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'''Richard Jowers''' (called '''Theophilus Calvin Jowers''' in [[Kathryn Tucker Windham]]'s book) was a former foundryman at the [[Alice Furnace]].  
'''Theophilus Calvin Jowers''' (born [[1847]] in Randolph County; died [[September 10]], [[1887]] in [[Birmingham]]) is a former foundryman at [[Alice Furnace]], and is identified with tales of ghostly reappearances, most famously as the '''Ghost in Sloss Furnaces'''.


According to Windham's account, Jowers came to [[Oxmoor Furnace]] in [[1873]] and promised his wife, Sarah, that "As long as there's a furnace standing in this county, I'll be there." He became an assistant foundryman at the Alice Furnace in the Spring of [[1887]].
Jowers, was the youngest son of Benjamin Franklin Jowers and his second wife, Elizabeth. He married the former Sarah Louise Latham at [[Irondale]] on [[August 11]], [[1870]]. He began working at the [[Oxmoor Furnace]] in [[1873]], during a time when the future of the [[Birmingham District]]'s industrial development was at a nadir. According to [[Kathryn Tucker Windham]]'s account, Jowers promised his wife, Sarah, that "as long as there's a furnace standing in this county, I'll be there." He was true to his word and gained employment at Alice Furnace after it went into blast in [[1880]].


On [[September 10]], [[1887]], while working around the edge of the furnace to loosen a bell, he lost his balance and fell with it into the molten iron. The ''[[Birmingham Age]]'' report the following day described how "a piece of sheet iron was attached to a length of gas pipe, and with that instrument his head, bowels, two hip bones and a few ashes were fished out."
In [[1884]] Jowers and his wife, Sarah, made their home on the south side of [[1st Avenue North]] near [[11th Street North|11th Street]]. They had five children, Mary Ella, William James Benjamin, William Anthony, Jorge and John. William James Benjamin (called "Bennie") and Jorge both died in childhood.


Soon after the tragedy, other workers began reporting that he was seen making the rounds and checking on his former crew. After the first Alice Furnace was torn down in [[1905]], his ghost was reported to be seen at a second furnace until it, too, was shut down in [[1927]].  Jowers' spirit is said to have then relocated to [[Sloss Furnaces]] across town. According to Windham's story,  Jowers son, [[John Jowers|John]] claimed to have seen a ghostly figure striding through the hot furnace at Sloss from the [[1st Avenue North Viaduct]] in [[1927]].
By the Spring of [[1887]], Jowers had been promoted to assistant foundryman at Alice Furnace. On [[September 10]], [[1887]], while working around the edge of the furnace to loosen a bell, Jowers lost his balance and fell with it into the molten iron. The ''[[Birmingham Age]]'' report the following day described how "a piece of sheet iron was attached to a length of gas pipe, and with that instrument his head, bowels, two hip bones and a few ashes were fished out."
 
According to later stories, soon after the tragedy, workers began reporting that Jowers was seen making the rounds and checking on his former crew. Others saw an unrecognizable male figure moving in areas much too hot for anyone to survive or felt sudden cold. After the first Alice Furnace was torn down in [[1905]], his ghost was reported to be seen at a second furnace until it, too, was shut down in [[1927]].  Jowers' spirit is said to have then relocated to [[Sloss Furnaces]] across town. According to Windham's story,  Jowers son, [[John Jowers|John]] claimed to have seen a ghostly figure striding through the hot furnace at Sloss from the [[1st Avenue North Viaduct]] in [[1927]].
 
