Haunted America: The Ghosts of Red Level, Alabama

Red Level, Alabama, located in Covington County is on most days just like any other small town in the good old USA. It is the birth place of Surgeon General Luther Terry who contrived the cancer warnings advertised on cigarette packages in 1965. The town of approximately 600 citizens sits comfortably nestled between County Road 7 and highway 55 just one hour from the Florida border, and although you would never know it by passing through the southern settlement, it actually has a deep past filled with unfavorable and wickedly bizarre misfortunes.

The Oakey Streak Methodist Church aka Consolation Church and wailing banshees has to be one of the most famous and unexplained legends to come out of Red Levels history book. The rumor mill circulating from the locals, their ancestors and visitors passing through has for many decades stated that the Oakey Streak Methodist Church was long ago forced out of service due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. Loud crying, whimpering and deep penetrating screams would flow through the wooden structure of the church straight out of the mouth of female spirits who were delivering the message that someone was knocking at death's door, and would soon walk through the threshold to their final resting place.

The gates that once protected the church and the small cemetery are now just rusty reminders that you are safer remaining on the other side of them, far away from the abandoned church. Once inside the gates on any given night you will hear the haunting sound of confederate soldiers marching, and see the unmistakable sight of black dog like creatures known as hellhounds with red eyes, running amuck on the church grounds. Deeper onto the property, around the back of the church yard there is an old outhouse that shuts behind you and locks. Many people have claimed that you can only get out if someone lets you out, so going alone is not an option if you wish to leave in one piece.

Tales of human possession have been passed down from generation to generation, and on the night of the full moon it is rumored that if you overstay your welcome at the church, a 1964 black ford truck will come speeding down the country road with a ghost driver attempting to scare you away for reason's unknown. Ghost hunters and thrill seekers should be warned that if he ever manages to catch up with the person he is chasing, that misfortune, doom and dread are in their immediate future and it will be nearly impossible to shake.

Reports from paranormal investigators and statements from visitors passing through the area of the church have been documented and all claim that they have been touched by spirits when they asked for a sign from beyond the grave, and a few heard the laughter of a small boy. His childish laughter is quickly followed by his ghostly appearance and then pockets of extreme cold air that often times cannot be explained when you consider that they happen typically during 100 degree weather.

The boy is not the only ghost that has been seen or heard at the church. For decades a little girl has been witnessed skipping quietly along the dirt driveway leading to the church. She appears out of nowhere, and you get the overwhelming sense that you should not drive past her or something really terrible will happen. Not to worry though, she disappears just as quickly as she appears. However, it is hard to ignore the overpowering sense that you are not alone, and it is even harder to block out the images in white that are surrounding you. The cemetery has a gravitational pull that lures you to come in for a closer look, and the whole area sends out the notion that extreme sadness, death, doom and misfortune is lurking from a depth that is deeper than anything you have ever dared to tread upon, nor would you profess to ever desire to touch such a bizarre and wicked path to such evil on earth.

Location: Oakey Streak United Methodist Church South at Oakey Street, Red Level, Alabama

The Oakey Streak Methodist Church, circa 1850, has been placed on the National register of Historic Places. The original log structure was used for many years, but has since been replaced by the current structure. The ghosts have remained unaffected by construction.

Sources:

http://www.myspace.com/maps5174/photos/albums/consolation-baptist-church-red-level-alabama/524738

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee

http://hauntedplacesofusa.blogspot.com/2009/09/consolation-church-red-levelalabama.html

http://www.theshadowlands.net/places/alabama.htm

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1241