Jemison Center (Old Bryce Hospital)
December 14, 2007
Northport, Alabama
7:30pm - 2:30am
HISTORY:
Mims Jemison, brother of Robert Jemison, was killed in the Civil War; the state purchased his country home and the land. This was used to build a second Bryce hospital to house the increasing number of black patients. A large number of the patients were not in fact mentally ill but lived there due to difficult circumstances after the end of slavery. Due to lack of funds, the patients had to be self-sufficient making their own clothes and working the fields for food and cotton. It is reported that many patients were kept in the hospital for life for their ability to labor. There were periods of time in which the conditions of the hospital were not just inhumane, but unlivable.
In 1970, a journalist who visited the Jemison building at Bryce Hospital described conditions there as follows:
“Human feces were caked on the toilets and walls; urine saturated the aging oak floors; many beds lacked linen; some patients slept on floors. Archaic shower stalls had cracked and spewing shower heads. One tiny shower closet served 131 male patients; the 75 women patients also had but one shower. Most of the patients at Jemison were highly tranquilized and had not been bathed in days. All appeared to lack any semblance of treatment. The stench was almost unbearable."
SUMMARY:
Writings on the walls, strange noises, and cold spots are some of the phenomena that occur in this old mental institution. - September Update: Upon entering this old institution there are strange feelings of presences watching you. Throughout the entire building (3 floors and a basement) there is writings on the walls, lots of graffiti, recently was burned on the first and second floors, but not severe. Reporting of telephones ringing, furniture being moved, footsteps heard in the hallways, and cold and hot spots throughout, just an odd an eerie feeling, there is no need for any high tech equipment here you can feel everything you need to know. Patrolled on Halloween and sometimes during the week, could be caught for trespassing.
EQUIPMENT:
Digital cameras , Digital Voice Recorders, Sony Handycams with the Nightshot feature, EMF Meter, Infrared Digital Temperature Scanner, DVR IR Cameras.
PHOTOS:
Taken with digital cameras.
EVP:
Taken with Digital Voice Recorders.
| "Big Bird Come Back" Recorded by: David Higdon Location:Kitchen | "8-900-Help" Recorded by: David Higdon Location:Kitchen |
| "Telephone Ringing" Recorded by: David Higdon Location:Kitchen | "Yes David" Recorded by: David Higdon Location:Kitchen |
| "He He Get Out Now" Recorded by: David Higdon Location:Kitchen | "Ms Molly" Recorded by: David Higdon Location:Kitchen |
| "What's Wrong With Me?" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 1st Floor | "Please Come Back" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 1st Floor |
| "Leave Those People Alone" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "Need A Smoke" Before Shay Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "Would Play" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "John" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "Damn Building" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "Get Out" Recorded by: David Higdon Loca |
| "Testing" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "A Johnson" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "It's Happen" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "Lara" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "Please Hurry" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "Newman" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "Got You In The Camera" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "I Gotcha" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "Where Did You Get That David?" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "Telephone Ringing" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "Your Recorder" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor | "Anglia Tom Collins" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 2nd Floor |
| "Lady Crying" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor | "I Need To Come Find You" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor |
| "Art Palmer" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor | "I Can't Wait To Go Home" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor |
| "Any Child Left?" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor | "Play Distance" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor |
| "My House Bitch" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor | "Shouldn't Do That" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: 3rd Floor |
| "Be With Us Too" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Staircase | "Mommy" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Staircase |
| "Is That It Pretty Lady" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Basement | "You're Afraid" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Basement |
| "Moan" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Basement | "Moan2" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Basement |
| "Scream" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Basement | "Ask Him Again" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Boiler Room |
| "Make Your Magic Move" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Outside | "Pick-Me Pick-Me Pick-Me" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Outside |
| "Turn Left" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Outside | "Freaking Crazy" Recorded by: David Higdon Location: Outside |