Amazing Structure In Alabama: What in the World Is This?

[@lonetraveller]

It's the remnants of an old logging mill. We have one in the swamp near my home....looks exactly the same. It was known as Centralia, where they logged all the giant cypress trees from the Chassahowitka swamp in Florida in the early 1900's. Good find!

[@rustafar_2354]

5 minutes from me. 👍

[@timsmith658]

From the background railroad sounds, I can surmise that u were on Ruffner Mountain, on which over 100 small iron ore drift and slope mines were located. Operated from late 1800’s to late 1950’s. Located in NE part of Birmingham AL

[@B.cest-la-vie]

There's a similar place in East Texas, once called New Birmingham.

[@larryfairbanks7783]

Back in the late 60s and early 70s as a young man I would wonder the caves in Huntsville area. Absolutely one of the best times of my life.

[@morganfreeman8492]

Too bad theyve blocked off most of em

[@themanfromcabowabo1559]

@@morganfreeman8492 Didn’t stop me.

[@themanfromcabowabo1559]

I carried your torch from late 70s through 89. There’s several still unknown except by a few. Did you ever go in the Talucah cave that was a church? Had benches and a pulpit still there.

[@marygarner5249]

Hello from Tennessee pray you all are Well God Bless Us ALL

[@mikegoodman447]

At 6:55 the bashed in tub shows that is a clear sign the revenuers have been there breaking up a still, I once ran across a perfect galvanised bucket in the woods with a axe hole in it, moonshine still broke up there. That metal appeared to be barrel bands.

[@annewhite9502]

You can go onlookers and search for historic maps of the area. They might indicate what was there in earlier times. Also checking with county clerk about who has owned this plot of land over the years, and third check with local historic society to see if they have any info.

[@pamsmith9541]

The flower is called Wake Robin Trillium.

[@mikegoodman447]

At 0.39 you show a metal band. I found a lot of those around a a turpentine still. They would take the turpentine to the still for boiling and processing and then seal it in wooden barrels to be sent off. The metal bands came off discarded barrels. The still was elevated so the barrels could be laid on their side and rolled off into wagons. Revenuers would take the buckets and slam a axe through them to destroy the equipment. That's what the tub looks like. Once found a perfect galvanized bucket way in the woods. Flipped it over and there was the axe hole. My Uncle told be it was a liquor still site the tax man found.

[@fullflavor5]

Reminds me of some kilns I've seen used to be a lot of them around making red pipe chiminey flues and such...

[@jamesmorris1807]

Regardless of trees in today's forest, it looks like a to distillation foundation. It's for cooking pine tree sap into Turpentine or a Maple slurp cooker foundation. That ditch is a easy way to make a wagon unloading or loading dock. I know where theirs one like it in Talladega National Forest Forest close to Sylacauga . They may have had a farmhouse & barn there too. I'd bet theirs broken pottery tree taps and collecting jugs fragments close by there on the ground.

[@dsmith1462]

Quarantine; EA style... you sir are living the life!👏👍😇

[@gregrainwater9658]

Water plant there one in tallaposa ga.1899 was made here know it look just like that

[@sedoragreen8028]

The plants are trillium, they’re very pretty when they bloom. Fun video.

[@terrymorgan4714]

Awesome video Brandon and EA. Not sure what it is but it is huge. Never seen anything like it.

[@TheNimshew]

The trenches were not to carry water, but to house the machinery for conveyor belts

[@marydegenkolb9603]

The plant is a trillium, for 3 leaves. The flowers are black. They are rare and protected in Georgia. I wonder if it is a mill of some kind. You may be able to check county records for any mills.

[@ExploringAlabama]

thanks

[@juanitapate913]

It also grows wild up near Jasper and it's a beautiful light yellow.

[@jillybean9329]

THAT is where all the treasure is hidden ...the giant crawfish is the ancient gatekeeper...I could see him blinking from your flashlight 🤣

[@ExploringAlabama]

he did ask about you

[@julzmgrforll7278]

You had a catch in your giddy up and we could not even tell. Thanks for posting your video.

