Do you believe in ghosts? Many people in the state of Alabama do! And, with so many townships in the state reporting hauntings, who could blame them!
BaldwinCounty, Silverhill, Alabama
In the area of Woodhaven Dairy in Silverhill, fires have been claimed to start themselves, things seem to move on their own and footsteps have been heard in the house. There are also reports of windows busting, animals found dead and items going missing. The story behind the happenings began over fifty years ago when two young children were allegedly thrown into a well and killed. It is believed that the children are responsible for some of the strange happenings.
CalhounCounty, Anniston, Alabama
In Anniston, a nun is said to haunt the Parker Memorial. The nun apparently hung herself in the main hall. Now the town folks claim to see the hanging rope on occasion and hear a chair being knocked over, followed by choking sounds.
The Stringfellow Memorial Hospital nurses, claim to hear the organ being played in the chapel by unseen fingers. The patients claim to see a headless man in a room where a man committed suicide, years before.
The Victoria Mansion of Anniston, now a restaurant and hotel, has problems with footsteps, piano playing, clinking glasses in the bar and a female apparition on the upstairs landing.
CalhounCounty, Jacksonville, Alabama
At the Jacksonville State University, footsteps, moving furniture and opening doors have been reported. There have also been instances where people were locked in their rooms. Many others have complained about clocks that didn’t work properly.
ChiltonCounty, Clanton, Alabama
On the Refuge Bridge, in the town of Clanton, strange sounds can be heard in the night. People have also spotted orbs of light floating around the area and some have been chased by fog. Some reported that they had stopped their car on the bridge and their entire car started rocking! It is said that if you get out of your car and walk across the bridge, you can feel a threatening presence walking next to you.
CoffeeCounty, Kinston, Alabama
Visitors at the Harrison Cemetery in Kinston, report hearing fiddle music coming from the tomb of, deceased resident, Grancer Harrison. Grancer was quite fond of music in life and apparently still has a passion for it, even in death.
CullmanCounty, Cullman, Alabama
In the town of Cullman, several employees at the Woodland Hospital claim to hear keys jingle, people walking around in empty rooms. Some claim to have seen apparitions of deceased patients. There are also reports of toilets flushing on the psychiatric ward and an ice machine pouring ice out for no good reason.
DallasCounty, Selma, Alabama
The St. James Hotel in Selma has at least three spirits haunting it, according to the Library of Congress. Jesse James has been seen in all of his transparent glory, sitting at the bar and at his favorite corner table, as well as, coming out of rooms 214, 314 and 315. Lucinda, the girlfriend of Jesse, is known to haunt the building. Lucinda’s apparition has been spotted floating around the hotel and is said to stop to observe the guests. A canine apparition has also been heard barking and running through the upstairs hallways. It is believed that the dog may have belonged to Jesse.
There are other apparitions believed to haunt the St. James. Strange sounds and unseen barking dogs have been reported in the courtyard, as well as, apparitions seen by psychics who were dressed in antique clothing and unaware of the living people around them.
In room 304, flashes of light were reported to come through the windows and the curtains apparently moved by themselves.
In the bar, glasses have been clinked together until an employee yells for the apparition to stop it!
A psychic team conducting research went into the ballroom with an EVP recorder and asked if anyone was there. When playing the recording back, the voice of an older gentleman was said to say, “Well, that’s a stupid question.”
The Alabama Foundation for Paranormal Research found proof of entities in the hotel.
DeKalbCounty, Pine Ridge, Alabama
The Horton House of Pine Ridge is the site of a vicious triple murder and suicide. There have been stories of séances that went sour, as well as, persons being choked after they entered the house by unseen hands. The sounds of knocking can be heard on the floors and walls. And, even more bizarre, are the reports of a bird singing that slowly turns into the screams of a young girl.
JeffersonCounty, Adamsville, Alabama
In the town of Adamsville, you might want to think twice about walking the streets at night. Night travelers have reported seeing dark figures in the woods and on the outskirts of neighborhoods. Some have described the feeling of being followed, while others have heard actual footsteps behind them but, when they turn to look, no one is there!
The sanctuary of their homes is not much better than the dark streets; many have seen shadows rush past their windows at night. Some report hearing scratching noises outside their homes and one man actually found claw marks on his banister when morning came!
In several of the homes of Adamsville, residents have reported hearing footsteps or someone running in their hallways and on their stairs! These people also state that doors slam shut on their own, voices call out their names and electrical appliances come on and go off without explanation.
JeffersonCounty, Birmingham, Alabama
In the library of Birmingham, things are often moved around at night and a male apparition has been seen quite frequently.
Birmingham’s Bass Cemetery is the final resting place for many civil war soldiers and slaves. Many apparitions have been spotted here, along with the sound of screams and feelings of being followed.
In an old iron plant known as the Sloss Furnace, the ghost of a man killed in the plant can be seen walking the catwalks above.
JeffersonCounty, Fultondale, Alabama
In the old Walkers Chapel Cemetery in Fultondale, people have told of being grabbed at their feet when walking past graves. Some have even said that their shoes were pulled completely off!
