Pikeville was Marion Countys first county seat, serving from 1820-1882. Members of Steel City Urbex were allowed into the bank area and the basement that are being developed for a business such as a restaurant or wine cellar, he said. 15. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. This historic hotel is the home of a disruptive entity known only as 'the knocker.' It gets its name from the fact that when it appears on the sixth floor, knocking loudly on hotel room doors in the dead of night! According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. Because the ground was frozen at the time, she was placed in a coffin in the cellar. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. Other times, its merely because they are so haunting and raise the questions: Who would leave such beautiful places to rot? During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. B.B. 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. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". An old bridge off Mothershed Road is known as Mary Daniel Bridge. Click hereto see more from Cottage Hill. The Chamber of Commerce building, above right, was constructed in 1910 as a bank. 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. The legend was recorded by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. were demolished but the main house remains, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person This private property houses the infamous ghost bridge that has numerous claims of haunting. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. (Source: Rivers Langley via Wikimedia Commons). The original portrait of Miss Kirtley hangs in the freshman dorm, Kirtley Hall, but often makes surprise appearances in elevators, closets, and beds! The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. This building, constructed in 1856, has a rich and interesting history. Mining continued in Arbacoochee until the 1930s, but the town never recovered and became a ghost town by 1990. At this playground set up near the cemetery, the ghosts of children play and swing on the swingsets. 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. 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. 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. The tale of its resident ghost, a Confederate soldier named Sydney Grimmett who died there, is the most popular ghost story on campus. She would die from her burns on Feb. 6 at the age of 17. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! Click herefor more photos. The face appeared on the grave of Thomas second wife, Mary Jane Kittrell. This abandoned town is reportedly haunted by spirits if former residents. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. Many people claim theyve seen a face behind the barred windows of the second floor but the building was empty. We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. Information with the photo said: This building stood on the southeast corner of Vine Street and First Street North. StorageAuctions is the best place to find online storage auctions. The ca. In Huntsville, the Maple Hill Cemetery is also known as the Dead Children's Playground. On Feb. 4, a fellow student spilled cleaning fluid onto the open stove and the kitchen caught fire. Adjoining Huntsville's historic Maple Hill Cemetery is a playground that looks much like any other, featuring a swing set and slide. All rights reserved (About Us). After a fire and years of deterioration, only a few buildings remain but it has become a popular destination for tourists and photographers. (Source: ecjmartin1 via Wikimedia Commons). One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. Some say the noises come from the ghosts of the original owners. If. Abandoned Places In Alabama 1. 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. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. Abandoned Property for Sale: How To Buy an Abandoned Home - realtor.com Mt. The image turned out to be a silhouette etched into the stone. The population in 2010 census was 55,683. Decatur is the nearest city to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, which includes 35,000 acres of land to provide a safe habitat for wintering and migrating birds in the eastern United States. The newly renovated inn is now called Hotel Finial. The Decatur Mall is anchored by Belk, jcpenney Outlet, Sears and Regal Cinemas. This photo shows the Crocheron Columns, the only things remaining from a mansion built in Cahaba in 1843 by Richard Crocheron. Click hereto see more photos. 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. An old well house at the Chalkville Training School for Girls. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. However, the family cemetery remains. At night, ghosts of the people buried there haunt the area. Since it was erected in 1922, the Masonicbuilding has a public library for black residents and home to offices for prominent black doctors and lawyers, as well as the local NAACP. 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. If you stop on the bridge and turn off your lights, the couple will enter your car and leave behind a wet stain on your car seat. We know not everyone will agree about the legend in his or her county. 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. The story was told by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. Alabama, Should Be on Your Radar. Click hereto see more photos. 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. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The historic Josephine Hotel, built in 1880 in downtown Union Springs, now houses a cafe, art studio and gift shop. The hotel's location next to the Shelby Iron Works, built in 1842 for access to a spring on the property, made it a popular weekend destination for the public but it was also used by employees of the Iron Works. As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. Melton also writes that Hall married Mary E. Scruggs of Lawrence County, Tennessee in 1859 where they resided until his death on May 28, 1880. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. The oddest sighting is an apparition that appears to be half-wolf and half-man. Local legend claims that a woman appears should a visitor kiss the tallest tombstone. Months after Pegues was killed in battle in 1862, strolling lovers claimed to see an orb in the garden behind the home. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. It is now an event venue. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. This research was done using searches of a variety of sites about local haunts. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. The 13 Most Haunted Hotels in Alabama | Haunted Rooms America Detail of the abandoned mansion on Goldthwaite. 8 Ghost Towns And Abandoned Places In Alabama - OnlyInYourState 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. Decatur Alabama is a city in Morgan and Limestone counties in the State of Alabama. Crime truly came to Decatur in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroads. (Source: Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. 