Sally Carter, Cedarhurst Mansion
Huntsville, Alabama
By Shannon Reinbold-Gee
Huntsville, Alabama has many distinctions. It is the home of impressive companies such as Boeing, NASA, and Raytheon; has more Ph D’s per square mile than any other city in the south; and also happens to be the most haunted city in Alabama.
One of the more famous hauntings is of the Cedarhurst Mansion located at what is now the clubhouse of a town home community. The mansion was established by Stephen Ewing in 1823. Sally Carter, visiting her sister Mary Ewing at the mansion, was struck by a quick and fatal illness and died on November 28, 1837, just three weeks short of her 16th birthday. Young Sally had loved the estate, and that is why, some say, you can still feel her presence there today.
Sightings of Sally go back to 1919, when a 17 year-old boy from Dothan, Alabama slept outside Sally’s bedroom. That stormy night, he had a dream that Sally visited him, asking him to prop up her tombstone. When he awoke the next morning, he explained the strange dream and told his family that he was going to Sally’s grave. They laughed at him, but when he arrived, her stone had, indeed, fallen over in the storm. This popular local legend ends with the boy going back to his home town of Dothan, never to return to Huntsville again.
Previous to 1982, Sally’s grave was in the family plot on the estate. She had so many visitors, there was a well-worn path from the road. She did, unfortunately, also have many teenagers vandalize her grave. That is why, in December of 1982, Sally, her sister, and her sister’s three children were relocated to an undisclosed location in the Maple Hill Cemetery. That is… Her casket was relocated. Some claim that when her grave was excavated, the casket Sally was supposed to spend eternity in was empty.
Besides tombstones falling over and caskets being empty of mortal remains, Sally has also stirred up local folks, being sighted walking the grounds of the estate she loved so much. A past guard at Cedarhurst heard Sally walking upstairs while working one night. After the woman’s shift ended, she realized she had lost some money while doing rounds. After searching the grounds, hearing footsteps following her and the unnerving flickering of her flashlight as if its batteries were ready to die, the guard gave up the money for lost. But once she returned to the guard shack, her flashlight flickered brightly, shining directly on the cash she had given up for gone. It was then she chose to thank Sally, and claims to have heard a young woman’s laugh in return.
Someone who knew both the Thorton and the Grace families who lived in the house, had a friend who slept in Sally’s room. When asked what it was like, the friend told him about doors opening and closing by themselves, covers getting snatched off the bed and light switches being tripped. The girl thought it was all rather annoying, but after awhile got used to it and ignored the strange goings-on.
Many woman claim that their jewelry has been broken in the area, beads on beaded necklaces scattering everywhere.
Because Cedarhurst is now a gated community, visiting the clubhouse is not all that likely. Some locals have been able to see the place where Sally died, but visitors are strongly discouraged. Even so, Sally’s bedroom in the mansion has been preserved. If you really want to experience the ghostly Sally, there are always a few condominiums in the local gated community up for sale.
104 comments on this haunted house. Share your story »
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link says: |
October 13, 2007, 12:48 am |
well i was looking for a summer job for this summer and i found one at with the city. they told me i would be working at a graveyard and i really didnt know what to think about it, but i took the job anyways. all summer i worked at Maple Hill Cemetery and you’ll never beleive some of the things that go on out there even during the day, much less at night. i’ve always struggled with the idea of ghost and things but the past few years ive seen some things that are really tough to explain. some of the guys that have worked there all there lives have some good stories to tell. one really got my attention. one about a lady that was buried in a mosaleum in her rocking chair….yea they put the chair in the thing then her in the chair then locked it up…well they say that if you go out there at night and knock on the door you can here her in there rocking in her chair….there have been workers that have quit for no reason. one time two men were taking a break and watching this other guy still working and he got to close to a private grave and they said that it was like something just picked him up and threw him 6 feet…he one direction and his weedeater the other. i dont know if sally’s grave was moved out there or not or which was hers if it was, all i know is that i cut grass there all summer. we could cut the whole graveyard in a week. i was in every inch of that place and i have seen some strange things while working out there and felt some strange things out there too. im real interested in the story of Sally since she is now buried at maple hill it kinda makes her story mean more to me. if anyone knows anymore about her or where her house is and if we can see it or what not please let me know… i wont go alone but ill go with some of you guys.
