Carrollton
Carrollton is not a ghost town but a living community famous for one of Alabama's most enduring ghos
State: Alabama
County: Pickens County
Carrollton is not a ghost town but a living community famous for one of Alabama's most enduring ghost legends: the 'Face in the Window' at the Pickens County Courthouse. The mysterious image, said to be the face of Henry Wells, a man accused of arson who was killed by a lynch mob during a lightning storm, has remained visible in a courthouse window for nearly 150 years.
Timeline
- 1831 - Founding Carrollton was incorporated in 1831 and named after Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The county seat was relocated here from Pickensville in 1830, with the U.S. government granting Pickens County 80 acres for a courthouse and jail.
- April 5, 1865 - First Courthouse Burned Union General John T. Croxton's troops burned the first Pickens County Courthouse during the closing days of the Civil War.
- November 16, 1876 - Second Courthouse Fire The second courthouse was destroyed by fire, an event attributed to arson. A freedman named Henry Wells was accused of setting the blaze, though some historians suggest his confession may have been coerced.
- 1877-1878 - Third Courthouse and the Legend The current courthouse was built. According to legend, Henry Wells was either imprisoned in the new courthouse or hiding in its garret when a lynch mob gathered outside. During a violent lightning storm, as Wells looked out a garret window, a bolt of lightning struck—purportedly etching his anguished face into the glass pane forever.
- 1902 - Railroad Arrives The Carrollton Short Line Railroad brought the first train into town, sparking a social and economic boom.
- Present - Living Town with a Ghost Carrollton remains the Pickens County seat with a population of approximately 1,000 residents. The courthouse window with the 'face' continues to be a tourist attraction.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Any time - the courthouse is open during business hours
Difficulty: Easy - accessible by car
Time Needed: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Tips
- The 'face' is reportedly visible in a garret window on the north side of the courthouse
- A telescope is reportedly sometimes available for viewing
- The face is more visible in certain lighting conditions
- Ask locals for the best viewing spot
- Read Kathryn Tucker Windham's '13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey' for the full story
Quick Facts
- The face has survived multiple attempts to remove it, including replacing the glass pane
- Some skeptics note that Henry Wells died before the current courthouse windows were installed
- The story was popularized by Kathryn Tucker Windham in her book '13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey'
- Despite the legend's dark origins, the 'Face in the Window' is now a promoted tourist attraction
- The courthouse has burned twice - this is the third building on the site
Location
Address: Carrollton, Pickens County, Alabama
Coordinates: 33.2556, -88.0947