In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. In 1902 the new facility was finished, featuring 33 buildings, a power station, and a general store. 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 gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. It is named for a woman who lived in the area in the late 1800s or early 1900s and was thought to be a witch. Some say they can hear the call of a bird that soon morphs into a young girls screams. When Huntingdon was a Methodist female college, a young woman allegedly committed suicide in the dorm and continues to haunt it. 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 OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Two Federal gunboats patrolled the river. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young singer who died on the night of her greatest triumph. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. Crime truly came to Decatur in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroads. (Source: Don and Susie via FindaGrave.com). 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. Mary survived. The chain purchased Sears. Furthermore, it is not allowed for any person to excavate . 8 Ghost Towns And Abandoned Places In Alabama - OnlyInYourState According . Pikeville was Marion Countys first county seat, serving from 1820-1882. 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. Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. Peacock said it's the "site of numerous unusual accidents over the years, including several that have resulted in fatalities and catastrophic fires. 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." TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. The buildings flank Alabama Avenue.. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. I worked there as a jailor in the county jail there in the old part when it was on the 2nd floor. 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. Abandoned rail shops at the Western Railway of Alabama at 701 North Perry St. in Montgomery are shown in the 1960s. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. 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. After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. Read more 0 Abbie's House Guntersville, Alabama 39.5 miles from Decatur, AL This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. A baby is said to have died there, either from murder, a car accident, a wagon accident from pioneer days, or variations on the theme. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. (Sources: Alabama Department of Youth Services, left; Kelly Kazek, right). If that wasnt creepy enough, visitors have been known to hear the sounds of a rocking chair moving back and forth as they pass. Months after Pegues was killed in battle in 1862, strolling lovers claimed to see an orb in the garden behind the home. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Decatur - Tripadvisor Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. The 1893 Peyton building in downtown Bridgeport in the 1930s. Police Impound and Abandoned Tow Auctions in Alabama 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. Japeth Rawls. Flickr/Annie Chartrand. Her spirit can also be seen floating past windows on the second floor. 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 photo was taken in 1934 when the home was abandoned. Don't Edit It is also home to numerous legends and ghost tales. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. A little farther to the east is a waterway known as Gun Island Chute that leads to the Alabama River. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. Each home has it's own unique style which makes it stand out amid the modern homes we see today. People report hearing strange noises and seeing apparitions at the site. According toGhostsofAmerica.com: "We heard a sound like chains clinking together right behind us and beside us. Norwood, a community in Birmingham, is known among photographers and urban explorers for its crumbling abandoned mansions. Read more 0 "Forks of Cypress" ruins near Florence. This photo shows a casket on a top shelf that is rusted through the bottom. According to legend, as Wells peered out of the north window, at a mob gathering below, lightning struck nearby, indelibly etching his image on the pane. Officials have marked the site with an arrow so visitors can spot the face.. Contact this Facility Decatur Mill 2050 Market St NE Decatur, AL 35601 256-280-4761 Number of Team Members: 40+ Alabama's Official Travel Guide Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. Decatur Alabama Population (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. White orbs also appear in the childrens room. Huntsville, Alabama 27.7 miles from Hartselle, AL The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. 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. Legends often say that he was hanged on trumped-up charges for deserting the Confederate army, although details vary. Thank you! For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. Shortly after the American Civil War, Cahawba became a ghost town. The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. Others say they have experienced their cars rocking while on the bridge. 4 Haunted Houses Near Decatur, Alabama - Summer Lodge Apartment Homes After the capital was moved to Montgomery, the Tuscaloosa building was used as the Alabama Central Female College. This cemetery, established in 1834, is said the be haunted by the spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. Take a look. These display caskets left inside Memorial Mound still had price tags on them. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). 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. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. 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. It was rebuilt and operated until 1923. Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. 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. (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. Various urban legends have arisen around the claims that Cry Baby Hollow and the bridge going across it are haunted. Before long he was drunk and, in his anger, he dragged his wife to the bridge and hanged her from the railing before jumping to his death. 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 preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. Are the former owners of this home-turned-library angry at the intrusion into their afterlives or just trying to say hello? Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. Although there are no detailed legends about this site, many believe it is haunted. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. VIN Date Reported Stolen Vehicle Year Make Model Tag State Status This weathered concrete frame on Shelby County Road 42 was once part of Shelby Chemical Co., a plant owned by Shelby Iron Co. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. 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. Hall Hotel dates to 1895 and residents of Gurley hope to restore it. Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. One surviving example is the stone on the grave of Korea Nettles, which has three faces said to be those of her children. Because the ground was frozen at the time, she was placed in a coffin in the cellar. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. Each year, unclaimed or abandoned assets are turned over to Alabama Unclaimed Property by financial institutions and businesses that lose contact with the owners.