abandoned places in decatur, alabama

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. 1888 as a private residence. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. Visitors have claimed to have a feeling of being watched and cold chills even on the hottest days. In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. Coffins were stacked on racks like a storage facility. Apparitions have been seen, and captured on film by paranormal society investigations; orbs have been reported as well. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. Various urban legends have arisen around the claims that Cry Baby Hollow and the bridge going across it are haunted. 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. Click hereto see more photos of Robinson's Switch. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. You may experience the presence of a Native American ghost named Mary who knocks things over, plays electrical pranks, alters the temperature, and whispers over the drive-through speakers. Residents hear screaming and footsteps and other ghostly sounds. Because the ground was frozen at the time, she was placed in a coffin in the cellar. This gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. Either way, the photos are intriguing. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Both federal and state laws govern this activity. (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). That might be a first. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Norwood, a community in Birmingham, is known among photographers and urban explorers for its crumbling abandoned mansions. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. 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. Others have reported seeing large, panther-like cats cross the highway in this area.". 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. 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. But in the 1800s, it was a town that grew around the Rock Run Mine and Furnace. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. (Source: Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Other entities haunt the main staircase and the basement. Trespassing is punishable by law. Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. Huggin Mollys restaurant in downtown Abbeville is named for the legend. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. 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). An elevator that runs by itself. These buildings are the longest continuously occupied industrial buildings in the state. NOTE: These homes and buildings are located on private property. (Source: Judyanne Waters via FindaGrave.com), Grave of Norman Staples and Ghost Ship, Bladon Springs. 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. 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. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 1914. 9 Best . The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Huntsville. This cemetery, established in 1834, is said the be haunted by the spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers. Click here to read more. Haunted Decatur Tours, 141 North Main Street, Decatur, IL, 62523, United States. . Located in a beautiful 1820s home, the restaurant is known for its family of ghosts including a woman screaming and calling out as she floats past the windows and the ghostly reflection of a tall, bearded man in black, known as Old Ebeneezer Hearn. However, in the 2010s, no one was managing the site and vandals began tearing up the facility. Click hereto see more photos. Some say theyve heard voices and felt cold spots inside the jail. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. The back of the dilapidated William Chancellor House in Harpersville in Shelby County is shown in 1935. Parts of the building have been renovated into living space but the penthouse, basement and old bank area remain abandoned and off-limits, awaiting restoration. In this 1934 photo, renovation work had begun on Spring Villa in Opelika. Possibly among the most inane of haunted reports, people claim to see a green light in the cemetery at night. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. 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. It is said to be haunted by the inmates executed there, with the last one in 1949. To visit Norwood, take exit 126B off Interstate 20/59, just north of downtown Birmingham. According to legend, a small bridge on an isolated road is haunted by a baby who died there. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. This floor is allegedly haunted by an inmate who hanged himself in one of the cells, where visitors have reported feeling a sad presence. Due to the owner's financial difficulties, the house is run-down and in need of repair. It says, "Anne E. Kirtley gave many years of her life as a beloved professor at Judson. The firefighters felt that is simply wasn't worth the risk to aggressively try to stop the fire, and to let the fire burn itself. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. 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. Detail of the abandoned mansion on Goldthwaite. In Huntsville, the Maple Hill Cemetery is also known as the Dead Children's Playground. ", 3. Murder Creek Bridge is located on this stretch. Apr 16, 2018 - Explore Kelly Kazek's board "Abandoned Alabama", followed by 561 people on Pinterest. A staircase in the Empire building before renovations began. She is buried in Birminghams Elmwood Cemetery. The Gainesridge Dinner Club has been named the "Most Haunted Restaurant" in Alabama. 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. The canyon's proximity to the Natchez Trace, which was known as the Devil's Backbone, made it a choice hideout for many outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers along the Trace. 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. This weathered concrete frame on Shelby County Road 42 was once part of Shelby Chemical Co., a plant owned by Shelby Iron Co. The home was reportedly built atop old slave quarters and a cemetery. 