abandoned places in decatur, alabama

The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. This isolated, one-lane bridge in rural Chilton County is said the be haunted by a malevolent spirit that chases people who cross it. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. The house has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is said to be haunted by former patients. The ghost of a woman who died after being hit by a truck is said to haunt this stretch of road. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. Some say theyve heard voices and felt cold spots inside the jail. The area is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the mines. If you agree to give him a ride, witnesses Alabama is fond of getting into Hell it seems. If you'd like to see the "behind the scenes" drama of Decatur's haunted past, then this is the tour for you! At right, a historical photo of City Federal. Beelitz Military Hospital, Berlin. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions. Mrs. Locals tell a story that this building once was occupied by a young girl, Molly, who died in the 1930s or 1940s. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. Legend says those who face the front of the house will feel a tap on their shoulders and see a dark figure running across the roof. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. Connie Pearson 1. Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. Tales of Huggin' Molly also can be found in Louisiana and Florida, with variations. Sardis is home to a truly creepy rumor claiming that a man with fiery red eyes and the ghostly figure of a Confederate soldier has also been spotted wandering the property of the Adams Grove Presbyterian Church. The abandoned Hall Hotel building is among the loveliest - if spooky - structures in the Madison County town of Gurley. 1820 plantation house. Winter Place in Montgomery. Some claim to see the orb today. Today, only its stone foundations remain. One truck driver said that he struck the bridge after a ghostly horse-drawn carriage crossed the interstate in front of him. It's notorious for the vast amount of caves, and also for the true cavers spirit among its inhabitants. 15. Some sources sayit opened in the 1890s as a mental hospital. Located in Decatur, Alabama, the Ardent Mills Decatur facility is a pneumatic mill and one of the most automated mills in the United States. Folks say that when you stand outside the crypt, you can hear the rocking chair rocking. Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). 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. No trespassing. It burned in 1923, leaving only ruins. 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. Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. Brick Deli specializes in sandwiches and live music at night. 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. 4 bedrooms (42 homes) $317,230. 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. Brick Deli is housed in a building that dates back over a century. Childrens laughter has been heard by those working on the third floor, and even outside the bathroom down in the restaurant when there have been no children around. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. It is the property of the Department of Youth Services. 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. St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. 133 Fourth Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601, Phone: 256-351-4505. These display caskets left inside Memorial Mound still had price tags on them. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. It was torn down in 1952. It is alleged that you can hear the screams of soldiers who died in the Civil War at this cemetery. Don't Edit The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. 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. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. Princess Theatre in Decatur, Alabama M MSNHA Storage Buildings Old Barns Built In Storage Lauderdale Garages Sheds Beautiful Things Old Barn on Spring Avenue, Decatur, Alabama B Bonnie Goodman Little Theatre Old Signs Once In A Lifetime Movie Theater Performance Art Decatur Alabama great little Theater C Coil Billingsley Southern Homes It is now an event venue. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. People claim to see Marys spirit on the bridge, searching for her lost child. 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. 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. Her spirit reportedly haunts McCandless because she had told her audience she would return. HAUNTED DECATUR is part of AMERICAN HAUNTINGS INKEMAIL: GHOSTS@AMERICANHAUNTINGS.NET Copyright 2023 by American Hauntings Ink. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, "Haunted Places: The National Directory. 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. Alabama's 12 Most Haunted Places 1. TheMcNab Bank Buildingin Eufaula, formerly Eastern Bank of Alabama. 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). Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out. The once flourishing Eastern Bank of Alabama at 201 Broad Street in Eufaula, was abandoned and in bad shape when this photo was taken in 1935. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. 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. The spirit of a murdered woman is said to haunt a dirt road behind a Texaco station in this small community. Some also like to repeat the myth that children were buried in the playground following a series of abductions in the 1960s. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Huntsville. Click herefor more photos. Ruins of theMemphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. The land this was built on was at one time a cemetery. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. (Source: Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! Add Photos It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. Possibly among the most inane of haunted reports, people claim to see a green light in the cemetery at night. Jacksons Military Road passed through the town. Now, it's just old and long abandoned. Shortly after the American Civil War, Cahawba became a ghost town. secret traditions. The Chamber of Commerce building, above right, was constructed in 1910 as a bank. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. Trespassing is illegal. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. Boshells Mill was built in 1902 beside Lost Creek on Alabama Route 124 in Townley, Ala. 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. HAUNTED HISTORY TOUR: Our longest-running tour is a spirited bus tour that takes guests on a 3-hour excursion to Decatur's most haunted locations. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. Others may still have residents, but not as many as they once had, making them living ghost towns in Alabama. Some abandoned historic sites may even be classified as a ghost town, depending on the size of the site. Some say theyve seen orbs of light that appear to float on the river. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. the inventory is constantly changing as new places come up for auction. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). . Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Decatur High School Decatur High School was built in 1950. However, they say eventually the happy noises turn to unhappy ones, as if the children are screaming for their lives. Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. 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. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. 1830s to 1866. Visitors to the inn and restaurant have reported hearing disembodied footsteps and eerie noises throughout the home. 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. Huntsville, Alabama 27.7 miles from Hartselle, AL The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. 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. 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. 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. It's now underwater and the only remnant left of the town is a cemetery. The historic Josephine Hotel, built in 1880 in downtown Union Springs, now houses a cafe, art studio and gift shop. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. Those people still haunt the road. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Read more 0 This floor is allegedly haunted by an inmate who hanged himself in one of the cells, where visitors have reported feeling a sad presence. This account of the hauntings comes from RawlsBandB.com: Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. This abandoned railway line was originally chartered as the Rome and Decatur Railroad sometime after the Civil War to build a line from Rome, GA across Alabama to Decatur, starting in 1887. 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. The figure was as much as 7 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. VIN Date Reported Stolen Vehicle Year Make Model Tag State Status The historic, two-story jail was built in ca. Coffins were stacked on racks like a storage facility. 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. We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. Eerie. The bank was founded in the 1850s. 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. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! Flickr/Renee May. According to legend, a female student was killed while she was trying to sneak out after curfew. And why? Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. There is a place in the Talladega National Forest, shown above, were a road was laid over some graves, according to legend. Chalkville Training School for 'Incorrigible' Girls. Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . It is now home to the Lowndesboro Town Hall. 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. On October 27, Hood arranged his army as it arrived to encircle Decatur. All rights reserved (About Us). Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. 10. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. Because the ground was frozen at the time, she was placed in a coffin in the cellar. This photo of the Alabama Capitol in Tuscaloosa was taken in the 1890s or early 1900s. This gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. The A ghost named George is said to live here, a former construction worker who fell from a scaffold as the place was being built. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! According to the Library of Congress, The brick warehouses had 12 -inch firewalls and fire doors. Since it was erected in 1922, the Masonicbuilding has a public library for black residents and home to offices for prominent black doctors and lawyers, as well as the local NAACP. The remains were removed in 2015. Whatley home no longer stands, it is shown above in 1936, but legend says the site is still haunted. Click hereto see more photos. This photo was taken in 1973. (Megan Willis via Forgotten Alabama Facebook page). According to legend, she was driving her baby in a horse-drawn carriage one night. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. In 1909, Kirkseys wheelchair-bound daughter Margaretta Eliza, who was 29 years old, fell from the second-floor balcony. 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. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. 1888 as a private residence. This courthouse was built in 1868 when Seale was the county seat from 1866-1942. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, was near collapse when this photo was taken in the 1930s. The Decatur Mall is anchored by Belk, jcpenney Outlet, Sears and Regal Cinemas. Today only ruins remain. If you go, drive by only. 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. At least, nothing human. 2 bedrooms (5 homes) $159,629. 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. 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. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. Have you visited any before? Thank you! . Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. We know not everyone will agree about the legend in his or her county. Please follow the law and be safe. What is now a non-denominational chapel was built in 1850 as a Presbyterian church. Support@storageauctoins.com (866) 944-8530 . What are the most haunted places in Alabama? Although there are no detailed legends about this site, many believe it is haunted. People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. This cemetery is reportedly haunted by the sweetheart of a real man named Robert Musgrove, who was killed in a train wreck in 1904. The church is now a ruin but the adjoining cemetery remains. (Historic American Engineering Record/Library of Congress). 