Bill Sketoe

By Crusader1307

 Many Ghost Stories and Hauntings often have some basis in truth. Later, they develop extreme ''Urban Legend'' status, which makes it hard to trace the ''real origins'' of such activities. The Story of Bill Sketoe may well be one as well. His Tale is set in The Town of Newton, Alabama (US). Historically, there WAS a William Sketoe, who may have been a Minister before The American Civil War if 1861-1865. With the ''Southern Fervor'' of the Region to ''fight The Yankees'', anyone who did not follow such thought was an Enemy – and often dealt with harshly. Bill did not wish to go to War. Legend states that His Wife was very sick, and He did not wish to leave Her, But, then there was The ''Home Guard''. These were Men who for many reasons could not serve (too old, Invalid from previous Service, etc.) They were pressed into a type of ''Military Police'', alert for ''Yankees'' and ''Traitorous Sympathizers''. Perhaps, Bill was afraid of being ''found'' by them. Some Records state that He did in fact serve (but was furloughed due to His Wife). But when found by The Home Guard, they did not believe Him. Some Historians, even advanced the idea that Bill really was a ''Unionist'' and Spy. The real fact will never be known. But in 1864, Bill was taken by The Militia to a nearby field and hung. But Bill was a ''Tall Man'' and the tree they used (and the length of rope), was too much. Bill only strangled. So...to ''speed up the process'', a hole was dug under Bill's feet to make up for the ''difference''. Bill Sketoe died and was buried.

As the Legend goes, The Hole was never filled in, and would become a popular spot for Locals (perhaps the curious and perhaps those who thought Bill was unjustly treated). Oddly, when people tried to fill in The Hole, it would be found ''empty'' the next day. Regardless of how many times done, and the condition of the weather (snow, flooding etc.) - the Hole could never be filled. This ''phenomenon'' was well recorded into the 1930s, until the area was cleared for a Bridgeway. Construction ''filled in the Hole''. But not for very long. Well into the 1950s, the Hole would ''still appear'' under the Bridge. It was not until concrete reinforcement was added to protect the Bridge was the Hole filled in....and never came back. However......Since that Project, without The Hole – ''strange'' Paranormal Events began to occur. From ''Ghost Orbs'' to ''Shadow Figures'', all manner of Activity has been reported. None of ''it'' is ever ''malicious''. Many still come to Newton to ''see'' The Sketoe Bridge and hope to experience ''Something''.........