15 most haunted places in Decatur. The hotel has been closed down. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. It was named for nearby Sweetwater Creek. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and. He is known to flush toilets, independently operate ice machines and brush past people leaving them with chills. Legends surrounding this church are astounding in number and scope. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. All rights reserved (About Us). The preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. Sketoe's Hole is the site where Methodist minister William "Bill" Sketoe Sr. (1818- 1864) was hanged during the Civil War. As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. 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 house has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Italianate mansion was built for James Turner Kendall but decades later, the home was used as an inn. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. Trespassing is illegal. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. A pearly white marble known as Chewacla Marble was mined in the quarry. And why? For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. It was rebuilt and operated until 1923. Within 15 years, the town had 5,000 residents. Some claim to see the orb today. Her spirit can also be seen floating past windows on the second floor. The first reports of a haunting was around 1919 after a teenage boy who slept at the house had a . In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. 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. It was also once the site of Castle Morgan, used to house prisoners of war during the Civil War. In 1854, Colonel Dan Conklin started a whiskey distillery, racetrack and brothel on the outskirts of Decatur, which would earn the city its first unflattering nickname of "Hell's Half Acre." This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. They will come with a title that will be put into the auction bidder's name. 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 abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. For information, contact Craig Drescher,[email protected]. (Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. It is no longer standing. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks. 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! 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. (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Flatwoods was a settlement of freed slaves during Reconstruction but it was later burned. 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. 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. 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. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). Cook Museum. It is thought to be the face of Sarah Kittrell, wife of Thomas Kittrell, who disappeared in 1904. The grounds are maintained and the site is available to rent for photography and events from Dorothy Skipper Rental LLC. Alabama, Should Be on Your Radar. The figure was as much as 7 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. According to the Auburn University Libraries, this is the only known interior photograph of the building that served as the Dallas County Courthouse at Old Cahaba from ca. The hotel closed in the 1970s. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Temple B'nai Shalom in Huntsville's Old Town Historic District, in Huntsville. Please follow the law and be safe. [email protected] (866) 944-8530 . You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. The home was featured in the late Katherine Tucker Windham's book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey., The skeletal facade ofan abandoned jail lurks in the woods in the community of Townley in Walker County, near Carbon Hill. A hearse can be seen inside the garage of the abandoned Wards Funeral Home in Opelika. The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). Many people believe the ghost is that of the Governor's son who died in the Civil War. Mining continued in Arbacoochee until the 1930s, but the town never recovered and became a ghost town by 1990. If you want to suggest another tale, email [email protected] or comment below. 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. NOTE: This site is continually monitored with video surveillance. 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. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home. Add Photos The building has been abandoned since the 1980s. The Grace Evans house in Cahaba, the states first capital city, in the 1930s, decades after the town was abandoned due to flooding. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. Months after Pegues was killed in battle in 1862, strolling lovers claimed to see an orb in the garden behind the home. 1 of 16 1. Legend says the spirits of the children buried in the cemetery, founded in 1822, come there to play. See more onSteel City Urbex's Facebook page. When they turn to look, nothing is there. Flickr/Jon Dickson. 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. According to legend, Jenny and her remaining sons set out to get revenge. It is alleged that you can hear the screams of soldiers who died in the Civil War at this cemetery. Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). Click hereto see more. According to legend, she was driving her baby in a horse-drawn carriage one night. St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. 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. It was abandoned for years and is currently being refurbished. Alabama's 12 Most Haunted Places 1. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. Adjoining Huntsville's historic Maple Hill Cemetery is a playground that looks much like any other, featuring a swing set and slide. 