1910, was slated for demolition, but a citizens group hopes to save it. 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. This popular ghost town was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The slave quarters were demolished. Decatur Alabama Population The preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. The building was constructed in 1930. You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. Rural Southwest Alabama says, It was constructed using hand-hewn yellow pine timbers joined together with large wooden pegs. It has been moved twice and now rests across Duck Pond at the University of West Alabama. (Source: Edward Bennett/Gaines Ridge Dinner Club Facebook page). 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. Prairie Bluff disappeared from maps around 1900. When Huntingdon was a Methodist female college, a young woman allegedly committed suicide in the dorm and continues to haunt it. The three-story tower was added to the home after the Civil War. Rock Run is a residential community in Cherokee County where a small pocket of residents live in well-kept homes. Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. ADVANCE PERMISSION REQUIRED. During the Confederate occupation General John Bell resided there and during the Union occupation, General Sherman himself stayed at Wesleyan. They are evidence of past lives and of the history we are in danger of losing. For information, call 334-320-5330 or visitthe Facebook page. The Penney Building is a 31,000-square-foot structure in downtown Dothan. In some cases, homes and buildings on the verge of collapse were saved. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. It is to her that witnesses attribute the sound of footsteps, lights that turn on and off by themselves, cold spots, and a phantom Locals tell a tale of playground sounds that can be heard at night: children laughing, playing and having fun. A defunct prison said to have been in operation from 1945 to 1995. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. 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. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. It is named for war veteran and politician Joseph Wheeler, as is nearby Wheeler Lake. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. For tour information and fees, visit the ghost town's websitehere. The hotel has been closed down. In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. Children have reported seeing a face peering down from a second-floor window when the courthouse is closed. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. Vernon Hospital for the Colored Insane. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. A staircase in the Empire building before renovations began. Water faucets that turn on and off. 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. Employees claim they've heard disembodied footsteps and voices. This historic hotel is the home of a disruptive entity known only as 'the knocker.' It gets its name from the fact that when it appears on the sixth floor, knocking loudly on hotel room doors in the dead of night! This is one of the outbuildings at the site. An old bridge off Mothershed Road is known as Mary Daniel Bridge. This weathered concrete frame on Shelby County Road 42 was once part of Shelby Chemical Co., a plant owned by Shelby Iron Co. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. The third floor of this historic courthouse formerly housed a row of cells, dating back to the early twentieth century. The activity is reportedly caused by the spirit of a woman who died on the top floor in the 1950s. Click hereto see more from Cottage Hill. 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. As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. 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. But this playground is different. Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. 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.. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person All Rights Reserved. What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama? Legends often say that he was hanged on trumped-up charges for deserting the Confederate army, although details vary. Its surprising how many ghost towns are in Alabama. If. Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation. Adjoining Huntsville's historic Maple Hill Cemetery is a playground that looks much like any other, featuring a swing set and slide. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. (Source: Judyanne Waters via FindaGrave.com), Grave of Norman Staples and Ghost Ship, Bladon Springs. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. It is now a concert venue. The site is beneath the Alabama Highway 134 bridge over the Choctawhatchee River. This research was done using searches of a variety of sites about local haunts. Buildings in Downtown Decatur have a long and . Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. It hasnt been used since 2000. Some report that is you park on the bridge, your car will begin to rock. After Old Main burned in 1887, the Chapel was used for classrooms until Samford Hall was built. Residents hear screaming and footsteps and other ghostly sounds. 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. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. Many people claim theyve seen a face behind the barred windows of the second floor but the building was empty. Flickr/Annie Chartrand. Fort Gaines, a historic fort on Dauphin Island, was established in 1821 and is well known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War. Love Alabama? HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. Click hereto see more. The home was completed in 1835 by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and former Alabama governor.

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abandoned places in decatur, alabama