There are a couple of different accounts as to why Bill Sketoe was hanged. Some claim that he deserted his post to care for a sick wife, other’s that he was assisting in local guerilla operations against the army, in any event, he ran afoul of the local confederate Home Guard. He was hanged, with a rope too short for his size and the soldiers quickly attempted to dig a hole beneath his feet as he dangled slowly strangling. His death caused quite a stir in the population and the hole became much remarked upon especially as it remained for years exactly as it had been dug, never filling in. Legend has it that that any attempts to fill the hole were futile as the hole would empty itself over night. The hole was just finally filled in the 90’s after flooding caused the entire area to be covered in tons of rock.
If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know!
Related Videos
Rate this Haunted Place
What do you think? Is this place really haunted? Voice your opinion here! Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale.
Geographic Information
- Address:
- Hwy 134
Newton, AL
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 31.34386227667545, -85.61130952828535
- County:
- Dale County, Alabama
- Nearest Towns:
- Newton, AL (0.7 mi.)
Pinckard, AL (4.1 mi.)
Fort Rucker, AL (6.1 mi.)
Daleville, AL (6.4 mi.)
Midland City, AL (7.1 mi.)
Ozark, AL (8.1 mi.)
Napier Field, AL (9.5 mi.)
Clayhatchee, AL (10.0 mi.)
Grimes, AL (10.0 mi.)
Level Plains, AL (10.3 mi.)
Please note: It is your responsibility to acquire appropriate permissions before investigating any location listed on this site. Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. Many "ghost hunters" have been arrested because they failed to contact property owners and/or local authorities ahead of time.
Share Your Experiences
Comments (7)
Share Your Comments
Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends.
Bill Sketoe is my 4th great grandfather. His story lives on in our family, some things in this article are different from what is in the orginal copy.
What’s in the original copy?
Murdered by friends and neighbors.
Actually, he was not murdered by friends or neighbors. & in the original copy, it says he did not desert his post, but simply had a man take his spot while tending to my Great grandmother.
My grandfather took me here in ’98 and told me the story. Definitely creepy even during the day. We went out two days in a row and it was dug definitely creepy I still remember it.
I have seen a man on the side of the road while driving in that area. I asked my husband do you see him? He saw nothing!
This place is real lived there. Went one night covered the hole. Camped where we could see hole and know one was there all night. Hole was uncovered in the morning. It looks like the ghost when hanging kicks like he is running and kicks sand out of hole