[@robertdunn7913]

Part of the old city water pipe from the source to the treatment plant. They run for miles in large steel pipes and have concrete foundations like that. Like at lake Nicol in Tuscaloosa.

[@ExploringAlabama]

thought so too but these are really high. most mains ran low in the early 1900s till now

[@SuperchiefApache]

I think it’s an old grain mill as well. In the old days, you would have the mill, the owner of the mill, and maybe some cottages living in the nearby area.

[@MrSmitty6969]

Dude, I have heard many stories about Alabama BigFoot, watch your back !!!!

[@GCharlesLangisChip]

It reminds me of a salt Peter mine near cookeville tn they mined them for gunpowder during the civil war

[@nascarmommam5915]

Another interesting place. Oh to go down that cave. 😲 What a Lobster 🦞😁 ~ Texas

[@logandurden7290]

Looks similar to old mill ruins I’ve been around here in north Georgia. The pieces of metal are more than likely straps that held the water pipe that used to run in that trench

[@davidoverman3753]

I'm at bell MTN

[@jstone4374]

Yes exactly wood stave piping

[@jstone4374]

I was replacing a 15" pipe for irrigation and was amazed on how well I was constructed but strapping is very obvious of what was there.

[@wayneberry8226]

I would love to go ther but where is it at..what city is close to it..reply ok.

[@kw8975]

Hi from the UK.. Those buildings look very much like the ones we have dotted about our countryside.. Ours are old Air raid shelters that were also used by soldiers to fire their guns at the enemy.

[@jerrywest4238]

The green and blue stains on the ribs and back of the cave look natural and are likely malachite and azureite which are copper oxides. Somebody might have been mining copper. But if that's the case there should be some waste rock piles and bits of copper ore scattered around. If you can pinpoint the location there might be information at the county courthouse.

[@owensmith1927]

My guess it's part of a crusher system used during the construction of the highway. Water piping is part of the aggregate wash system . Probably built in the 50's.

[@etihwdnhoj]

I think that "long trench" is an aqueduct that carried water to a water wheel mill?

[@idigdaytona4478]

I think you are correct !

[@ExploringAlabama]

i think so too now, none of the locals even knew it was there

[@withlol777]

You are correct!

[@MNpicker]

No idea what that was for.. all I know is it's very cool..

[@slapoutindixie7537]

Looks like an old mill or early power station from the 30s

[@TheStwat]

I hope you and your family are staying safe EA. :)

[@ExploringAlabama]

so far so good thank you, you too

[@sardogies9633]

Except material it’s built with, the main structure with the raised foundation and the cave with the pipe, looks pretty much like part of a flood control system about a mile from here that at one time was used as part of the sewer system. If there’s a river nearby that overflows its banks, or did that a long time ago, that’s what it might be, part of an early flood control or sewer system.

[@stephanietruly3447]

We drove out to some woods and played today. Then I made my kiddo walk home 6 feet behind the car to practice social distancing haha.

[@ExploringAlabama]

that's some rough mommy'ing haha

[@carlthornton3076]

Very Good!

[@RandolphRelicRecovery]

I see you found grandpappy's old still.

[@bruceosman2658]

People would dig trenches to lower the belt drive engines for lumber mills etc.

[@mkaysartfuljourney1239]

That's where Sasquatch like to hang out. 😊❤️

[@carlthornton3076]

Very Good! 2nd Watch...

[@steveclark4291]

Thank you for a great adventure ! Have either of you been able to figure out what it is yet ! Or at least a little history about the area ?

[@danhunkele1505]

Old survivalist camp. Trench was for soldiers to defend the camp and concrete structures were bomb shelters.

[@PCostello]

Do you contact the local Historical Society and/or library when you find and explore an area? They often have map references.

