There are a couple of different accounts as to why Bill Sketoe was hanged. Some claim that he deserted his post to care for a sick wife, other’s that he was assisting in local guerilla operations against the army, in any event, he ran afoul of the local confederate Home Guard. He was hanged, with a rope too short for his size and the soldiers quickly attempted to dig a hole beneath his feet as he dangled slowly strangling. His death caused quite a stir in the population and the hole became much remarked upon especially as it remained for years exactly as it had been dug, never filling in. Legend has it that that any attempts to fill the hole were futile as the hole would empty itself over night. The hole was just finally filled in the 90’s after flooding caused the entire area to be covered in tons of rock.
Address:
Hwy 134
Newton, AL
