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| True Alabama Ghost Stories
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The Sloss Furnaces
Birmingham, Alabama
The Sloss Furnaces, located in downtown Birmingham, are undoubtedly the most famous and haunted place in the central Alabama area. In 1881 and 1882, North Alabama planter and investor James Withers Sloss built the furnaces which became known as the City Furnaces. Extensively rebuilt and modernized in the late 1920s, the current steel-jacketed furnaces employed an estimated 500 workers and produced 400 tons of pig iron daily. Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company and U. S. Pipe operated these furnaces, maintaining their position as a leading foundry iron producer until 1971. For years a cruel foreman on the midnight shift at the furnaces worked his men relentlessly under grueling conditions, with temperatures often rising above 120 degrees. This resulted in an unusual number of deaths, causing the company to eventually do away with the midnight shift. Paranormal activity in this place consists of sounds, temperature changes, feelings of being watched, and streaks and orbs. Of the many deaths that occurred, only two of the dead have come back as ghosts. One of these ghosts is Theophilus Calvin. In 1887, he became assistant foundry man at the Alice Furnace No. 1. One day, he was trying to change the bell on the Alice furnace when he lost his balance and fell into the molten iron. Not long after the accident, people reported seeing his ghost walking around, doing his job and checking to make sure that things were being done correctly. When the Alice furnace was abandoned, his ghost began to be seen at the Sloss furnaces. In the early 1900's, there was a young girl who was pregnant, that committed suicide by jumping into the furnace. There is a building at the Sloss Furnaces that has a large amount of paranormal activity. It's called the Blowing Engine Building. Built in 1902, it is the oldest building still standing at the Sloss Furnaces. Workers in this building have said that they will set something down and a little while later it will have been moved to a different location. They have also seen doors opening and closing on there own.
The Russell Cave
Bridgeport, Alabama
Russell Cave is a sacred burial site that traces back ten thousand years of human history. There is evidence of prehistoric burial customs which progressed from throwing bodies off cliffs, to burial mounds, to elaborate entombment. If not the most haunted site in the State, then certainly one of the most active in terms of other paranormal activity. The major attraction to this site is the presence of an ancient burial ground. Numerous visitors to the Park claim to have experienced strange occurrences. Many people have claimed such things as the mysterious malfunction of cameras and other electrical equipment and foggy, humanlike images in their pictures when they developed the film. Other people have recorded strange sounds at the site. These sounds include whispery and sobbing voices and sounds of flute-like instruments.
Hell's Gate
Oxford, Alabama
It is said that if one stops on the bridge in Oxford, Alabama and then turns around, the road behind him looks like the fiery gates of Hell. Many years ago, a young couple lost their lives on this bridge. On a dark night, if you stop on the bridge and turns off all the lights, one of the two people that lost their lives will get into the car, leaving a wet spot on the seat.
Tallapoosa Entertainment Center
Montgomery, Alabama
The Tallapoosa Entertainment Center is located on the banks of the Tallapoosa River. The casino was built beside some very old Indian burial grounds. Employees have reported feelings of someone standing next to them when no one is around and of voices whispering in their ear when they are alone in the room. Other odd occurrences include slot machines playing by themselves, ice cubes leaping out of people’s drinks and doors opening and closing on their own. Maintenance people have reported seeing a shadowy apparition in the parking lot.
Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville, Alabama
Moundville is a 1,000 year old Mississippian-era Indian village consisting of 26 earthen mounds arranged in a rectangular shape. It is believed that between 800-1400 AD, Moundville was home to as many as five thousand indigenous people, making it perhaps the largest city in North America. Thousands of burials took place there, some of which may have been within the mounds, but most of which are situated in the surrounding grounds. This is an area packed with noticeable energy from the moment you drive into the site. Stories of many different kinds of occurrences have been reported here, including unusual lights and sounds, orbs, cold spots and mists.
Sturdivant Hall
Selma, Alabama
The land on which Sturdivant Hall stands was purchased I 1852 for $1830 by Edward T. Watts. Mr. Watts had the house built for his family in 1853 at a cost of $69,000. The Watts family lived in the home until 1864 when it was sold to John McGee Parkman for a loss at $65,000. Mr. Parkman worked his way up from clerk to president of the First national Bank of Selma. The bank became engaged in cotton speculation which led to the seizure of the bank and arrest of its president by General Wager Swayne, Commander of the Federal troops in Selma. John was sent to the Cahaba prison where during the war POWs were kept. On one fateful night John drowned in the Alabama River while trying to escape. In 1870 John’s beloved house was conveyed to Emile Gillman for $12,500. The home remained in the Gillman family until 1957. That same year $50,000 was given from the estate of Robert Daniel Sturdivant to setup a museum. In return the city named it Sturdivant Hall. When the city purchased the Sturdivant house not only did they receive a historic landmark, they received one of its former inhabitants. John Parkman, after his death was believed to have returned to his home to live out eternity. He has been spotted numerous times in an upstairs bedroom and gazing through a window in the cupola. He can be heard walking around upstairs opening and closing doors. He is even known to sleep on freshly made beds and leave an imprint. People have also reported seeing the apparitions of two young girls peering from the windows. Cold spots are common throughout the house, people have reported being pushed by unseen hands and shutters that are locked from the inside at night have been known to be open when staff returns in the morning. The small two story house behind the mansion that was used as a kitchen is also host to some paranormal activity. Footsteps are often heard walking across the floors, doors slam shut, pictures tilt themselves and objects that have been placed in certain locations are found elsewhere.
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