home-turned-library angry at the intrusion into their afterlives or just trying to say hello? She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. 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. An elevator that runs by itself. secret traditions. It is now an event venue. Huntsville, Alabama 27.7 miles from Hartselle, AL The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. 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. 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: Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. In life, she reportedly lived in a shack in the woods. (Source: Edward Bennett/Gaines Ridge Dinner Club Facebook page). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. And why? Another legend says if an 18-wheeler travels down the road, her spirit can be seen hanging onto the side of the truck so she can look inside and see if it is being driven by the same person who killed her. Decatur, AL Homes For Sale & Decatur, AL Real Estate | Trulia As the river trade continued to increase, the town continued to grow. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home. After a fire and years of deterioration, only a few buildings remain but it has become a popular destination for tourists and photographers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Visitors here may see ghostly children coming out to play. 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 face appeared on the grave of Thomas second wife, Mary Jane Kittrell. Some have heard footsteps from the second floor and the sound of the piano playing when no one is there. 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. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama shedin Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. Local legend claims that a woman appears should a visitor kiss the tallest tombstone. According to legend, the site is haunted by spirits of numerous people hung from the limbs of the tree in its 200- to 300-year history. Its surprising how many ghost towns are in Alabama. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young singer who died on the night of her greatest triumph. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. 1910, was slated for demolition, but a citizens group hopes to save it. Legends of hauntings in the home include one about a screaming woman dressed in Victorian clothing. Now, it's just old and long abandoned. The house is reportedly haunted by the spirit of an invalid woman who killed herself in the home in the 1960s. Coffins were stacked on racks like a storage facility. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. A hearse can be seen inside the garage of the abandoned Wards Funeral Home in Opelika. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. You may experience the presence of a Native American ghost named Mary who knocks things over, plays electrical pranks, alters the temperature, and whispers over the drive-through speakers. 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. People also love vintage photos that show what those past lives were like in Alabama. 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. Have you visited any before? Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation. It is privately owned and closed to the public. This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, was near collapse when this photo was taken in the 1930s. Pikeville was Marion Countys first county seat, serving from 1820-1882. There is a place in the Talladega National Forest, shown above, were a road was laid over some graves, according to legend. In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. It's notorious for the vast amount of caves, and also for the true cavers spirit among its inhabitants. It is no longer standing. 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.

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