[@ExploringAlabama]

no never

[@topperthompson2713]

Tailings piles from Sluice runs check for Gold!

[@dustinhardyxq3737]

I’m assuming this is Blount springs area?

[@roadtrek8951]

Something to do with getting water and it runs thru the blocks for root cellars.

[@leonragsdale7439]

That plant you discovered is called trillium

[@treasuretom13]

Maybe the remains of an old mill. You can get those coordinates and check them against historical maps of the area..

[@shortwired2X]

Yes Coke mines. I was so fascinated to learn the intense labor it took to move the minerals through water channels. Building the structure to smoke out minerals and provide the water cisterns to keep laborers hydrated. This place, is among many in Alabama, where valuable minerals where harvested. The working people of Alabama Never profited and where basic cave slaves for industry. The nearby train whistles tell how the minerals made it to processing for greed. Alabama people where poor unless you owned slaves- same story just north in Kentucky.

[@arneservatius8686]

Go to county seat, get partial #. Then look up tax history. You will find building that use to be there its tax value and purpose. Good place for a metal detector. Perhaps gold coins. Arne Michigan

[@charlesjohnson7222]

Arne Servatius no hate, just FYI: parcel not partial.

[@benjimenfranklin7650]

It looks like a grist Mill to grind corn they use water to turn a wheel which would have been wood.

[@dougmeadows6058]

Looks like a old crush and run plant for the road dept. The upper end would be the stamp/crusher and the trench was a conveyer that moved the small gravel to another hopper that would put the fine gravel in piles or direct load to trucks. The machines were portable that set up on foundations, and that would explain the lack of buildings at site.

[@ryancawdor8083]

Kind sir, please don't get snake bit reaching in areas like where you found that jar....

[@palehorsepayton4428]

That's a mine and a hoist house foundation with a drainage pipe

[@johntech282]

It's an old abandoned starbucks.

[@TylerRayMattersRUAC]

Looks like maybe something for water collection. Like for a well, it would bring them more water when it rained. That's my guess. Maybe a drainage structure to prevent standing water, could be a combination of both. Would be interesting to go back in heavy rain to see how the water flows. Might find out it flows towards a central spot. Maybe basements under in between those wall structures. Who knows what could have got left when abandoned. There might be blueprints for it that the county has. Depends on how much they were into marking things out and keeping records of it. They would be able to tell you if anybody. Maybe even going through records of land owners would pop up something. Someone surely knew at one point, it had to be built. Could be fallout structures too, people were really into building those in wars. Obviously would need trenches to divert water from them. Looks like a good place for metal detecting, people always carried coins and dropped them. Along with other things. Nice spot to explore. I would check out the rocks and see if there is any artifacts and evidence of a native raid on colonists. Could be an unmarked place that got attacked. Many possibilities, could be in history books.

[@TylerRayMattersRUAC]

If you found coins with dates, that would tell you about the time people were there. People are coin flingers.

[@bellyisis]

Because of 6:56... Borrow your buddies grabber & waive your arms around yelling “danger Will Robinson”.it doesn’t have to be in camera.its the cabin fever fault

[@TRUMP4LIFE1359]

There's all kinds of structures and caves in Blount county

[@gloriajoseph7031]

Must be Bigfoot's castle. LOL

[@keitharnold1381]

That’s was a plantation Burnt down in the civil war that cement formds and water access

[@gutfinski]

Watch out for copperheads.

[@levifarber5187]

What you are looking at as part of an 1800s sewer system those are not caves those are 50 gallon barrels wooden barrels those straps that you’re seeing go around the barrels the structure that you were at and looking in it’s a sewer collection system same thing in Petersburg battlefield park

[@julzmgrforll7278]

I was thinking it was really I'm the year to be putting your adventure archeologist in an outside planter but I'm in Oklahoma so it may be different in Alabama. Also do you think the wissanant would transplant to Oklahoma? I really like them.

[@TheTimeTravelingPatriot]

Where is this?