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. Shown: The Old Shelby Hotel in Shelby County. She is said to have died instantly. NOTE: These homes and buildings are located on private property. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. 5. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. List of Caves in Alabama: Locations and Map - startcaving.com To visit Norwood, take exit 126B off Interstate 20/59, just north of downtown Birmingham. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young singer who died on the night of her greatest triumph. White orbs also appear in the childrens room. People claim to see Marys spirit on the bridge, searching for her lost child. 1 of 16 1. Old abandoned, mill in Decatur, Alabama. | Historical place, Abandoned Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. This floor is allegedly haunted by an inmate who hanged himself in one of the cells, where visitors have reported feeling a sad presence. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. There is a place in the Talladega National Forest, shown above, were a road was laid over some graves, according to legend. Haunted Places in Decatur, Alabama And why? Students and teachers alike have reported seeing white (no reviews) Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Highway 11 In September 1934, a young man named Lonnie Stephens was wrongfully accused of murdering his (no reviews) BESbswy Winter Place is actually a complex with two huge homes; the second is that both homes are in dire need of renovation. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. 17 Abandoned Places In Alabama [MAP] - Urbex That's right, allegedly there are sightings of a ghost sweeping. Metal Detecting in Alabama: 50 Secrets You Need to Know Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. The Grace Evans house in Cahaba, the states first capital city, in the 1930s, decades after the town was abandoned due to flooding. 14. ", 3. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. HAUNTED DECATUR is part of AMERICAN HAUNTINGS INKEMAIL: GHOSTS@AMERICANHAUNTINGS.NET Copyright 2023 by American Hauntings Ink. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX Decatur Alabama Population The canyon's proximity to the Natchez Trace, which was known as the Devil's Backbone, made it a choice hideout for many outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers along the Trace. The bank was founded in the 1850s. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. Battle of Decatur - Digital Alabama The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. What are the most haunted places in Alabama? This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. Take a look. 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. Click hereto see more. 3. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. Read more 0 There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! ", StrangeUSA.comsays ghosts of inmates can be heard: "Legend has it that their screams can be heard as they were being burned to death, and you can hear the laugher of the guards that stood by watching.". InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula when it was abandoned. This photo was taken in 1973. It is said to be haunted by the men and women who died during the raid. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. 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. 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. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. The Jemison Center changed focusin the 1970s because of desegregation laws and closed in the 1980s. 1888 as a private residence. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. Legend says the face of a woman appears on a tombstone in Sandlin Cemetery. On October 27, Hood arranged his army as it arrived to encircle Decatur. Some say theyve seen orbs of light that appear to float on the river. The spirit of an inmate who committed suicide in the building is reported to walk its halls. The national recognized museum first opened in 1980 and was reinvented and reopened in summer 2019. The property is for sale. . (Source: Edward Bennett/Gaines Ridge Dinner Club Facebook page). The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. It is now home to the Lowndesboro Town Hall. The land this was built on was at one time a cemetery. At the heart of the Deep South, the state of Alabama offers a wealth of opportunities for urban explorers. Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. Please follow the law and be safe. Abandoned slave quarters and workshops behind the Cabaniss House at 603 Randolph St. in Huntsville. Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. People also love vintage photos that show what those past lives were like in Alabama. 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. Its surprising how many ghost towns are in Alabama. Click hereto see more photos. Two Federal gunboats patrolled the river. The building is believed to be haunted by several apparitions and ghostly voices are heard. The hotel closed in the 1970s. 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. This cemetery is reportedly haunted by the sweetheart of a real man named Robert Musgrove, who was killed in a train wreck in 1904. 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. 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. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. The reason there are all these caves . Bass Cemetery is located off a dirt road in the woods. Whatley home no longer stands, it is shown above in 1936, but legend says the site is still haunted. Decatur, Dothan, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and more. You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. Guests of the inn reported seeing apparitions on the porch and downstairs of a woman in Victorian dress and a little girl. 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. The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. In 1909, Kirkseys wheelchair-bound daughter Margaretta Eliza, who was 29 years old, fell from the second-floor balcony. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. The best-known ghost tale from each Alabama county - al.com Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. Jemison Center, former insane asylum for African Americans. The ghost of a woman who died after being hit by a truck is said to haunt this stretch of road. Located at 112 Moulton Street E Decatur, AL 35601; Scares start Friday, October 22, from 7-11 p.m. . It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. The 12 Most Bone-Chilling & Haunted Places in Alabama - StyleBlueprint (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. Winter Place 32.3713, -86.31589 History: Winter Place is the name of two old conjoined homes that date back to the mid-1850s. Now it looks like something from a horror movie.