One of the most famous ghost stories in Alabama revolves around a man named William “Bill” Sketoe Sr., whose life spanned from June 8, 1818, to December 3, 1864. Sketoe, a minister at a Methodist Church in the town of Newton, South Alabama, met a mysterious and tragic end, giving rise to various accounts of his murder. However, the version of the story linked to a haunted wooded area suggests that Sketoe was killed for deserting the Confederate Army.
According to the tale, Bill Sketoe fought in the war but received distressing news that his wife, the mother of their six children, had fallen seriously ill. Driven by love and concern, Sketoe hurried back home to care for his ailing wife. However, his brief visit turned into an extended stay, stretching from weeks to months. Eventually, Sketoe was captured by a group led by Joseph Breare, who accused him of desertion. They brought him to a secluded spot near the Choctawhatchee River Bridge, where they viciously beat him and placed a noose around his neck. Unbeknownst to his captors, Sketoe was a tall man, forcing them to dig a hole beneath his feet to enable the noose to fully tighten.
The hole in question, known as “the hole that will not stay filled,” has become the focal point of strange occurrences that haunt hikers, hunters, campers, and trappers in the surrounding woods. In one eerie incident, campers pitched their tent directly over the site of the hole, only to wake up the next morning to find themselves sleeping in a depression beneath the tent. Although Bill’s ghostly apparition has not been sighted near the hole, visitors to the area have reported an uncanny sensation of being watched.
For over 125 years, attempts to fill the hole have proved futile, as the hole inexplicably reappears with the exact same dimensions: 30 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Curiously, all six men involved in Bill Sketoe’s unlawful hanging met with mysterious deaths themselves. It is conceivable that these individuals have been condemned to an eternity of maintaining the hole as penance for their murderous actions.
The legend of Bill Sketoe and the unfillable hole continues to captivate the imagination of locals and visitors alike. The tale serves as a chilling reminder of the darker aspects of history and the lingering presence of the supernatural. To this day, the haunted woods and the infamous hole remain intriguing destinations for those curious about Alabama’s ghostly folklore.
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Sketoe’s Hole Location:
Noted Hauntings at Sketoe’s Hole:
- Campers feel being watched.
- The hole reappears despite being filled.
- Bill has NOT been seen as an apparition.
Contact Information for Sketoe’s Hole:
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Wikipedia
- None
- None
Please respect private property. Never trespass without permission from the owners! And be safe!
Sketoe’s Hole Videos – History and Paranormal Investigations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdowPMUw2xMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_pd1z-reUk
Additional Images of Sketoe’s Hole
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