{{Sloss Furnaces}}


==References==
==References==
* {{CD-1884}}
* "A Horrible Death, A Workman Falls into Alice Furnace" (September 11, 1887) ''The Birmingham Daily Age'', qtd. in Karen R. Utz and Sloss Furnaces Foundation (2009) ''Sloss Furnaces''. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738566238
* "A Horrible Death, A Workman Falls into Alice Furnace" (September 11, 1887) ''The Birmingham Daily Age'', qtd. in Karen R. Utz and Sloss Furnaces Foundation (2009) ''Sloss Furnaces''. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738566238
* Windham, Kathryn Tucker (1987) ''The Ghost in the Sloss Furnaces''. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society. ISBN 0317651005
* Windham, Kathryn Tucker (1987) ''The Ghost in the Sloss Furnaces''. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society. ISBN 0317651005
* {{Lewis-1994}}
* {{Lewis-1994}}
* "Sloss ghost hunters have chance to see two for the price of one." (October 30, 2006). ''Birmingham News''
* "Sloss ghost hunters have chance to see two for the price of one." (October 30, 2006). {{BN}}
* Diel, Stan (October 21, 2007) "Spirit hunters haunt Sloss."  ''Birmingham News''
* Diel, Stan (October 21, 2007) "Spirit hunters haunt Sloss."  {{BN}}
* Jowers, Willis (2009) "[http://www.willisjowers.com/Jowers/dat25.html#9 Jowers in the South 2010]" genealogy site


==External links==
==External links==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jowers, Richard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jowers, Richard}}
[[Category:1847 births]]
[[Category:1887 deaths]]
[[Category:1887 deaths]]
[[Category:Iron workers]]
[[Category:Iron workers]]
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[[Category:Sloss Furnaces]]
[[Category:Sloss Furnaces]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Industrial accident deaths]]

Latest revision as of 13:52, 21 October 2023

Theophilus Calvin Jowers (born 1847 in Randolph County; died September 10, 1887 in Birmingham) is a former foundryman at Alice Furnace, and is identified with tales of ghostly reappearances, most famously as the Ghost in Sloss Furnaces.

Jowers, was the youngest son of Benjamin Franklin Jowers and his second wife, Elizabeth. He married the former Sarah Louise Latham at Irondale on August 11, 1870. He began working at the Oxmoor Furnace in 1873, during a time when the future of the Birmingham District's industrial development was at a nadir. According to Kathryn Tucker Windham's account, Jowers promised his wife, Sarah, that "as long as there's a furnace standing in this county, I'll be there." He was true to his word and gained employment at Alice Furnace after it went into blast in 1880.

In 1884 Jowers and his wife, Sarah, made their home on the south side of 1st Avenue North near 11th Street. They had five children, Mary Ella, William James Benjamin, William Anthony, Jorge and John. William James Benjamin (called "Bennie") and Jorge both died in childhood.

By the Spring of 1887, Jowers had been promoted to assistant foundryman at Alice Furnace. On September 10, 1887, while working around the edge of the furnace to loosen a bell, Jowers lost his balance and fell with it into the molten iron. The Birmingham Age report the following day described how "a piece of sheet iron was attached to a length of gas pipe, and with that instrument his head, bowels, two hip bones and a few ashes were fished out."

According to later stories, soon after the tragedy, workers began reporting that Jowers was seen making the rounds and checking on his former crew. Others saw an unrecognizable male figure moving in areas much too hot for anyone to survive or felt sudden cold. After the first Alice Furnace was torn down in 1905, his ghost was reported to be seen at a second furnace until it, too, was shut down in 1927. Jowers' spirit is said to have then relocated to Sloss Furnaces across town. According to Windham's story, Jowers son, John claimed to have seen a ghostly figure striding through the hot furnace at Sloss from the 1st Avenue North Viaduct in 1927.

Sloss Furnaces
Events Magic City Brewfest · Preserve Jazz Festival · Sloss Fright Furnace · Stokin' the Fire BBQ Festival
Exhibits Engine No. 4018 · Sloss Quarters
Owners Sloss Furnace Company · Sloss Iron & Steel Company · Sloss-Sheffield Steel & Iron Company · U.S. Pipe · Jim Walter Corporation
People Joseph Johnston · Theophilus Jowers (The Ghost in Sloss Furnaces) · Hugh Morrow · James Sloss
Programs Sloss Metal Arts · Sloss Performing Arts Program

References

External links

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