Brick Deli specializes in sandwiches and live music at night. Huntsville, Alabama 27.7 miles from Hartselle, AL The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. Legend claims a phantom woman would appear to children, but only at night. As the river trade continued to increase, the town continued to grow. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. Although there are no detailed legends about this site, many believe it is haunted. According to Prattvilleal.gov: Pratt's "love of beauty is evidenced in Prattville in his manufactories which feature graceful arches, soaring ceilings and vast open spaces, interesting brick and stonework and a picturesque site alongside Autauga Creek. After a fire and years of deterioration, only a few buildings remain but it has become a popular destination for tourists and photographers. 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. (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. The activity is reportedly caused by the spirit of a woman who died on the top floor in the 1950s. You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. "Abandoned Alabama: Exploring The Heart of Dixie," by Leland Kent, (Arcadia Publishing), 2021, 96 pages, softcover. . Decatur Alabama is a city in Morgan and Limestone counties in the State of Alabama. It would go on to boast others, including the "Second Most Corrupt City in Illinois." Our "history tour with ghosts" reveals not only the highlights of the city's history, but also reveals the history "that no one wants you to know" -- from crime scenes, to scandals, unsolved murders, and more. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. InsideEastern Bank of Alabama in Eufaula. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. 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 Now her ghost is often seen along the road. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. If. The first reports of a haunting was around 1919 after a teenage boy who slept at the house had a . The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. 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. In the small south Alabama town of Mount Vernon, one of the state's greatest historical treasures is slowly being consumed by kudzu, time and apathy. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. When they turn to look, nothing is there. Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions. Prairie Bluff disappeared from maps around 1900. It was designed in the Eastlake style of. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. 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. 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. This abandoned funeral home in Opelika still has hearses and caskets inside its casket showcase room. Passersby often say they can see the swings moving on their own volition, as well as orbs or spectral figures. Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893. 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. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. Flatwoods was a settlement of freed slaves during Reconstruction but it was later burned. Other times, its merely because they are so haunting and raise the questions: Who would leave such beautiful places to rot? Every year during Halloween a pumpkin mysteriously makes its way into Romeo's hands. Updated at 1 p.m. after the owner of the home previously mentioned said the details were incorrect and there are no legends surrounding his home. Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. 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. (Submitted by Callum Swift). Flickr/Jon Dickson. All rights reserved (About Us). Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. Tuscumbia, Alabama 39 miles from Decatur, AL A former slave plantation, it is believed to be haunted by slaves that lived and died here and also possibly by the ghosts of its former owners. 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. Battleship Island, Japan. It hasnt been used since 2000. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. This account of the hauntings comes from RawlsBandB.com: Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. ", 3. William J. Samford Hall in the Auburn University Historic District. The story was told by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. Winter Place in Montgomery. the interior, seen here from the doorway, is closed to the public because it is unsafe. Remnants of the town remain, including the courthouse, shown above, two cemeteries and the grave of an unknown War of 1812 soldier. Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. The Penney Building is a 31,000-square-foot structure in downtown Dothan. She reportedly haunts her old room on the third floor. She never harmed them, other than perhaps causing some ringing in their ears. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. The building was constructed in 1930. 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. The third floor of this historic courthouse formerly housed a row of cells, dating back to the early twentieth century. 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. Some people say they've heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the. Abandoned collapsing mines below the surface were to blame, but others suspect that the first building too closely resembled a grim medieval castle, and was scrapped for a more modern cottage design. Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. 1 of 16 1. Today, the Old State Bank in Decatur is open for tours. Within 15 years, the town had 5,000 residents. The ghost of a boy who died there is said to haunt the park. Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out. Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . 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. Don Robinson State Park, Cedar Hill has a plethora of ruins. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young singer who died on the night of her greatest triumph. Following the deaths of John Drish and his wife Sarah, the home was used as a school from 1906 to 1925 and was used as an auto parts warehouse for several years. The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. If you'd like to see the "behind the scenes" drama of Decatur's haunted past, then this is the tour for you! In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. 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. 1914. Cahawba, or Cahaba, was the state capital from 1820-1825 but was eventually abandoned because of flooding from the Alabama and Cahaba rivers. In the absence of documented fact, people are free to claim their own version of history and never is that more Reported sightings of paranormal activity at this cemetery include a fiery orb that floats through the air. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). 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. At least, nothing human. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. This abandoned town is reportedly haunted by spirits if former residents. 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 press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Ive noted those of which I am aware. Eerie screams have been heard and ghostly apparitions have been seen haunting the Moncrief cemetery. In 1909, Kirkseys wheelchair-bound daughter Margaretta Eliza, who was 29 years old, fell from the second-floor balcony. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. 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. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. It is also home to numerous legends and ghost tales. Crime truly came to Decatur in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroads. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. A shadow, a moan, a creak lead visitors to wonder if the five crew members who died in a 1944 turret explosion are still on duty, refusing to let even death end their watch. 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. According toGhostsofAmerica.com: "We heard a sound like chains clinking together right behind us and beside us. were demolished but the main house remains, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. After a mummified woman was discovered in her home, people claimed she was a witch. (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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Abandoned Places In Alabama 1. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. the inventory is constantly changing as new places come up for auction. 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. 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. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). The property is for sale. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. 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. No trespassing. Nebo Baptist Church. Either way, the photos are intriguing. The chain purchased Sears. A local storyteller dressed in period clothing leads the one-mile tour of haunted hotels, infamous murder sites, cemeteries, and more. GHOST HUNTER'S TOUR: Created in 2005, the extended Ghost Hunter's Tour is a supernatural bus trip with an extra hour of spirits, scandals and sins! 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. 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. Others claim to have seen the apparition of a man in a top hat in the parlor. 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. A little farther to the east is a waterway known as Gun Island Chute that leads to the Alabama River. Sometimes its because they bring back memories of places they once loved. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. 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. It was named for nearby Sweetwater Creek. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. Read more 0 15. Remember, the majority of homes are occupied, private residences and those that are abandoned are marked "No Trespassing" and are a hazard. After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. 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. Although this hospital is now closed and operates a geriatric-psych ward, employees tell tales of "Homer" a ghost who roamsthe halls. Apparitions have been seen, and captured on film by paranormal society investigations; orbs have been reported as well. We only offer a very limited number of these tours each season and it's one not to miss! It is said to be haunted by the men and women who died during the raid. As the Drish mansion lore goes, the ghost of Sarah was furious about this and occasionally locals will see the third-story tower lit in flames. Across fromSt. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware, a tiny catch-all store at the crossroads of Lowndes County Roads 29 and 40, is a narrow, shaded dirt lane that leads to one of Alabama's best-kept secrets. Here is a look at 21 of the most photographed abandoned sites in Alabama. Contact this Facility Decatur Mill 2050 Market St NE Decatur, AL 35601 256-280-4761 Number of Team Members: 40+ The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. The cemetery is said to be haunted by the ghost of Norman Staples, captain of a sternwheel steamer who killed himself with a shotgun in 1913 at the age of 44. What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama? The original portrait of Miss Kirtley hangs in the freshman dorm, Kirtley Hall, but often makes surprise appearances in elevators, closets, and beds! 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. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. Thank you! ", 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.". Click hereto see more photos. 1830s to 1866. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. After the capital was moved to Montgomery, the Tuscaloosa building was used as the Alabama Central Female College. The old Bibb County Jail, built ca. Home Size. The newly renovated inn is now called Hotel Finial. This isolated, one-lane bridge in rural Chilton County is said the be haunted by a malevolent spirit that chases people who cross it. Many spooky tales surround Bear Creek Swamp. The three-story tower was added to the home after the Civil War. 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. 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. When Huntingdon was a Methodist female college, a young woman allegedly committed suicide in the dorm and continues to haunt it. 2 bedrooms (5 homes) $159,629. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. The Rawls Hotel was built in 1903 by Capt. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! . HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. Local residents have reported seeing a strange mist rise up in the area in front of the statue of boxing great Joe Louis, who was born in Chambers County. In some cases, homes and buildings on the verge of collapse were saved. He may flush the toilet as well. The site is reportedly haunted by numerous spirits with the most famous known as Pegues Ghost. The grounds are maintained and the site is available to rent for photography and events from Dorothy Skipper Rental LLC. Japeth Rawls. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. Click hereto see more photos. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. He is reportedly always looking toward the Tombigbee River, where his beloved steamboat exploded. In 2015, the church burned in a fire presumed to be caused by arson. 12 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama. They are evidence of past lives and of the history we are in danger of losing. ", The Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton is widely known as the site of hauntings by the spirit of Henry Wells, who was once incarcerated in a jail cell on the second floor. Stewartfield in Mobile. Nancys spirit is distraught over not being able to bury her son. By the end of 1888, the R&D had built 51 miles of track from Rome, GA to Attalla (west of Gadsden), AL. (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). Take a look. She is said to have died instantly. Those people still haunt the road. Typical cemetery haunting fare including orbs and reports that your car will die if you drive there on specific dates. The rare folk-art stones, declared historic sites by the National Park Service, have unfortunately been all but destroyed by vandals. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. 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. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. Many people claim theyve seen a face behind the barred windows of the second floor but the building was empty. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. 14. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Vernon Hospital for the Colored Insane. 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. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . Because after an entire life of drudgery and cleaning, that's how every woman wants to spend her afterlife. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. The last of our abandoned places: Balaklava, Ukraine. VIN Date Reported Stolen Vehicle Year Make Model Tag State Status 1820 plantation house. The spirit of a murdered woman is said to haunt a dirt road behind a Texaco station in this small community. Click herefor more photos. Others have reported seeing large, panther-like cats cross the highway in this area.". 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. Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins.

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