Book Review: Southern Spirit Guide's Haunted Alabama

Title: Southern Spirit Guide's Haunted Alabama: A Guide to Ghostlore, Legends and Haunted Places in the Heart of Dixie
Author: Lewis O. Powell, IV
Published by Southern Spirit Press (2015)
Amazon Purchase Information

I've been following Lewis' blog, The Southern Spirit Guide, for years and have always been so impressed with his ability to share interesting, yet accurate information, backed up by resources for additional research. I often find that when I'm searching for a haunted location in the south, his blog usually pops up! Understandably, I was thrilled when he published the book, The Southern Spirit Guide's Haunted Alabama.

I was even more thrilled when he offered me a copy! I began reading it immediately, and honestly, I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is a well-written and very thorough look at locations throughout the entire state of Alabama that have a reputation for being haunted. It's also a chunker---at 269 pages, it is PACKED with spooky stories, haunted locations, and creepy legends. That's a lotta bang for your buck.

One of the amazing aspects of this book is that it is sort of multi-functional; you can use in a variety of ways. If you're like me and just really love devouring anything and everything relating to the paranormal, you can simply read it cover to cover, novel style. With so much information packed in, it may take you more than one sitting, but the conversational writing style and Lewis' ability to weave an interesting story with just the right amount of historical background information make plowing through the book totally possible.

However, if that isn't your style, this book makes a great piece to have on hand while you're out and about. Since the entry for each haunted location is relatively brief, you can easily read a couple here and a couple there while on your lunch break, waiting in line, or commuting home from school or work.

Obviously, you don't have to actually be from Alabama to get a lot out of this book. But, those who are investigators wanting to find locations to check out in that state, or travelers looking for a haunted restaurant, hotel, or tourist attraction to visit while in the area will find that Southern Spirit Guide's Haunted Alabama is the perfect resource. Broken down by county, its a breeze to find great locations to explore, and the overwhelming majority of locations listed in the book are open to the public in some capacity, some even offering public or private pay-to-play investigation opportunities. Since each entry contains bibliographical resources and information on any past investigations done at the property, its easy to narrow down locations that will yield the best potential.

The Southern Spirit Guide's Haunted Alabama is a really fun and informative read. I can only imagine how much work went into compiling such an extensive list of haunted locations, complete with good, solid information to back up the rumors of the hauntings. You're not going to find the vague, incomplete 'stories' that are so often a part of similar listings---you're only going to find the best, most accurate up-to-date info available, all condensed down into a format that is not only entertaining to read, yet provides a great start to your own research.

This book makes an excellent addition to any digital paranormal library and is highly recommended for investigators working in the south, those paranormal enthusiasts who will be traveling through that area, or simply just anyone with an interest in all things spooky! Go pick up your copy today, and check out The Southern Spirit Guide blog for more great locations. Happy reading!

The Haunted St. James Hotel of Alabama

From Panoramio

In 1837 the Brantley Hotel opened in Selma, Alabama.  It was named after the head financier, Brigadier General John Brantley and catered to the rich cotton traders and other wealthy agriculturists and plantation owners of the mid-19th century.

Throughout the years and throughout many different owners, the Brantley Hotel went through some interesting transitions.  Owner, Dr. James Gee renamed the Brantley renamed the hotel the Troupe House, and put his slave, Benjamin Sterling Turner in charge of management.  Turner would go on to become the first African-American mayor of Selma, and the first African-American elected to U.S. Congress.

During the Civil War, the hotel was saved from the destruction of the town.  In 1865, when Union troops took over Selma, they burned much of the business district and factories.  The hotel was saved due to the fact that the troops used it as their headquarters.

It wouldn't be until 1871 that Captain Tom Smith, the newest owner, changed the name to the St. James Hotel.  It was during Smith's tenure that the infamous Frank and Jesse James allegedly stayed at the hotel.  Unfortunately, hard times during the 1890s led to the closure of the St. James.  Afterward, the former hotel became used as storage and office space, a feed store, and a tire recapping factory.  The first floor was completely gutted, and several wings were demolished during this time period.

A group of concerned citizens and investors came together in the 1990s, and at a cost of $6 million, restored the hotel to its former glory.  Luckily, much of the upper floors were still in tact, but improvements were made to update the hotel with modern amenities.  The new St. James Hotel opened in 1997 and it wouldn't be long before the ghost stories started pouring in.

By Alex Bush, c. 1937

According to different sources, there are three main ghosts that call the St. James home.  The first is the most interesting to me.  Apparently guests have often complained about hearing a dog incessantly barking in the courtyard, keeping them up all night.  When staff goes to investigate, there are no dogs to be found.  The sound of a dog running in the halls has also been noted.

The second ghost is said to be none other than Jesse James himself.  A man in 1800s clothing, complete with spurs has been seen in several locations throughout the hotel, most notably exiting rooms 214, 314, and 315, as well as sitting at a table in the bar.

"Lucinda" is the third ghost of the St. James.  A portrait of Lucinda hangs in the Water Avenue side sitting room.  Lucinda most often makes her presence known through the strong scent of lavender, but she's been seen on occasion as well, walking the halls of the upper floors.  But who is Lucinda?  Legend has it that Lucinda was a long-term resident of the hotel...and the mistress of Jesse James.

If you stay at the hotel and are interested in the ghostly side of its history, make sure you ask the front desk staff to see the ghost photo.  The photo, allegedly showing one of the ghosts of the St. James isn't on display, but staff will be glad to show it to you.  It'll be up to you to decide whether its just lens flare...or something more!

Sources:
Article by Beverly Crider
St. James Hotel Website
St. James Virtual Tour
Southern Spirit Guide

Alabama's Haunted and Historic Drish House

1911

Around 1822 Dr. John Drish moved to Tuscaloosa area, where he set up a successful physician's practice as well as construction company.  By 1835, he married the wealthy widow, Sarah Owen McKinney, and began construction on a palatial Greek Revival mansion.  It would be the center piece of his plantation, located just outside of town.  It was completed in 1837.

Originally named Malone Place, the Drish Mansion underwent drastic renovations in the late 1850s which turned the Greek Revival styled home into an Italianate paradise, complete with 3-storey tower.  It is a local legend that these changes were the direct result of a healthy competition between Dr. Drish and Robert Jemison, a founding citizen of Tuscaloosa who at the time was building his own Italianate home.  Unfortunately, the doctor would not be around much longer.  He took a nasty fall down the staircase of his home and died in 1867.  Again, local legend has an interesting explanation for these events...

Allegedly, Dr. Drish was somewhat of a gambler and an alcoholic and after a night of drinking, the doctor began hallucinating in bed.  He jumped up out of bed, took off running, and fell right over the banister to his death.  His will stipulated that upon his death, his body should be laid out in the upstairs area of his own home and his body surrounded by candles.

Sarah remained in the home until her own death in 1884 and by some accounts, she became increasingly maddened and distraught over the death of her husband.  She even went as far as preserving the candles from his funeral to be used in the same manner during hers.  Unfortunately, she hid them away and they could not be located after her death.

Over the years, the home has been used in a variety of capacities.  In 1906, the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education established the Jemison School in the home, which surely was a blow to Dr. Drish, who was in direct competition with Robert Jemison in life.  By 1925 it was a car parts warehouse for Charles Turner's Tuscaloosa Wrecker Company and in 1940 it was purchased by the Southside Baptist Church.

2010

Membership in the church dwindled by 1995 and for awhile the property was leased to the local Heritage Committee.  However, it wouldn't be until 2007 when several of the former church members turned the deed over to the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.  Since then, the organization has been busy trying to clean out and stabilize the structure, as well as demolishing several wings added onto the original homestead.  The group also opened the home up to paranormal investigations for the first time, and with very good reason!

The ghosts of the Drish Mansion made their public debut with the 1969 book, 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey, by Kathryn Tucker Windham.  According to stories found within the book and elsewhere in popular ghost lore, it seems that there are at least three ghosts that still reside within the home.  The apparition of Dr. Drish himself has been seen, and there are stories that his daughter, Katherine, who was also said to have gone insane due to her relationship with a young man being forbidden by her father, makes an appearance.  However, the most prolific haunting is possibly connected with Sarah.

After Sarah's death, passersby would often note that lights would be on in the third story tower.  Many times, this visible candlelight was so overpowering that people assumed the home was on fire!  The fire department would be called, and when they arrived, found no evidence of a fire burning anywhere in the home.  It is believed that Sarah is lighting the candles that she so desperately obsessed over for her own funeral.

More information on the history of the house and its ghosts, as well as the results of an investigation by the Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group can be found in the article below:

Tuscaloosa News: Drish House Finally Gets a Chance to Yield its Secrets