Strange Alabama

By Laura Fenton

Published Wednesday, October 14, 2009

CAHAWBA: Turn-of-the-century residents of Cahawba and Selma may not be around to tell their stories, but that doesn't mean their spirits are ready to leave yet.

And with a little help from guides, everyone can experience the ghostly history of the area.

The Haunted History Tours of Central Alabama is hosting two different tours of Cahawba and Selma for the third annual event on Oct. 16 and 17 to explore paranormal spirit activity.

Selma Times-Journal | Calling all ghosts

Shared via AddThis

By Karen Middleton
karen@athensnews-courier.com

The reason ghost stories endure for generations is that folks enjoy being scared.

The willing suspension of disbelief for a few moments carries the promise of a delicious chill.

Local attorney and author Shane Black says this is especially true of Athens and Limestone County, from which he draws the tales that make up his book “Spirits of Athens.�

Black is awaiting a printer copy of his book, due in this week.
The News-Courier in Athens, Alabama - New book tells of local haunts

Shared via AddThis

The upstairs bedrooms and an unfinished room that separates the bedrooms were used as a hospital during Civil War.

"We were told that two wounded soldiers died in the house," Nancy said.

She thinks the soldiers may be the ghosts in the house.

"I have heard noises and voices," she said. "And so have people who have worked for me at the house."

The ghosts seem to be connected with the unfinished room, often called the hidden room or the "dungeon."

The Moulton Advertiser Archives News History festival takes center stage at Shelton House

Shared via AddThis

Haunted Book Loft - Mobile Alabama - WKRG.com

Shared via AddThis


WKRG.com News

Experience Alabama's Haunted History in October | The Enterprise Ledger

"Montgomery, Ala. — Alabama’s haunted history comes to life in October with ghost trails, storytelling festivals, haunted trolley rides and ghost walks through historical neighborhoods.
Families can experience a variety of events and trails that pay homage to the state’s ghostly history."

Shared via AddThis

A free Strange Alabama photo group is now on Flickr. Please post your photos of Alabama quaint, curious, and forgotten places there!

http://tinyurl.com/nwygg3

Also, I am finally in the process of revamping Strange Alabama's web site and this blog. Watch for new posts soon!

Kyle

PS If you have time on your hands, a creative side, and a love of Alabama strangeness, drop me a line and let me know how you would like to assist with the web site, blog, Yahoo and/or Flickr group. Additional sites and suggestions always welcome!

For those of you who remember Beverly's article on Quinlan Castle in the magazine that shall not be named, here is an interesting follow-up from The Birmingham News via AL.com.

Some of you know that our unofficial mascot is the phoenix, as in "rising from the ashes." Yes, for those of you who are unaware, Strange Alabama had a predecessor. So by way of personal catharsis, here is my tale of bygone days and publications terminated under "cease & desist" orders...

SA's weird predecessor, henceforth known as "the magazine that shall not be named," began with a suggestion from my old friend George. George and I were having lunch, and I was lamenting over the need for a creative outlet. George told me about this odd little magazine from New Jersey and suggested that I should do something like it. Cool idea -- I checked with GoDaddy, and the Alabama web site was available! I snagged it on Jan. 27, 2004, but of course, didn't have time to do anything with it. But as Halloween 2004 approached, I thought what a shame it was that my little web site was languishing. So I put up some info, and the next thing I knew George had an LLC and a print magazine in the works. The inaugural issue of the magazine that shall not be named appeared later in 2004, and was well-received. Our second issue appeared in 2005, and by then the magazine that shall not be named had been featured on newspaper, radio, and TV spots. We seemed destined for, well, weirdness, but then a letter from Barnes & Noble (boo, hiss) lawyers arrived...

Imagine our chagrin to learn that B&N and two not-so-weird guys from NJ have a trademark on the word weird. That's, well, strange; because you see, George contacted those two guys from NJ (who were now being featured on Travel Channel specials and B&N books & calendars) before the magazine that shall not be named published its first issue. They actually wished us well on our venture -- or said they did, anyway. Later they evidently changed their mind, because when George hired lawyers out of his own funds (the magazine certainly wasn't turning a profit yet) and asked B&N to let us work with them -- we already had the stories! -- they told us (in legal-eze) to shut up and go away. Publication, web sites, the whole weird kit & kaboodle. Hmmm. That's not so weird; that's big, nasty business as usual. OK, no more books from B&N for me!

Welcome to our big, virtual back porch. I'll toss another log on the old stove here to keep the chill off. It gets mighty dark on the back forty this time of year. Not even a will o' wisp or bit of foxfire to light your way. So just sit a spell, and let's spin a yarn or two...