GHOSTS: Dead Children's Playground

 

Maple Hill Park, known as the "Dead Children's Playground," in Huntsville. (Wil Elrick)

In Huntsville, Alabama adjoining Maple Hill Cemetery is a normal-looking playground. It is said though that the playground is haunted by the souls of the children buried in the cemetery. It's said that many of the spirits are of children who died in the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic.  

The playground is surrounded on three sides with limestone that forms many caves in the area. It helps give the playground that spooky shadowed appearance. People state that they see the ghost orbs, swings moving on their own, and spirits of children enjoying the playground.

SOURCES:

Alabama

Atlas Obscura

UNIDENTIFIED: November 30, 1921 Mobile County, Alabama Doe

 On November 30, 1921, a person died of paresis at the Mount Vernon Hospital in Mount Vernon, Alabama. They would be buried the next day at the Mt. Vernon Hospital Cemetary. 

Though the Unidentified Wiki lists the Doe as a John Doe their source states that the Gender was unknown. The person was black and around 38-years-old.

SOURCES:

Unidentified Wiki

Find a Grave

Murder of Jeff Curry

African American man Jeff Curry had a verbal argument with Frank Powell and Frank's son about a job he's done with them. During the argument, it was said he swore to kill Frank. Near the Blue Creek, Alabama mines he concealed himself and waited by a road that he knew Frank would pass. He was caught and arrested before he could try to kill Frank.

On the night of March 19, 1888,  Constables David Rainey and Sam Redden were going to bring him to Birmingham jail. They claimed that 12 disguised white men overtook the guards and took Jeff from them. The mob of men then tied Jeff to a large tree. They then shot him to death. It was said that his body was riddled with bullets. The men then disappeared into the woods.

SOURCES:
News and Observer- March 21, 1888
The Tuskaloosa Gazette- March 22, 1888
The Times and News- March 22, 1888
The Troy Messenger- March 29, 1888
The Columbia Recorder- March 29, 1888
Birmingham Watch- Feb. 29, 2019

Murder of Julia Carter

Robert and Julia Carter were both African Americans and married. Julia was Robert's third wife and in 1891 she filed for divorce much like his past two wives. The divorce was approved, but the two still lived together.  On the day of June 22, 1891, Julia and Robert were working on their farm on Robert Meyer's Plantation near Tilden, Alabama.

Around 10 a.m. Julia stopped work and stated that she was going to a funeral. Shortly after she left Robert also left. Robert came back two hours later. He then returned to his home after this. Julia's body was discovered and she was shot in the head.

Robert went to trial in November and was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was to hang on Jan. 22 1892 exactly 6 months after he killed Julia. On the morning of Jan. 22 he confessed his guilt and that he was ready to die. He thanked the police officers for their kindness and when he stopped speaking the crowd there sang a song for him. His neck was automatically broken and he hung for 30 minutes before they cut him down.

SOURCES:
Piedmont Inquirer December 19, 1891
Cleburn New Era December 17, 1891
The Times and News January 28, 1892