(Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). Each tour gets on and off the bus throughout the night at the most haunted places in town and includes indoor locations, where you might just have the chance to meet a deceased Decatur resident face-to-face! The buildings flank Alabama Avenue.. But in the 1800s, it was a town that grew around the Rock Run Mine and Furnace. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. This weathered concrete frame on Shelby County Road 42 was once part of Shelby Chemical Co., a plant owned by Shelby Iron Co. A little farther to the east is a waterway known as Gun Island Chute that leads to the Alabama River. The area is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the mines. 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. According toGhostsofAmerica.com: "We heard a sound like chains clinking together right behind us and beside us. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, a scarecrow apparition moves from room to room on this floor. Today, only its stone foundations remain. 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! After a mummified woman was discovered in her home, people claimed she was a witch. Visitors have claimed to have a feeling of being watched and cold chills even on the hottest days. ", 3. The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. It is now home to the Lowndesboro Town Hall. It is now a concert venue. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. See more ideas about alabama, abandoned, historical sites. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. All Rights Reserved. It is said to be haunted by the men and women who died during the raid. 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. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. 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. The building has been abandoned since the 1980s. Local Online Auctions in Alabama. We're sure this Victorian home in rural Missouri was once quite beautiful. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. The David Wade House on Bob Wade Lane in Huntsville shown in 1935. Sometimes its because they bring back memories of places they once loved. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. Click hereto see more photos. 1. Legend says Evelyn Carter, the sister of a housekeeper, died on the grounds of Gaineswood Plantation in the late 1800s. Click hereto see more photos. The northeast of Alabama is part of the TAG area (the region where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet). Here is a look at 21 of the most photographed abandoned sites in Alabama. This is one of the outbuildings at the site. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. 9 Best . Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. The three-story tower was added to the home after the Civil War. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. When his spirit would pass people in the halls, they would feel cold. When the Gold Rush began in California, residents headed west. Check out the 15 most haunted places in Decatur then learn more by visiting HauntedDecatur.com. (Source: Edward Bennett/Gaines Ridge Dinner Club Facebook page). (Source: Karen Manasco via FindaGrave.com). 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. 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 most haunted bridge in our state is aptly named Hell's Gate Bridge, located in Oxford. Brick Deli is housed in a building that dates back over a century. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. 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. 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. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. A hearse can be seen inside the garage of the abandoned Wards Funeral Home in Opelika. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. When Hood arrived at Decatur on October 26, he found a Federal infantry force of 3,000 to 5,000 men defending an entrenched line that included two forts and 1,600 yards of rifle pits; a much heavier force than Roddey had believed. The house has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 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. 10.7K subscribers Exploring Abandoned Kmart Decatur Alabama Kmart is a chain of big box department stores headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble. B.B. It is reportedly haunted by men killed during training. The Rawls Hotel was built in 1903 by Capt. When they turn to look, nothing is there. Col. Christopher Claudius Pegues built a stately home on the property between Pine and Chestnut streets. Information with the photo said: This building stood on the southeast corner of Vine Street and First Street North. Tales of Huggin' Molly also can be found in Louisiana and Florida, with variations. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. (Source: ecjmartin1 via Wikimedia Commons). (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. Matt Glasscock, who took the photo at left, and members of Steel City Urbex were invited by the owner to tour some of the closed portions of the City Federal building in downtown Birmingham. Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. . In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! People who cross the bridge hear the sounds of a babys cries. This photo shows the Crocheron Columns, the only things remaining from a mansion built in Cahaba in 1843 by Richard Crocheron. 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 Marengo House was originally built in 1847 in Autauga County before being disassembled in 1854 and moved to its current location. 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. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. It is said that a mysterious fog covers this area day or night, and it surrounds the gravestones. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. 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. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. This building now houses a geriatric treatment facility but when it was a hospital, employees claimed it was haunted by a ghost named Homer. Homer would roam the halls as a dark shape. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. Winter Place in Montgomery. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. 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. Vice districts, gambling parlors and brothels sprang up in the wake of the railroads and the Civil War, bringing bloodshed and violence to the city. If you have a specific location from the list below The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, "Haunted Places: The National Directory. Norwood, a community in Birmingham, is known among photographers and urban explorers for its crumbling abandoned mansions. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. This abandoned funeral home in Opelika still has hearses and caskets inside its casket showcase room. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. Cook Museum. For information, call 334-320-5330 or visitthe Facebook page. Those people still haunt the road. 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. In 2015, the church burned in a fire presumed to be caused by arson. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama shedin Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. 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. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. It is located on a street bordering Montgomery's quaint Cottage Hill district, which is filled with refurbished cottages. Jacksons Military Road passed through the town. 14. She never harmed them, other than perhaps causing some ringing in their ears. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. If. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893. It is privately owned and closed to the public. The newly renovated inn is now called Hotel Finial. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. She reportedly haunts her old room on the third floor. Also, the construction of Millers Ferry Lock and Dam in 1963 was really overwhelming. Some say theyve heard voices and felt cold spots inside the jail. Jemison Center, former insane asylum for African Americans. 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. 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. Located among the graves is an open tomb missing its corpse. As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. Nebo Baptist Church. 1888 as a private residence. If you go, drive by only. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. The slave quarters were demolished. Legend says the apparition of a woman named Nancy, for whom Nancys Mountain is named, haunts a path to the river on Haines Island, shown above. Alabama's 12 Most Haunted Places 1. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. No trespassing. Stories of figures haunting cemeteries, ghostly marching soldiers, and mysterious music playing in empty abandoned buildings are told in every corner of our state. Please follow the law and be safe. 112 Moulton St E, Decatur, AL 35601, United States // +1 256-355 Brick Deli is just around the corner from Josie's. It is open for lunch on Monday and Tuesday, lunch and supper on Wednesday through Saturday, and closed on Sunday. It was designed in the Eastlake style of. Bass Cemetery is located off a dirt road in the woods. Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. Local legend claims that a woman appears should a visitor kiss the tallest tombstone. Other times, its merely because they are so haunting and raise the questions: Who would leave such beautiful places to rot? Read more 0 The family reportedly had the image sandblasted from the stone but it soon returned. It was used during the Civil War as a hospital. the interior, seen here from the doorway, is closed to the public because it is unsafe. Possibly among the most inane of haunted reports, people claim to see a green light in the cemetery at night. The woods along here is reportedly the site where a group of freed black slaves set up a settlement following the Civil War that was burned out and destroyed by the KKK. He was arrested January 1878, and confined to the garret of the present building. Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. Following her death in 1962, people claimed to see a kneeling figure at the grave, according to "Haunted Places: The National Directory." It hasnt been used since 2000. Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions. Nancys spirit is distraught over not being able to bury her son. The building was constructed in 1930. 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. 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. At right, a historical photo of City Federal. The burned-out shell of the Dicksonia mansion was left after a 1964 fire because the damage to the foundation was too extensive for repairs. In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. Get directions Red Hat Road Decatur , Alabama , 35601 USA Coordinates: 34.65420, -87.07780 Cemetery ID: 21888 Members have Contributed 3 Memorials 0% photographed 0% with gps About these numbers Photos No additional photos. Various urban legends have arisen around the claims that Cry Baby Hollow and the bridge going across it are haunted. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. More history, more hauntings, and more off-the-bus locations, this 4-hour tour delves into the most ghost-infested people and places in Decatur's history. ", 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.". 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. According . The property is still owned by the Department of Mental Health and is trespassing is illegal. TheMcNab Bank Buildingin Eufaula, formerly Eastern Bank of Alabama. Are the former owners of this home-turned-library angry at the intrusion into their afterlives or just trying to say hello? However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling.