The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE THORNTON GHOST--HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

AROUND 1900 OR 1910, A YOUNG GIRL, ANNIE THORNTON,
GOT SOME MYSTERIOUS DISEASE WHICH THE DOCTORS COULD NOT
DIAGNOSE. HER PARENTS HAD A SOCIAL FUNCTION IN THEIR
HOME ONE EVENING WHILE ANNIE WAS SICK. THEY LEFT HER
IN THE CARE OF A NURSE, WHO LEFT THE ROOM FOR A WHILE
AND RETURNED TO FIND THE LITTLE GIRL DEAD. THEY BURIED
HER IN THE FAMILY CEMETERY ON THE HILL BEHIND THE
HOUSE. AFTER THIS, THEY STARTED NOTICING AND SAYING
THAT ANNIE WAS UP WALKING AROUND AT NIGHT AND SOME OF
THEM (THE FAMILY) CLAIM TO HAVE SEEN HER. BUT EVERY
TIME THEY WOULD SEE HER WALKING AROUND, THEY WOULD
GO OUT TO THE GRAVEYARD AND SEE HER TOMBSTONE TURNED
OVER. TODAY, THEY CALL THE ROOM WHERE SHE DIED,
"ANNIE'S ROOM." THEY USE IT AS A PARLOR ONLY FOR
LARGE SOCIAL OCCASIONS. THEY BELIEVE WHEN ANNIE WALKS,
THAT SHE CAN UNLOCK DOORS, SO THEY HAVE TO PROP CHAIRS
AGAINST THE DOOR TO KEEP HER FROM WALKING THE HOUSE.
TWO VIOLENT DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THIS GIRL'S
DEATH. ONE WAS AN AUNT WHO WAS KILLED BY AN ESCAPED
CONVICT WHO AFTER THE MURDER HID OUT IN THE CAVES BY
THE TENNESSEE RIVER AND WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL ALMOST A
YEAR AFTER THE MURDER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE