The story
The Drish House in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was built in 1837 for Dr. John Drish and his wife Sarah, and preservationists describe it as one of the state's most distinctive blends of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture; its construction relied on the skilled labour of enslaved craftsmen, a truth that is an essential part of its history and should always be acknowledged. Over the years the building served as a school, a warehouse and a church before falling into peril and being rescued and restored as an event venue, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Its haunted reputation centres on the famous 'death lights in the tower' — a fire-like glow reported in the tower with no fire found — a story spread by Kathryn Tucker Windham's classic folklore collection 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey and linked in legend to Sarah Drish's unfulfilled funeral wishes. Visitors and investigators have also described footsteps, figures and a sense of presence. These accounts should be presented as folklore, and the history of enslaved labour handled with respect and never romanticised. Current tour and event details should be confirmed from the official site before publishing.