A Tour Of This Haunted Jail In North Carolina Is Not For The Faint Of Heart

I met her on the mountain, there I took her life
Met her on the mountain, stabbed her with my knife

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (ah-uh-eye)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you’re bound to die

You might have heard the ballad of Tom Dooley, a folk song based on the 1866 murder of Laura Foster, which took place in Wilkes County. The accused, Tom Dula, was said to have been entangled in a love triangle with Laura and her cousin, Anne Melton. Anne, who was married, was in love with Tom, but Tom fell in love with Laura. Legend says on that fateful night, Laura had recently told Tom she was pregnant, and the two were to meet in the woods, run away together and elope. Instead of a happy ending, Laura was murdered and Tom was tried for the crime. He spent much of his time sitting in the Old Wilkes Jail, pondering his future and awaiting judgement. Eventually, he was hung in Statesville.

Many suspected that Anne actually murdered Laura out of jealousy. Some stories claim that on her death bed, she confessed to the crime while hallucinating black cats climbing up the wall. Today, the Dula legend and spirit is one of many factors that makes the Old Wilkes County Jail so intriguing and terrifying.

Flickr / Jimmy Emerson DVM

Built in 1859, the Old Wilkes Jail held Union prisoners and confederate supplies for the Civil War.

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Flickr / Jimmy Emerson DVM

Aside from Tom Dula, the jail housed many interesting characters, including Otto Wood. He was jailed at 15 for stealing a bike, and throughout his life as a criminal, managed to escape from ten jails. Old Wilkes Jail was the only jail he was never able to escape from.

The jail was in operation until 1915. It was scheduled for demolition in 1968, when the nonprofit Old Wilkes, INC. purchased the property. Today, it is considered to be one of the most authentically preserved 19th century buildings in the state.

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Wikimedia Commons / G Keith Hall

The Old Wilkes Jail is part of the Wilkes Heritage Museum tour. Tours are offered - even candlelight ghost tours. The interior still retains much of the original detail, with iron and wood bars, and a front door which contains nails one inch apart so prisoners wouldn't be able to saw their way out.

Between EVP recordings, rattling chains, voices and grumbles heard, and items mysteriously moving from their original location, the jail is a hotbed for paranormal activity. On a dark, chilly, autumn night, stepping inside is not for the faint of heart.

The Old Wilkes Jail seems like a terrifying place to be alone in at night. The candlelight ghost tour allows you to step inside Tom Dula’s cell and also see more historic places in the town as well. For more information on the tour, click here. Get ready to be terrified!

Have you visited here before or have your own story to share?

If you’re looking for more haunting North Carolina history, most people stay far away from this ghost town.