david says: |
October 14, 2007, 1:03 am |
hello i worked as a security gaurd at the cedarhurst community and used to have to go in sally’s room every night you will be surprised to know that they now use sally carter’s room as a guest room that the residents can rent for guest coming into town to stay but no one ever turns the lights off while they are there
david says: |
October 14, 2007, 1:19 am |
Rashelle i was a gaurd there too but never lost anything but always heard footsteps and laughing at night and once felt someone tug at my shirt and pull at my badge but never told no one did not want anyone thinking i was crazy there were i left 2 weeks ago but the latest ocurrance was when i turned off all the lights and locked up the house all the lights came back on doors were unlocking kinda freaked me out
The Carter's 2nd Cousin says: |
October 26, 2007, 6:26 pm |
Carter’s 2nd Cousin,
You guys are Crazy! First off her father at the time was working at a cotton gin! He also owned the Cotton gin On Triana Blvd Huntsville Ala. He built the house for Sally, As a wedding gift, That is still standing today with living people in it “WOW”! There is no gate’s around property it still stands on Oakwood Rd! You can visit the home if owner will allow you too! It’s truly a “Awesome” house that her wealthy father built for her.
Also down stairs is a dungeon that her father added to house slaves! GO 2 LIBRARY and search Sally Carter, on the web and check out the HUNTSVILLE TIMES..As far as the Multi Million dollar house with gate on Merridean St, Is not Mrs. Carters house that has a gate! And it is for sale 3.4 MIL…
uuuummmmm..... says: |
October 31, 2007, 1:55 pm |
so all of yoo seriously belive in ghost?????
Greg says: |
December 24, 2007, 2:27 am |
This is funniest comments section yet. Congrats.
Jenna says: |
January 1, 2008, 10:05 pm |
I spent several years, as a young girl, and into my teens living in Huntsville SE. To the person who wrote about the Mt Gap area, yea, I had a sister who lived across the street from the school, her house was active. Supposed sacred Indian grounds once.
As far as Sally Carter, we all had heard of her, that she passed away while visiting relatives at their majestic home, which I’ve been by many, many, times. It was pretty common knowledge that the home was haunted by Sally’s ghost.
My cousin told me that if you went to the property at night, stood hand in hand, and repeated “Sally Carter” 3x’s and her spirit did not appear, that you would find a knife or some other sharp object in your bedroom when you awoke the next morning. Urban legend no doubt, but it scared the living **** out of me and my friends, and everytime we went by the Thornton house, to and from church, I’d swear I could see her, looking out of one of the windows at me. It’s funny what tricks stories can play on your mind.
I moved away from Huntsville in 1982, and upon revisiting last Sept., and going through the area, I could not believe they had built a Gated Community around the house and use the house itself…. I found that completely disrespectful.
I do, also believe that her body was moved to Maple Hill Cemetary, which is the CREEPIEST place I’ve ever seen.
patsy collums says: |
April 27, 2008, 7:40 pm |
i love reading, and listering to a good scarry ghosts stories. i beleive in haunts and orbs and haunted houses. even tho we lived in a house that a man killed himself nothing happened. we have lived near a cemetary, and my sister did lived by two cemeties. shen passed a way almost ayear ago, and i still dreame about her. i miss her a lot her name was emily jean dino. goings. i do beleive in ghosts because, thay are real as you and i. haunthings are real, haunted houses and the onther side.
