abandoned places in decatur, alabama

abandoned places in decatur, alabama

VIN Date Reported Stolen Vehicle Year Make Model Tag State Status For this feature, Ive combined those two loves. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. The ROW can still be made out in many places . Local writer and historian Lee Peacock said the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 65 between Evergreen and Greenville is known as "The Haunted Highway." The figure was as much as 7 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. 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. Some say they can hear the call of a bird that soon morphs into a young girls screams. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. Some have heard footsteps from the second floor and the sound of the piano playing when no one is there. He may flush the toilet as well. For the next 100 years,the mansion was owned by members of the Winston family. Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. The spirit of a murdered woman is said to haunt a dirt road behind a Texaco station in this small community. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. (Source: Spyder_Monkey via Wikimedia Commons). Remember, the majority of homes are occupied, private residences and those that are abandoned are marked "No Trespassing" and are a hazard. These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that were abandoned or otherwise not claimed by their owners after a period of time. The old Bibb County Jail, built ca. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 159 Nature & Wildlife Areas By 460LizF Outstanding location to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. If. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. The Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. It was designed in the Eastlake style of. Legend says the face of a woman appears on a tombstone in Sandlin Cemetery. William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. Alabama, Should Be on Your Radar. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! 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. What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. 4 bedrooms (42 homes) $317,230. 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. Shown: The Old Shelby Hotel in Shelby County. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. 10. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). All rights reserved (About Us). One surviving example is the stone on the grave of Korea Nettles, which has three faces said to be those of her children. Decatur Mall is located in the southwest corridor of Decatur at the Beltline Road/Danville Road intersection, approximately 7 miles NW from I-65. When filming was completed, the owners of the property on Jackson Lake Island near Millbrook told director Tim Burton to leave the sets rather than bulldoze them. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. The most haunted bridge in our state is aptly named Hell's Gate Bridge, located in Oxford. Mining continued in Arbacoochee until the 1930s, but the town never recovered and became a ghost town by 1990. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. Japeth Rawls. Ashland Place Historic District in Mobile. One truck driver said that he struck the bridge after a ghostly horse-drawn carriage crossed the interstate in front of him. What are the most haunted places in Alabama? 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. The ghost of a boy who died there is said to haunt the park. The Decatur Mall is anchored by Belk, jcpenney Outlet, Sears and Regal Cinemas. The land this was built on was at one time a cemetery. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? Col. Christopher Claudius Pegues built a stately home on the property between Pine and Chestnut streets. In 2015, the church burned in a fire presumed to be caused by arson. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). 1 of 16 1. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. 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 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. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. No trespassing. ", 3. The abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. 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. This courthouse was built in 1868 when Seale was the county seat from 1866-1942. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. The ruins of the building that served as the Alabama Capitol from 1826-1846 have been preserved as Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa. One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. The cotton press in the Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Jesse was thought to be in the area when his brother Frank were accused of robbery of a United States Army Corps of Engineers payroll in Muscle Shoals in 1881. The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. This is one of the outbuildings at the site. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. Get more stories delivered right to your email. 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. A pyromaniac ghost? After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. Some say the noises come from the ghosts of the original owners. After the main asylum became known as Bryce Hospitalin 1900, the Jemison Center was often called "Old Bryce Hospital," despite the fact that Bryce was built first. Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . 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. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. This is not just a collection of ghost stories, but a true history of how the city became so haunted -- which means we also include local sites of death, unsolved murders, strange crimes, gambling parlors, vice districts and more plagued the city in days gone by. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. Others claim to have seen the apparition of a man in a top hat in the parlor. At night, ghosts of the people buried there haunt the area. 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. It is also home to numerous legends and ghost tales. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. ", 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.". It was destroyed by Union forces in 1865. Today, it is house museum that can be toured by appointment. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. . Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. However, in the 2010s, no one was managing the site and vandals began tearing up the facility. Kelly Kazek |kkazek@al.com. 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." (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. In 1902 the new facility was finished, featuring 33 buildings, a power station, and a general store. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. It had no ballroom, no gold-leafed interior, no orchestra. The Victoria Inn was built ca. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. 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. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Winter Place in Montgomery. For tour information and fees, visit the ghost town's websitehere. The home was reportedly built atop old slave quarters and a cemetery. 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. The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. Water faucets that turn on and off. All Rights Reserved. An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? It is now the site of a Hampton Inn. Sometimes its because they bring back memories of places they once loved. Built in 1842, the old Coosa County Jail, known as the Old Rock Jail, is the oldest surviving stone jail in Alabama. The last of our abandoned places: Balaklava, Ukraine. Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. It is now an event venue. Mary survived. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. You may even stumble upon an old, abandoned homestead site in the woods. We have the list of places to check out! After a fire and years of deterioration, only a few buildings remain but it has become a popular destination for tourists and photographers. Her ghost is said to look down from the upstairs window. According to legend, Jenny and her remaining sons set out to get revenge. In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . The buildings flank Alabama Avenue.. Norwood, a community in Birmingham, is known among photographers and urban explorers for its crumbling abandoned mansions. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The book, "Haunted Places: The National Directory" by Dennis William Hauck claims that this section of highway is haunted by the spirits of displaced Creek Indians and has resulted in an "accident rate that is well above average." Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. . They were holding candles, and her hair caught fire. 1914. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. That might be a first. 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. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). And why? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. People who cross the bridge hear the sounds of a babys cries. Sketoe's Hole is the site where Methodist minister William "Bill" Sketoe Sr. (1818- 1864) was hanged during the Civil War. Eerie. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. People claim to see Marys spirit on the bridge, searching for her lost child. Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War. The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. From lost burial grounds to haunted theaters, the Haunted Decatur Tour is much more than just a run-of-the-mill ghost tour! Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. On October 27, Hood arranged his army as it arrived to encircle Decatur. The property is for sale. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who hanged herself back in the day when the Center was a teaching college. Reportedly, visitors to the home can still hear the sounds of the piano Some have reported seeing the apparition of a woman walking around the home. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. However, the family cemetery remains. (Source: Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). If you have a specific location from the list below NOTE: This site is continually monitored with video surveillance. 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. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. Now, join us for our award-winning tours of Decatur as we journey back in time to uncover the "other side" of the city's history and reveal not only the scandals and sins that haunt Decatur, but the many ghosts that linger here as well! In life, she reportedly lived in a shack in the woods. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! It produced plating for Civil War-era ironclad vessels, as well as pig iron for munitions and other wartime materials. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. Thank you! Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. Some say theyve heard voices and felt cold spots inside the jail. The reason there are all these caves . Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. Combined, the TAG area contains more than 14,000 caves (9,200 in Tennessee and 600 in Georgia). What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama? Within 15 years, the town had 5,000 residents. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. (Source: Judyanne Waters via FindaGrave.com), Grave of Norman Staples and Ghost Ship, Bladon Springs. Click hereto see more photos. 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. Supposedly you can still hear what sounds like the body swaying on the second floor. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. 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. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. Legend says the spirits of the children buried in the cemetery, founded in 1822, come there to play. Connie Pearson 1. Abandoned rail shops at the Western Railway of Alabama at 701 North Perry St. in Montgomery are shown in the 1960s. 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. (Historic American Engineering Record/Library of Congress). McCandless Hall auditorium, which opened in 1914, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Abigail Burns, an opera singer. Possibly among the most inane of haunted reports, people claim to see a green light in the cemetery at night. That's right, allegedly there are sightings of a ghost sweeping. Nebo Baptist Church. The first Dennemora Hotel was built at the height of the Civil War, in 1863, along what is now Shelby County Road 42, five miles southwest of Columbiana. The ca. 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. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. 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. Support@storageauctoins.com (866) 944-8530 . In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble. 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. 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. What it did offer was good food, comfortable bedrooms, outdoor activities and, according toa history of Shelby Iron Works, the first accommodations with electricity and indoor plumbing in the state. 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. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. According to legend, a small bridge on an isolated road is haunted by a baby who died there. The original portrait of Miss Kirtley hangs in the freshman dorm, Kirtley Hall, but often makes surprise appearances in elevators, closets, and beds! Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out. 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. These buildings are the longest continuously occupied industrial buildings in the state. (Source: ecjmartin1 via Wikimedia Commons). The preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. The Forks of Cypress Plantation in Florence was one of the most beautiful antebellum mansions in the state, built by the Jackson family who is buried on the plantation grounds. According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. But this playground is different. The most infamous haunted location in Alabama is The Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham. Legend says it is haunted by a woman named Annie, who acted as a nanny for the children in the home and was later the owners caretaker. Several of the brick structures that Pratt built are still used today for an industry manufacturing cotton gins. Check out the 15 most haunted places in Decatur then learn more by visiting HauntedDecatur.com. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. Rock Run is a residential community in Cherokee County where a small pocket of residents live in well-kept homes. The Knight Sanitorium is a three-story brick building. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person The rare folk-art stones, declared historic sites by the National Park Service, have unfortunately been all but destroyed by vandals. Go north on AL-67 approximately 7 miles. 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. 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. Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. Remnants of the town remain, including the courthouse, shown above, two cemeteries and the grave of an unknown War of 1812 soldier. 1820 plantation house. The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. HAUNTED DECATUR is part of AMERICAN HAUNTINGS INKEMAIL: GHOSTS@AMERICANHAUNTINGS.NET Copyright 2023 by American Hauntings Ink. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA. They are evidence of past lives and of the history we are in danger of losing. She is said to have died instantly. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. 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." People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. Some people say they've heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. It is no longer in use and the abandoned building is reportedly haunted. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. He playfully flushed toilets and used ice machines. The bank is defunct but the building is still in use. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX It was reportedly closed in 1924 and was later opened as a medical hospital. Alabama's 12 Most Haunted Places 1. After a mummified woman was discovered in her home, people claimed she was a witch. 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. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. (Sources: Alabama Department of Youth Services, left; Kelly Kazek, right). 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. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. 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. Prairie Bluff disappeared from maps around 1900.

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