After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. On October 27, Hood arranged his army as it arrived to encircle Decatur. Winter Place is actually a complex with two huge homes; the second is that both homes are in dire need of renovation. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". 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 Canabiss House in Huntsville today. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. Late at night, people have reported hearing eerie footsteps echoing on the decks of the War World II-era battleship USS Alabama. The laws of the state of Alabama first and foremost follow the laws of the ARPA (the Archaeological Resources Protection Act). 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. Pikeville was Marion Countys first county seat, serving from 1820-1882. Trespassing is illegal. Copper Center - Tonseno Lodge - A man was killed in the hotel, and now he's haunting it. This abandoned funeral home in Opelika still has hearses and caskets inside its casket showcase room. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. The bank is defunct but the building is still in use. 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. However, in the 2010s, no one was managing the site and vandals began tearing up the facility. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. At least two, possibly . According . The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. Soon, the family heard the sounds of Evelyn playing the piano down there and decided to send her body to Virginia to be buried in her familys cemetery. 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. This gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. (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. 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. The most infamous haunted location in Alabama is The Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham. 28 Abandoned Alabama ideas | alabama, abandoned, historical - Pinterest Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? Winter Place 32.3713, -86.31589 History: Winter Place is the name of two old conjoined homes that date back to the mid-1850s. It had no ballroom, no gold-leafed interior, no orchestra. It is now the site of a Hampton Inn. (Sources: Alabama Department of Youth Services, left; Kelly Kazek, right). Today, the Old State Bank in Decatur is open for tours. 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. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. But this playground is different. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. 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. An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. The figure was as much as 7 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Haunted Decatur Click hereto see more. In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. Legend says if someone says, We have your baby, she will attack. 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." The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. It was used during the Civil War as a hospital. Water faucets that turn on and off. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. (Source: Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). Click hereto see more photos. Legends often say that he was hanged on trumped-up charges for deserting the Confederate army, although details vary. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. The best-known ghost tale from each Alabama county - al.com The Jemison Center was built in the 1920s as part of Bryce Hospital, which opened in Tuscaloosa as the Alabama State Hospital for the Insane at the outset of the Civil War. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. 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. The Empire Building, one of four that make up the "Heaviest Corner on Earth" in downtown Birmingham, is a 16-story, 247-foot-tall Classical Revival-style skyscraper. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. It hasnt been used since 2000. The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. This historic fort is one of the best-preserved Civil War era masonry forts in the U.S. Fort Gaines has become a tourist attraction and on the property you'll find original cannons, a blacksmith shop, kitchens, a museum, gift shop and a few tunnels. The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. 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. List of Caves in Alabama: Locations and Map - startcaving.com 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. Mt. During the Civil War, Nancy lived with her husband and son on a small farm but her son was killed in the war and his body was never recovered. 15 most haunted places in Decatur - herald-review.com The city was the capital after Huntsville was the temporary capital city in 1819 so a Constitutional Convention could be held to choose the first official capital, which was Cahawba. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. Today, only its stone foundations remain. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. Cry Baby Hollow Bridge | Haunted Places | Hartselle, AL 35640 Eerie screams have been heard and ghostly apparitions have been seen haunting the Moncrief cemetery. Murder Creek Bridge is located on this stretch. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. Having promised her adoring audience she would return, she was killed in an accident on the way. The destruction of these burial mounds cast a mysterious pall over the city -- a darkness that continues to linger today. It says, "Anne E. Kirtley gave many years of her life as a beloved professor at Judson. 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. 42 places sorted by traveler favorites 1. Storage Auctions in Alabama - AL - StorageAuctions.com At right, a historical photo of City Federal. Click herefor more photos. Click hereto see more photos. All rights reserved (About Us). The preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. 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. Some report that is you park on the bridge, your car will begin to rock. Reportedly, an unusually high number people who lived along the road have died; some say 68 since 1890. Her ghost is said to look down from the upstairs window. Some say it is haunted by a mother in search of her long-lost child. Don't Edit The building was constructed in 1930. It would go on to boast others, including the "Second Most Corrupt City in Illinois." Col. Christopher Claudius Pegues built a stately home on the property between Pine and Chestnut streets. Folks say that when you stand outside the crypt, you can hear the rocking chair rocking. People have claimed to hear wails of banshees and see ghostly hell hounds and apparitions of Confederate soldiers. Months after Pegues was killed in battle in 1862, strolling lovers claimed to see an orb in the garden behind the home. She founded many of the things Judson students still love: theConversationalistyearbook, theTriangle(student newspaper), theScrimshawliterary magazine, the college archives, and several (shh!) OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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 image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. When she finally reached her home and reported the accident to her husband, the man began drinking to soothe his grief. Battleship Island, Japan. When they turn to look, nothing is there. The chain purchased Sears. The remains were removed in 2015. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. . 100+ Abandoned Places In Alabama | Explore Alabama 2023 Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. As the river trade continued to increase, the town continued to grow. All rights reserved (About Us). People are fascinated with abandoned sites. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). Locals get an eerie feeling around this building. One of the most important factors to keep in mind is that metal detecting on historical grounds is prohibited. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. We're sure this Victorian home in rural Missouri was once quite beautiful. A pyromaniac ghost? Alabama Unclaimed Property - Official State Website If that wasnt creepy enough, visitors have been known to hear the sounds of a rocking chair moving back and forth as they pass. 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. ", 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.". When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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 slave quarters were demolished. Furthermore, it is not allowed for any person to excavate . NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. 10 Crazy Abandoned Places in TN Nature Is Reclaiming Quickly Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. Alabama's 12 Most Haunted Places 1. The Grace Evans house in Cahaba, the states first capital city, in the 1930s, decades after the town was abandoned due to flooding. According to Judson.edu, the Anne Kirtley dorm is haunted by its namesake. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. Thank you! (Source: Edward Bennett/Gaines Ridge Dinner Club Facebook page). secret traditions. Alabama's Official Travel Guide Here is a look at 21 of the most photographed abandoned sites in Alabama. Legend claims a phantom woman would appear to children, but only at night. The war ended before the plant went into operation. Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. Chalkville Training School for 'Incorrigible' Girls. Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. William J. Samford Hall in the Auburn University Historic District. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. One surviving example is the stone on the grave of Korea Nettles, which has three faces said to be those of her children. 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! Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. Decatur Mill | Ardent Mills The building has been abandoned since the 1980s. 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. 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. THE BEST 10 Restaurants in Decatur, AL - Last Updated March 2023 - Yelp