View Full Version : Secret tunnels under the Civic Center
http://www.demopolislive.com/upload/civichole.jpg
Anyone ever go under the civic center and end up in the civic center??:D I remember coming out behind the stage area(this was about 17 years ago). Anyone ever try this?and I no NO WAY recommend anyone trying now!!
Long's Horn
08-23-2003, 22:28 PM
Dave,
Interesting thought. I was always told of the tunnels that lead from Gainswood all the way to the river, built for the transportation of items that were taken from boats and brought up to the mansion. They were also used to secretly hide the passageway that the slaves used when hiding. Gainswood was used as a safe house. Tell me more.
Long's Horn
stickman
08-23-2003, 22:52 PM
Have heard something about that once before, but no I haven't tried it.
Stickman
I'm pretty sure those aren't the same tunels that Dave is talking about. If it is the same ones I remember they basically are the size of large airducts (about 3ft X 3ft) and they just snake around under the Civic Center. I would be REALLY interested to know of the tunels you speek of! Do you have any more info on this onld tunnel system??
Long's Horn
08-23-2003, 23:50 PM
I can find more information on it. That to will give me a good reason to email Sassy. ( I know who she is too! ) I'll ask her what she knows about that to, along with making sure the guy that I think is the deadbeat dad, is him. hope i don't stick my foot in my mouth again.
I'll see what I can find out. brb
Welcome to the boards Longs Horn.
Let me say up front: Although we love posters that can find out information about the town, we respect the privacy and anonimity of our members. I personally don't wish to know a members real idenity unless they want to tell it themselves.
About the tunnels- I'll get that pic fixed so you can see what I was referring to. I've also heard of the tunnels from Gaineswood Mansion. INteresting history in this town to say the least.
HITMAN
09-23-2003, 21:02 PM
Dave, I know which tunnels you are talking about and yes I do remember them leading into the Civic Center. I was always told that there was a tunnel that leads from Gaineswood to the river which was used to bring in supplies to the basement of the mansion (slaves and goods). Never heard of the mansion as a safehouse, even though the mansion was built by slaves under the supervision of Whitfield. The tunnel is also suppose to be under the football field.
Recently, I heard that research has been done that indicates Demopolis' tunnels from Gaineswood were actually pivotal in the "Underground Railroad". It seems they are looking into this further...It would really help tourism in this area.
Sassy Frass
09-24-2003, 19:50 PM
Increasing Tourism, Darn right it would! People want to experiance something that mystifies them, a surprise, and even part of their history. There is no telling what could be found out about the tunnels, or even the artifacts that may be in tact showing this city's past even more. It is exciting!
Can anyone show some kind of information (printed) information on these tunels? Has anyone ever seen them? I am VERY curious to learn more about this topic. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO AT ALL PLEASE POST IT HERE!!
I've never seen the actual tunnels, but I will ask around and see what other info. can be found about them.
Sassy Frass
09-25-2003, 22:09 PM
There are a couple of people that would love to get permission to go see for themselves. (all insured of course)
Hey ! Over here!
(me me me me me )
Matt Hartzell over at Gaineswood may know some background on the subject.
I'll volunteer to walk the tunnell as well:)
Sassy Frass
09-27-2003, 08:40 AM
Sassy Frass and Dave.... sneaking through a dark tunnel with a weak flashlight and a bag of gummiebears.
(he he he)
What the adventure of the DemopolisLIVE crew would lok like:
....sorry stick
Who's going to be Sloth? HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Statpat35
09-28-2003, 08:41 AM
Jeff I can't believe you didn't put ole' statpat as Chunk...
the truffle shuffle>>>>>>
demopolite
02-18-2004, 10:40 AM
I'm not sure about the tunnel going into the civic center. I know that you can crawl into a tunnel under the civic center and wind around for about 50 yards before you come to a dead end at a duct. Maybe that's where you could get in.
There used to be a tunnel that ran from Webb's Bluff all the way to Gaineswood, but entrance was covered when they graded off that area. As I understand it, there used to be a barn back there on the bluff on the road that runs by Culpepper Warehouse, right where it turns to go to Rock Cut and Rabbit Road (the Botanical Gardens area). But that was before my time.
The Webb Bluff tunnel was used to transport slaves to Gaineswood.
I heard a rumor once that there used to be another tunnel somewhere around the first bridge going out of town (by the marina), but I think that someone must have been talking about the Webb Bluff tunnel, because that area is all swamp and little limestone.