JeffersonCounty, Gardendale, Alabama
In the Hodges Cemetery of Gardendale, people have reported “things” banging on their cars, faces and hands at the windows of their vehicles, moving gravestones, strange noises, music and dark creatures at night!
In the Moncrief Cemetery of Gardendale, screams have been heard in the night and apparitions have been seen walking in the mortuary at midnight. Others have reported that when they attempted to leave, their cars would not restart even though they ran fine when entering the place!
MadisonCounty, Owens Cross Roads, Alabama
Behind Hell’s Gate in Owens Cross Roads, it is said that you can hear chanting but there is no known source. People have claimed that things have been thrown at them but, no object was seen or hit the ground and no source of the thrown object could be seen. It has also been claimed that screams and whispers can be heard coming from the empty mansion behind the gates.
MarshallCounty, Albertville, Alabama
In Albertville, library workers claim that the elevator goes up and down on its own. In the restrooms, water can be heard running but when someone goes in to check things out, the water has stopped!
On the road close to an Exxon station in Albertville, you could hear some unseen force mumbling and throwing pebbles or you may see dark, shadowy figures.
Just off of the highway, a haunted house stands, not so silently, but definitely empty. The former owner was killed by his own lawn mower and afterward his wife was forced to move out due to the banging noises that began to occur. Another couple purchased the home and were so afraid that they left, leaving all of their belongings behind! Neighbors claim that lights come on in the empty house at night. The realtors have had no luck in selling the place, even after the price was dropped by a whopping twenty thousand dollars!
On the main street of Albertville, many people have complained of hearing the voices and footsteps of the unseen. Business owners on this main strip complain of cold spots and screams coming from the empty street. Consequently, this same area was victim to a tornado in the 1900’s and many people were killed.
MobileCounty, Dauphin Island, Alabama
Dauphin Island locals claim that Fort Gains is haunted by deceased soldiers and their apparitions can be seen all over the area. One apparition in particular is said to follow visitors as they are leaving the fort.
MontgomeryCounty, Montgomery, Alabama
The State Capital Building, located in the city of Montgomery, has had complaints of water faucets turning themselves on. Allegations have also been made that the ghost of a confederate woman has been seen roaming the halls and the second floor offices.
Employees of the Tallapoosa Entertainment Center of Montgomery have complained of voices whispering in their ears, the casino machines playing by themselves, ice leaping out of drinks and doors opening and closing on their own.
MorganCounty, Decatur, Alabama
At the South Morgan Health Care Center in Decatur, visitors have taken pictures that, when developed, showed a ghost looking in the windows at them. Visitors and workers have also complained about hearing heavy breathing behind them, seeing apparitions darting into rooms and cold gusts of wind blowing at the bottom of the stair inside the building.
ShelbyCounty, Montevallo, Alabama
In the town of Montevallo, also in Shelby County, stands the University of Montevallo. The school, as well as, the campus is said to be haunted by several ghosts. The apparition of Henry Clay Reynolds, a Captain during the Civil War, has been said to follow students while they made their way across the campus. Captain Reynolds has also been reported to open and close windows and may be the source of frequent hot and cold spots throughout the University and its grounds.
In 1908, a young woman by the name of Condie Cunningham was accidentally set afire and died soon afterward. The spirit of Condie is said to live on in the University. Some students and staff have witness the apparition of a woman, running down the hallways on fire. Some have heard the sounds of running in the halls without the accompanying visualization. Many students using the showers or walking the halls have heard her horrific screams.
Another interesting story about the University campus; in the 1820’s a man named Edmond King built a mansion on the grounds. Edmond lived there with his wife and son until his death in 1863. Before the old man died, it is said that he buried his money under a tree to keep the Union Army from stealing it. Some have made allegations of seeing an old man wandering the grounds, carrying a lantern and shovel. Others have reported that while walking past the house at night they have seen a lantern passing the second floor windows. Another account tells of the apparition sitting at the table counting money. During the day, some students have reported seeing the ghost wave at them from the second story windows. Also, at a wedding held in the mansion, guests told of seeing a white-robed apparition under the dining room table that floated out a nearby window!
TuscaloosaCounty, Northport, Alabama
In the Old Bryce Hospital, an old mental institution in Northport, writing has appeared on walls. Employees have reported strange noises, the feeling of being watched, hot and cold spots, ringing telephones, furniture being moved and footsteps in the hallways.
TuscaloosaCounty, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
In the university located in Tuscaloosa, scraping sounds are reported, as well as, footsteps, screams and moaning. During the civil war a union soldier was allegedly tortured and killed in this same building.
WalkerCounty, Parrish, Alabama
At Jack’s Restaurant, in the town of Parrish, a ghost named Mary is known for knocking items off of shelves, slamming ovens shut, turning on grills during the night and whispering through the drive-thru speakers and in the bathrooms.
So, I ask you again, do you believe in ghosts?