Sally Carter says: |
May 9, 2008, 9:44 pm |
Hey everyone, this is Sally. Don’t you have anything better to do than sit around trying to figure out how I died? If you all MUST know, it was actually of boredom….we didn’t have the internet in my time.
johnny says: |
June 21, 2008, 2:07 am |
hey jerkheads.leave the spooks(you idiots won’t notice them anyway)and come to the………..humph.
valeie says: |
July 30, 2008, 12:31 am |
hi, im new to this, but i would lov to know the REAL story, because i live here near the ste. can anyone be real and send me some info??!
jessica says: |
August 11, 2008, 3:43 am |
A word of wisdom to those of you who like to “mess” with the spirits of those who have “gone” on DON’T you will not like the out come and who ever possed as Sally and posted that comment that’s disrespectfull and not mention upseting
shelby says: |
September 20, 2008, 8:50 pm |
chris you are so funny take reading classes and shove that coffie up you ***!!!!
Barbara Brown says: |
September 23, 2008, 12:37 am |
I’m into gosthunting and investigating,So if someone can tell me where
I can find Sally’s house and grave is located I would love to investigate
it myself.Please tell me where it is
Thank you
Terry H says: |
October 16, 2008, 1:53 pm |
Hi Barbra Brown,
The site is in the Cedarhurst neighborhood at the corner of Whitesburg Drive and Drake Ave, an upscale gated communtiy with security guard 24/7. Vistiors aren’t allowed in unless invited by a resident.
Barbara says: |
October 19, 2008, 12:52 pm |
I have heard lots of stories.Would love to investigate for myself.
meowomon says: |
November 1, 2008, 4:37 am |
I grew up in Huntsville and the version of the story I heard was that after Sally died, her family wanted to relocate her remains. They discovered that she had been buried alive and she had tried to scratch her way out out he coffin.
taneele says: |
January 3, 2009, 11:45 am |
i have a one story building i keep seeing stuff at night if theres any information you can give me a hollor by texting me with my e_mail
Lynn says: |
January 12, 2009, 7:47 pm |
Hi,
I live here at Cedarhurst in one of the Condos. I’ve looked for her at night when I’m walking my dog. So far, no. We’re having a party at the clubhouse. It’s a really cool home. I also went to the gravesite while in Highschool. From what I can tell, the gravesite could be the open area driveway coming into the complex. There are a lot of grassy areas where the graves could have been located. I do have a friend staying in the house, as our guest, and I’ll print all of this out and give her a bead necklace and I’ll ask her what happens that night.


Heather says:
August 28, 2007, 2:25 pm
hey everyone i really want to know the exact location of this place. i have recently started to belive in ghost and want to visit this place. anyone know what Sally looks like?!
i have lived here for over about 4 or 5 years now. about 3 summers ago i was staying at my dad’s place (over on bethesda dr. between weatherly dr. and mountain gap.) in the middle of the night i was awoken by a misty figure at the foot of my bed. It was a girl with long red hair and a white or cream gown trimed in pink ribbons. I at first thought it was a friend of mine who had recently died in a car accident named Jesse Brooks…i thought it was just a dream and she was just saying hello or something. well as years went on i always heard things but did not belive in ghosts so past the noices as a settling house. well this past spring my neighbor came to my dad with a story she was embarassed of. She had the same story as mine except it had happened the night before she was telling my dad this story and also the girl was sitting on her bed just starring at her! well my dad and step mom then also had some confessions of there own to make. they also had seen the girl walking up the stairs, down the hall, and heard a girl over the monitor in the babies’ nursury,as if playing with them. Guess that ruled out the quesion of it being Jesse Brooks. We just call her Linda and it’s just rutein now to see or hear her. she around a lot more now that “we all know” it seems like.
I would like to know if anyone knows anything about this area, the history or anything, and also if it may some way be a connection to Sally Carter.. i don’t know but i want to BAD! so anyone e-mail me or something questions, comments or answers! please!