[@spermdonar]

One mystery after another ..those square concrete pits are probably for holding the corn mash..this may be the original Jack Daniels still

[@TRUMP4LIFE1359]

The aliens did it until they to learned there's nothing to do in Alabama. 😂🤣😂

[@lindahartt-goggin3327]

With all that green, there has to be some copper in there too!

[@topperthompson2713]

Stamp mill for mineing ore.

[@dgrissom007]

Don't really know what you are looking at. I wonder if it is part of a aqueduct or pumping station? I remember seeing and aquaduct with overhead piping north of B'ham when I was a kid with my Dad. It looked ancient. If not that, then it may be Mayan?

[@bujarshahini1773]

Lewisburg Pike Tennessee Berlin Tennessee Pulaski Tennessee they have a lot of caves big caves

[@zalmaflash]

"Ancient Aztec? Roman Bath? What you Think?" Well I figure it is in Alabama so the bath part is out. It is an early scientific experiment site to see if water really ran down hill.

[@TheNimshew]

My guess, knowing that Alabama produced a lot of iron, is a Sintering plant. But purely a guess

[@michaelheary5663]

Strange but learn your bird calls. I would love to know what birds are singing in the back ground. You probably already know what birds they are. Love your videos.

[@bluecollarredneckrc7782]

Is this in Able?

[@ExploringAlabama]

Somewhere in Jefferson county

[@jonsdigs1]

Are you messin' around the old iron mines?

[@palehorsepayton4428]

Mine pump station

[@martineastburn3679]

Hey - that hurts. I'm pre . Started with B/W ...

[@TerribleShmeltingAccident]

old mine

[@glock27able]

Some kind of mill? Water source nearby?

[@ExploringAlabama]

creek below it, haven't explored way above it yet

[@paynecharlie]

Looks like a great place for snakes to me!!!

[@jwnagy]

Depending on where you are in Alabama, that may be an old mine site. If you gave me a geographical location I might be able to help you with that.

[@cliftoncarr9761]

Mayb its a old bunker?

[@oldbamadirt1510]

bigfoots bbq and grill lol.

[@wrail5205]

Flume for irrigation

[@davea4250]

Oh! I know! It’s a foundation.

[@benjimenfranklin7650]

😝

[@Diggerdano]

Hurt your knee when you slipped in the mine

[@troyupshaw3846]

Looks like runoff control to me, or maybe channelling water from a now dry spring.

[@sheryldupre-mercier7607]

Moonshiners

[@tracimangham233]

Defensive posts in civil war

[@donjuan6324]

hope you get permission to detect there and check to see if you need a permit to metal detect there,. Cousin got nailed for detecting without a permit and trespassing cost him a $250 fine for not having a permit and a trespassing fine of $150, , now he always checks,.... ( you never know who is going to see you let alone report you )

[@kathykeith2203]

😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@scottwade307]

Old coal mine or iron mine

[@greytallcloud5695]

Google earth it then u can see all from above

[@michaelhaiden6718]

Old bbq pits

[@earlivey2420]

Probably a dam setup,looks like there might have been a pond.

[@chrisstich5474]

Looks modern but old

[@lyonthomas5254]

Why not ask the “yokuls”?

[@johndavid8815]

Your mom said she doesn’t have an idea of what it is😂

[@goingboondocking36]

Water driven lumber mill...

[@lynnlopez3274]

Drainage?

[@anthonybomberry9935]

Looks like an old coal dig there all over iowa and dangerous

[@jolenewandersee7047]

The modern trash was probably from teenagers. This place is awesome.

[@michaelsharit653]

@ 1:18 there is a stone totem head on surface. Attempt at hiding more stone masonry to preserve and keep pristine. If you see the heads keep them safe. Understand to share and preserve may set us free. Most of these MONOLITHIC CULTURES are gone so please respect the Olmec/Toltec/ SEED OF Cain, Our Native ancestors revered them..... COVERED UP HISTORY ANDREW JACKSON