12/30/2025
Has anyone investigated Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, a Haunted Industrial Relic?
Sloss's hauntings are deeply tied to its victims. The most infamous spirit is James "Slag" Wormwood, whose vengeful ghost reportedly patrols the grounds, shoving visitors near iron baths and barking commands like "get back to work" or "push some steel."Some doubt his existence as a historical figure, but legends persist of his apparition in worker attire. Another is Theophilus Calvin Jowers, a devoted assistant foundryman who slipped into molten iron in the late 1880s while starting a new furnace, leaving only his heart behind. His ghost, proud of his craft, is seen wandering catwalks, performing duties, and even speaking to workers as furnaces closed county-wide—true to his vow to labor "as long as there's a furnace in Jefferson County.
A chilling tale involves Samuel Blumenthal, the night watchman on Sloss's final shift in 1971. Alone, he encountered a "half-man, half-demon" entity that tried to push him up Big Alice's stairs; after fighting it off, he was found with severe burns despite the cold ovens and died soon after. General apparitions include shadowy figures, glowing entities, and spirits in blue overalls, often linked to unnamed workers who met violent ends. These stories have inspired urban legends, with some claiming Wormwood was overtaken by methane gas or deliberately thrown in.
