Haunted Places in Alabama: Sloss Furnace

In 1881, Colonel James Wither Sloss founded the Sloss Furnaces, a sprawling industrial complex in Birmingham, Alabama, that would later be famously referred to as the ‘City Furnaces.’ The facility quickly became a cornerstone of Birmingham’s booming iron industry, driving the city’s economic growth and earning its reputation as the industrial hub of the South. By the late 1920s, following extensive remodeling and modernization, the furnaces employed approximately 500 workers and produced an astonishing 400 tons of pig iron daily. For decades, the fiery glow of molten iron illuminated the night sky, symbolizing progress, labor, and sacrifice. However, in 1971, after nearly a century of operation, the furnaces fell silent, closing their doors and marking the end of an era.

In 1981, recognizing the site’s historical and cultural significance, Sloss Furnaces became one of the first industrial landmarks in the United States to be preserved for public use. It was officially designated a National Historic Landmark, ensuring its legacy would endure for generations. Today, Sloss Furnaces stands not only as a museum of industry but also as a hub for creativity, offering a renowned metal arts program. Yet, its towering smokestacks and rusted machinery also carry a darker reputation—one that has earned Sloss Furnaces a place on the list of America’s Most Haunted Places.

The stories of hauntings at Sloss Furnaces are deeply intertwined with its brutal and dangerous history. Many believe the restless spirit haunting the site is none other than James ‘Slag’ Wormwood, a cruel and sadistic foreman who oversaw around 150 workers in the early 1900s. Known for his relentless drive to meet production quotas, Wormwood pushed his men to their limits, often forcing them to work grueling shifts in oppressive heat and hazardous conditions. Under his watch, at least 47 workers tragically lost their lives due to accidents, and countless others suffered life-altering injuries.

Wormwood himself met a grisly end when he reportedly lost his footing and fell into a pool of molten iron ore. Some workers speculated that his death wasn’t an accident at all—that one of the laborers, pushed past the breaking point by Wormwood’s cruelty, may have intentionally caused his fall. However, no evidence ever surfaced to confirm these suspicions. Over the years, it has been reported that a total of 60 men lost their lives while working at the furnaces.

After Wormwood’s death, unsettling events began to plague the site. Workers reported hearing disembodied voices, heavy footsteps echoing in empty corridors, and an oppressive, malevolent presence lingering in the air. Some even described the sensation of being watched or followed. In one chilling account from the 1920s, a night watchman claimed he was violently shoved from behind by an unseen force. As he stumbled forward, he heard a harsh voice growl, “Get back to work!” Despite scouring the area, the watchman found no one nearby.

Another spine-tingling event occurred in 1947, when three supervisors were conducting a routine tour of the facility. During the inspection, their guide briefly turned away, only to realize moments later that the three men had vanished. A frantic search ensued, and they were eventually discovered locked inside a boiler room, unconscious. When the men came to, none of them could recall how they had ended up there, but all three agreed on one terrifying detail: they had been confronted by a badly burned man screaming, “Push some steel!”

To this day, over 100 documented reports of paranormal activity linked to Sloss Furnaces are on record with the Birmingham Police Department. Visitors and paranormal investigators alike continue to report strange encounters, from flickering lights and sudden drops in temperature to eerie whispers carried on the wind.

Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the chilling atmosphere of Sloss Furnaces is undeniable. Its rusted catwalks, towering smokestacks, and shadow-filled corridors seem to echo with the voices of the past—a haunting reminder of the sacrifices made in the relentless pursuit of progress. For those brave enough to visit after dark, Sloss Furnaces remains a place where history and legend blur, and the line between the living and the dead feels perilously thin.

If you’re interested in Sloss Furnace or other haunted locations in Birmingham I would recommend reading Haunted Birmingham (Haunted America Book 4)

You can find it on Amazon at the link below:

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