100+ Abandoned Places In Alabama | Explore Alabama 2023 Recent Locations Judge A. E. Singleton House February 27, 2023 | City/Town: Union Springs Judge Singleton House This home located on North Prairie Street in Union Springs, Alabama was built by Judge A. E. Singleton sometime between 1900 and 1903. Nebo Baptist Church. The furnace was destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War but was rebuilt around 1879. After a fire and years of deterioration, only a few buildings remain but it has become a popular destination for tourists and photographers. Best Restaurants in Decatur, AL - The RailYard, Two Fish & A Toad, The Moody Crab, Simp McGhee's, Brick Deli, Francesco's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Bank Street Grill, Hard Dock, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Sushi Sumo Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." Are the former owners of this home-turned-library angry at the intrusion into their afterlives or just trying to say hello? 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. Eerie. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. Find . 12 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama. The crumbling house on a hill at 103 Goldthwaite Streetwas obviously once a beauty. Share your experiences with us in the comments below! Since 1982, the 1824 house has been a museum and event space. 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. However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling. As Ive discovered over the years, people are fascinated with abandoned places. Click herefor more photos. HAUNTED DECATUR is part of AMERICAN HAUNTINGS INKEMAIL: [email protected] Copyright 2023 by American Hauntings Ink. 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. People claim that her ghost still haunts her Bankhead Forest property, angry at anyone who trespasses. In 1874, a tornado took the life of lady of the house Judith Winston, who was crushed beneath rubble. Jesse James is rumored to have holed up in the canyon. Peacock said it's the "site of numerous unusual accidents over the years, including several that have resulted in fatalities and catastrophic fires. The family reportedly had the image sandblasted from the stone but it soon returned. Decatur Alabama is a city in Morgan and Limestone counties in the State of Alabama. They are evidence of past lives and of the history we are in danger of losing. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. Abandoned Places In Alabama 1. Today, the Old State Bank in Decatur is open for tours. Location: 30338 Lester Road, Lester, Alabama Hours: 7 to 11 p.m. Website: Click here Haunted House of Horror About: Wander around an 8,000 square-foot town filled with supernatural scares. Montevallo, established in 1896, is reportedly haunted by the spirit of student Condie Cunningham. Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. 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. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Jack Cole Road is a dirt road in a densely wooded area off Highway 7. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. 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. 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. 10. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. Also, the construction of Millers Ferry Lock and Dam in 1963 was really overwhelming. Rawls, who repeatedly took down window treatments he tried to install. Legends of hauntings in the home include one about a screaming woman dressed in Victorian clothing. When the Gold Rush began in California, residents headed west. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. Mary survived. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. The 1893 Peyton building in downtown Bridgeport in the 1930s. Jacksons Military Road passed through the town. The reason there are all these caves . After Old Main burned in 1887, the Chapel was used for classrooms until Samford Hall was built. . According to the Chamber of Commerce website, a scarecrow apparition moves from room to room on this floor. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. Information with the photo said: This building stood on the southeast corner of Vine Street and First Street North. 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. This courthouse was built in 1868 when Seale was the county seat from 1866-1942. A defunct prison said to have been in operation from 1945 to 1995. Others claim to have witnessed the spirit of a mysterious mist, a crying baby and a strange man dressed in black. 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. There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! Brick Deli is housed in a building that dates back over a century. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. He may flush the toilet as well. Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. The home was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who sold it to Isaac Winston in 1833. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. As the river trade continued to increase, the town continued to grow. 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. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. Construction on Kendall Manor began before the Civil War but it could not be completed until 1867. The hangings were carried out inside the jail, and the spirits of those men reportedly never left. The buildings flank Alabama Avenue.. Mt. The date of the photograph is unknown, but it was probably taken in the late 19th or early 20th century, after the building had been used as a grist mill. It is no longer standing. The site has two city cemeteries as well as a slave cemetery. The ghost of a boy who died there is said to haunt the park. Others have claimed to see odd sights while driving the road, from lights darting through the trees to ghostly figures. What are the most haunted places in Alabama? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. This research was done using searches of a variety of sites about local haunts. After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. The son of former Alabama governor, Robert Patton is said to be one of many ghosts to haunt the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? Properly called Jackson Ford Bridge, there are currently plans to demolish the bridge due to vandalism and decay making for a safety hazard.