Another legend: I have heard that a little girl was murdered years ago around the Webb Bluff area by a drifter, and that the area is haunted. Supposedly happened somewhere between Webb Bluff and the cemetary. Has anyone else ever heard this?
Some man with the last name of Hunter was, I think, convicted of killing a little girl down there. I'm not sure if he was a drifter or just "drifting" to not be discovered by the police.
WayneNick
05-10-2004, 14:39 PM
I have been in these tunnels under the civic center. I remember growing up in Demopolis and having parties at the civic center. The tunels were intended as fallout shelters. The tunnels are accessed thru the stiarwell in the middle of the building used to be behind the stage. These tunnels are man made of concrete. The tunnels cover the entire "basement" of the civic center. The air handlers and old boilers are down there too. I remember going down there. It was damp and cold, not to mention scarry. The tunnels seem to go nowhere.I do remember being lost down there wondering if I would ever make my way out of there.
Bran, you are referring to that sicko Cleo Hunter who raped and killed that 9 year old girl around the Old Cemetary in Demopolis in the 70's. He did hide out around the river area until he was caught. He was from Demopolis though. He wasn't a drifter. Just a sick, sick, sick person. At the time of the above offense he was already on parole for raping his own 11 year old sister. He also had another Assault charge for trying to rape his neice. That man should have been tortured all these years instead of locked up.
I'm not sure about secret tunnels/caves, but I do know about climbing through the ductworks to enter the lower area of the civic center. I went through with a few friends who had been before -- my memories are that it was pitch black and they thought it would be funny to leave me. I was onto there ploy and tackled one of them - who will remain nameless and still lives in Demopolis from what I hear - anyway if my memory serves me you come in right under the stage.
FYI - this is my first time posting here. I left Demopolis in 93 and come back probably 3-4x per year. I'm in a remembering the old times phase and thinking fondly about Demopolis.
AngelWing
10-05-2004, 08:50 AM
Originally posted by ua96
I'm not sure about secret tunnels/caves, but I do know about climbing through the ductworks to enter the lower area of the civic center. I went through with a few friends who had been before -- my memories are that it was pitch black and they thought it would be funny to leave me. I was onto there ploy and tackled one of them - who will remain nameless and still lives in Demopolis from what I hear - anyway if my memory serves me you come in right under the stage.
FYI - this is my first time posting here. I left Demopolis in 93 and come back probably 3-4x per year. I'm in a remembering the old times phase and thinking fondly about Demopolis.
Welcome to the forum ua96! Hope you stop by often. :D
I took an archaeology class at Shelton state many years ago. The teacher, who later became the president of Shelton, had done excavation studies on webb house and had many pictures of his work. I cant remember his name but he told me and the rest of the class that he had searched everywhere in and around the house . He said he found no tunnels. Figuring that the tunnel entrance would not be obvious , he said he put on scuba equipment and dove into a well close to the webb house and dove below the civic center finding no tunnels.
Go down into the canal around the Foot Bridge. Supposedly there are holes fenced up which may be tunnels. There are also houses downtown around the railroad tracks (north side-maybe a few blocks north) that have old out house or well looking structures which are rumored to be passageways into these tunnels.
Haha--I must have the record for oldest thread in active topics :)
Once everything dries out we need to get a team together and check out these places.
Ranger
12-17-2004, 07:26 AM
I have walked the canals looking for those tunnels, but didn't find them. Do you kow exactly where these tunnels are?
Scott
12-17-2004, 08:27 AM
When i was younger we would walk the canal. Never saw any tunnels but found many caves. We were always told that slaves would hide out in there while trying to escape. I dont know it may all be just legend
Stonehenge
12-17-2004, 12:25 PM
OK - Changing the subject a little, but keeping this thread going as well. I want the "footbridge" to come back.
Ranger
12-17-2004, 13:10 PM
Yea, the footbridge is pretty cool. I like it. I would like even better if you didnt have to go around a barricade. Well, that is if you wanted to cross it, i have never done that since it says "Keep Out".
BIG JIM
12-18-2004, 23:36 PM
I have never heard any of this. this is news to me! There wre old slave houses out here across 80 form my house and numerous slave graves on the land me hunt on as told by the land owner. The grave go back on one of the MANY Compton (my distant kin with many funds which never get shared...lol) places. Pretty interesting for a small town like good ole Demop!
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