Editor’s Note: During the month of October, The Brewton Standard will focus on local “spooky” places or events. If anyone has a ghost story, an unsolved mystery or even a report of a UFO, email us at brewtonstandard.com.

One look around town will show that it is October and Halloween is on the way. Black spiders, costumes and pumpkins will soon be on display leading up to Oct. 31st.

It is the time of the year that a good ghost story sends shivers up and down the spine. The internet has even gotten into the story-telling and, although the Blacksher house one is the most often told, there are others that are not so well known.

It is said by some people that Fort Crawford Cemetery has its own paranormal experiences. Apparently there is a Confederate soldier that has been seen on several occasions walking across the back of the cemetery. One online storyteller said that his father was crossing the cemetery one night when he was grabbed at by a shadow figure. The story told that the father never again would enter the cemetery, not even to visit the grave of his grandmother. The storyteller did not give his name or the name of his father.

There are some that say they can hear the voices of children as they laugh in the cemetery late at night. Perhaps the children are enjoying themselves and don’t realize the fright they cause when their laughter is heard.

There are no stories available about Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Alco, but if tragedy and heartbreak has anything to do with it, the cemetery should be over-run with ghosts.

In the late summer of 1883 the weather in Brewton was hot and dry with no rain in sight. On September 12, the first case of the dreaded yellow fever was reported. It was not until Nov. 6, that the weather cooled off and the last case was reported. During that time, 70 cases had been reported and 28 people had died. It was believed that the fever slipped in from Pensacola, but it was never actually determined.

Local doctors did their best with their patients but before the fever died down, some of them were also struck down.

Many of those who died were buried at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery. There were some families that lost more than one member.

The pain and suffering experienced by the people of Brewton may very well manifest itself in those poor souls who were given quick burials so everyone could turn their attention to those still alive. Many heroes stood out for their service to their home town, but there may be those spirits at Pilgrim’s Rest who still mourn the loss of 28 people.