It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. The abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. 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. 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. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY! 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. The rare folk-art stones, declared historic sites by the National Park Service, have unfortunately been all but destroyed by vandals. The property is still owned by the Department of Mental Health and is trespassing is illegal. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. When Huntingdon was a Methodist female college, a young woman allegedly committed suicide in the dorm and continues to haunt it. 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. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. Click hereto see more photos. The Jemison Center changed focusin the 1970s because of desegregation laws and closed in the 1980s. 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. Both federal and state laws govern this activity. (Source: Rivers Langley via Wikimedia Commons). As Ive discovered over the years, people are fascinated with abandoned places. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. But in the 1800s, it was a town that grew around the Rock Run Mine and Furnace. Some people claim Sydneys ghost followed the drama students to the Telfair Peet Theater when it was constructed in the 1970s. Please follow the law and be safe. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home. Take a look. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. For this feature, Ive combined those two loves. 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. At night, ghosts of the people buried there haunt the area. Legend claims a phantom woman would appear to children, but only at night. 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. Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners. In the era of segregation, it was central to the cultural life of black Birmingham residents. 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. 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. When his spirit would pass people in the halls, they would feel cold. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. Click hereto see more photos. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. He playfully flushed toilets and used ice machines. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. In the 1830s, settlers continued to move into the area to use Arcola as a river landing. 2. An old well house at the Chalkville Training School for Girls. 1820 plantation house. Cook Museum. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. 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 home was completed in 1835 by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and former Alabama governor. The first reports of a haunting was around 1919 after a teenage boy who slept at the house had a . This photo was taken in 1934 when the home was abandoned. The chain purchased Sears. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). 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. But this playground is different. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX 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. St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. Flickr/Jon Dickson. Today, it is house museum that can be toured by appointment. 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. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. 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. The cemetery remains. Legend says if someone says, We have your baby, she will attack. The area is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the mines. Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. 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. 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. According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. Decatur Alabama Population Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? (Picture: Old schoolhouse). Information with the photo said: This building stood on the southeast corner of Vine Street and First Street North. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. 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 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. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. A photo of the Richard Crocheron mansion in the 1880s, when it was already an abandoned ruin. Within 15 years, the town had 5,000 residents. 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 home was allegedly the site of the murders of an entire family that haunts the site. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The ca. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. These assets may be in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, insurance benefits or even valuables from safe deposit boxes. Some say they can hear the call of a bird that soon morphs into a young girls screams. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. This abandoned funeral home in Opelika still has hearses and caskets inside its casket showcase room. Some say theyve seen orbs of light that appear to float on the river. Trespassing is punishable by law. That might be a first. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. 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. These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. 16. NOTE: This site is continually monitored with video surveillance. Also, the construction of Millers Ferry Lock and Dam in 1963 was really overwhelming. 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. Either way, the photos are intriguing. It once consisted of 25 buildings constructed in the 1870s or 1880. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. A little farther to the east is a waterway known as Gun Island Chute that leads to the Alabama River. Home Value*. 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 She is buried in Birminghams Elmwood Cemetery. The building has been abandoned since the 1980s. 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. Check out the 15 most haunted places in Decatur then learn more by visiting HauntedDecatur.com. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. 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. Read about the Brights and the plans for the island by clickinghere. Montevallo, established in 1896, is reportedly haunted by the spirit of student Condie Cunningham. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. People are fascinated with abandoned sites. Decatur, Dothan, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and more. Locals get an eerie feeling around this building. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. This site was visited with permission. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. Click hereto see more photos. ", 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.". 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. Here is a look at 21 of the most photographed abandoned sites in Alabama. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. Following her death in 1962, people claimed to see a kneeling figure at the grave, according to "Haunted Places: The National Directory." Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. Adjoining Huntsville's historic Maple Hill Cemetery is a playground that looks much like any other, featuring a swing set and slide. 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. . The Marengo House was originally built in 1847 in Autauga County before being disassembled in 1854 and moved to its current location. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). The J.W. It is reportedly haunted by men killed during training. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. White orbs also appear in the childrens room. The ghost of a boy who died there is said to haunt the park. However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling. Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." The figure was as much as 7 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Some have heard footsteps from the second floor and the sound of the piano playing when no one is there. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. StorageAuctions is the best place to find online storage auctions. His ghost has been sited several times by a lot of people. Although there are no detailed legends about this site, many believe it is haunted. An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. Some report that is you park on the bridge, your car will begin to rock. Today, the Old State Bank in Decatur is open for tours. 