Since we're only a couple of days from Halloween, I thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the urban legends of the Shoals area. Some are true - some are not....but they're all stories that have circulated around the area for years.

Maybe you know the real story behind the legend...or maybe you just want to share one that you've heard. Here are a few stories that I can think of to get started:

1) Several men were buried alive in the concrete of Wilson Dam during it's construction..and their bodies are still there today.

2) The Florence Post Office was actually designed for the city of Florence, North Carolina and intended to be built there until
the blueprints for the post offices of the two cities were accidentally switched.

3) The Ritz Theatre, the auditorium at Florence High School (formerly Bradshaw High), and Norton Auditorium are all haunted by past performers.

What kind of legends do you recall about our area?

What about Tom Clark? Is he really buried in the road?

I have heard that the post office, use to be the Court House and Jail. Often have heard that there are "spirits" lurking there, anyone heard that. Florence is full of "hauntings", I would love to hear of places that people know of....

Yes, Mountain Tom Clark is buried beneath E. Tennessee St. near the cemetery. That's historically accurate. He made a statement on the stand that no one would ever run over him, so after his lynching by an angry mob, he was buried under the street. Remember that this was before paved roads, so it wasn't that hard to do. I believe the other two men that were hung with him are buried in the cemetery.

Every dam has stories about people being buried in the cement. Reality is that it takes a long time for cement to set. It was also poured in small sections. Not really possible to be buried alive and just left there. The dam's construction did cost several lives. I don't remember the number off hand, but I believe it was slightly higher than other dams.

The other urban legends are new to me.

quote:

Originally posted by NashBama:
...Every dam has stories about people being buried in the cement. Reality is that it takes a long time for cement to set. It was also poured in small sections. Not really possible to be buried alive and just left there. The dam's construction did cost several lives. I don't remember the number off hand, but I believe it was slightly higher than other dams.

The other urban legends are new to me.

The uncle of a dear friend was killed during the dam construction. This was before she was born and she always heard the "buried in the concrete" story, but doubted it.

1. Not sure why some people doubt the Tom Clark story, but some do.

2. TVA - my mother's brother-in-law's brother was killed during construction of the lock--a truck backed into him--mid-1950s.

3. A construction worker was supposedly killed during the work on Norton Auditorium--that should be easy enough to check.

4. TVA again - one or two workers fell in slag pits up to their waist and were given morphine since they couldn't be dug out in time. I assume the bodies were recovered.

Question: Did the state or Federal government get the Civil War gold bullion found in 1939 when they built the American Legion Home in Sheffield?

Okay, Maureen Maness at UNA always said a barrel of whiskey was inside every column at the Forks of Cypress. I can find nothing on this. Mr. Britten? Anyone?

quote:

Originally posted by lynnblount:
...

2) The Florence Post Office was actually designed for the city of Florence, North Carolina and intended to be built there until
the blueprints for the post offices of the two cities were accidentally switched.

Florence, South Carolina maybe?

We went on the ghost walk in Florence last nite. Very interesting. One of the stops/stories was about Tom Clark and The Booger Gang.

Sorry, Lynn, here's an article that I remembered debunking the post office myth; however, one myth is fact. Mr. Byerle just didn't know how to look for the info. Tantalizing, isn't it?

http://www.timesdaily.com/arti...70204/NEWS/702040341

Of course, the post office would not admit to a mistake. It is odd that the people of Florence, South Carolina tell the same story.

I have also heard that Tom Clark's relatives came in the dark of night and dug up his body after the Tennessee Street burial. He was relocated to a secret place.

quote:

Originally posted by budsfarm:

quote:

Originally posted by lynnblount:
...

2) The Florence Post Office was actually designed for the city of Florence, North Carolina and intended to be built there until
the blueprints for the post offices of the two cities were accidentally switched.

Florence, South Carolina maybe?

You are correct- my bad, thx for clarifying.

Firenze, I had read the debunking article, also...but it still makes for good storytelling!

Whiskey in the columns at the Forks of Cypress? Cool! Never heard that one. Although I did always hear that they made those columns with a mixture of plaster and horse/mule hair and also sometimes human hair - usually from slaves.

Like I said - some stories are true, some are not, and some we may never really know.

What about the stories of Devil Worshippers holding ceremonies near Ghost Bridge? I've heard that one many times and wondered if there was any truth to it. I know that there are stories about the Bridge itself being haunted and people seeing a light on it at certain times.

yes, devil worshipers used to have black masses there

quote:

Originally posted by PapaTim00:
yes, devil worshipers used to have black masses there

and LaGrange