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. Col. Christopher Claudius Pegues built a stately home on the property between Pine and Chestnut streets. 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. In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. Jeff E. Newman of Steel City Urbex took photos. The cotton press in the Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. 10. 9. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. The Haunted Decatur Tours are based on the bestselling book by Troy Taylor, HAUNTED DECATUR. This historic museum operated as a hospital during the civil war, so the rumours of haunting's appear to have a leg to stand on; which can't be said for some of the apparitions supposedly reported. 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." An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. The Rawls Hotel was built in 1903 by Capt. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. Battleship Island, Japan. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. It says, "Anne E. Kirtley gave many years of her life as a beloved professor at Judson. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. He is reportedly always looking toward the Tombigbee River, where his beloved steamboat exploded. It is said that in one of the crypts stands an antique rocking chair, a favorite possession of a lady who was buried in her family crypt. The abandoned Peerless Laundry building at Royal and Conti streets in Mobile. 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. She reportedly haunts her old room on the third floor. In life, she reportedly lived in a shack in the woods. Measured by other resorts built in Alabama in the 1800s, such as nearby Shelby Springs Hotel or Blount Springs Resort, the Dennemora Hotel offered a pared-down version of entertainment. Cahawba, or Cahaba, was the state capital from 1820-1825 but was eventually abandoned because of flooding from the Alabama and Cahaba rivers. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Furthermore, it is not allowed for any person to excavate . Chalkville Training School for 'Incorrigible' Girls. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! It is said to be haunted by the men and women who died during the raid. Remnants of the town remain, including the courthouse, shown above, two cemeteries and the grave of an unknown War of 1812 soldier. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. The historic, two-story jail was built in ca. 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. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. According . What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama? It was rebuilt and operated until 1923. The home was featured in the late Katherine Tucker Windham's book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey., The skeletal facade ofan abandoned jail lurks in the woods in the community of Townley in Walker County, near Carbon Hill. Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. It's notorious for the vast amount of caves, and also for the true cavers spirit among its inhabitants. 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. Most cemeteries are closed at night. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. See more onSteel City Urbex's Facebook page. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. For tour information and fees, visit the ghost town's websitehere. The grounds are maintained and the site is available to rent for photography and events from Dorothy Skipper Rental LLC. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. Find . Take I-65 to Decatur, Exit 334. The tale was repeated in Kathryn Tucker Windham's"13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey." People also love vintage photos that show what those past lives were like in Alabama. The 1833 Old State Bank of Alabama in Decatur as it was getting a coat of paint in 1934 after it had been abandoned for decades. What are the most haunted places in Alabama? What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. Others claim to have witnessed the spirit of a mysterious mist, a crying baby and a strange man dressed in black. 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. Click here to read more. At least, nothing human. Read more 0 Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. No matter what part of the state you are in, if you ask around youre sure to be pointed to a haunted site. 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. Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. She founded many of the things Judson students still love: theConversationalistyearbook, theTriangle(student newspaper), theScrimshawliterary magazine, the college archives, and several (shh!) But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. 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. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. Mary survived. 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. If you go, drive by only. Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. This is one of the outbuildings at the site. 1914. The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. (Illustration from a photo of Old Cahawba/Will Elrick), Old Cahawba Archaeological Site is the preserved remnants of the ghost town of Alabamas first capital city. (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. 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. We're sure this Victorian home in rural Missouri was once quite beautiful. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. This building, constructed in 1856, has a rich and interesting history. See the last slide for links to more photos of abandoned sites in Alabama. The family reportedly had the image sandblasted from the stone but it soon returned. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 1 of 16 1. Flickr/Annie Chartrand. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Ruins of theMemphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. And why? Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. A staircase in the Empire building before renovations began. 1888 as a private residence. . It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. Groups such as Main Street Birmingham, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation have attempted to find a use for it and funding to refurbish it. Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. The Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. The interior of the Goode-Hall house in the 1930s. An obituary written by J. T. Melton states that Hall was born on March 3, 1830, in Lawrence County, Tennessee, although there is conflicting evidence that he was actually born on March 4, 1924. This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. It was designed in the Eastlake style of. It is alleged that you can hear the screams of soldiers who died in the Civil War at this cemetery. It is also home to numerous legends and ghost tales. 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. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The 1833 Old State Bank of Alabama in Decatur as it was getting a coat of paint in 1934 after it had been abandoned for decades. 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. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who hanged herself back in the day when the Center was a teaching college. The oddest sighting is an apparition that appears to be half-wolf and half-man. Decatur Alabama is a city in Morgan and Limestone counties in the State of Alabama. Eerie screams have been heard and ghostly apparitions have been seen haunting the Moncrief cemetery. From lost burial grounds to haunted theaters, the Haunted Decatur Tour is much more than just a run-of-the-mill ghost tour! Winter Place 32.3713, -86.31589 History: Winter Place is the name of two old conjoined homes that date back to the mid-1850s. 4 bedrooms (42 homes) $317,230. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. The hotel has been closed down. In Huntsville, the Maple Hill Cemetery is also known as the Dead Children's Playground. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. After the capital was moved to Montgomery, the Tuscaloosa building was used as the Alabama Central Female College. A pyromaniac ghost? 9 Best . Cemeteries near Decatur, AL (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. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state.