Haunted Tours: Most Haunted in Illinois

 

Haunted Decatur Station - Photo By Archedamian

Illinois is a bustling state in the Midwest. The city of Chicago has dozens of haunted spots all by itself, but some of the more interesting stories are those outside the big city.

The Decatur Station in Decatur is one such haunted place. Supposedly a woman sat at the station waiting for her husband to come how from WW I. When she learned that he died, she committed suicide but returns to the depot where she patiently waited for his return. There are numerous stories over the years of people seeing the woman wearing a long white dress, but she always disappears.

Decatur also has a strange ghost light that's sometimes seen along the tracks. The light has been spotted by dozens of people over the years and they all say it follows the tracks exactly and then quickly disappears. Supposedly a train worker was decapitated while standing on the tracks late one night and in the ensuing mess, his head was lost. That's the story surrounding the strange light, but those of us in the Midwest know this is a common story in railroad towns.

You can also find a few ghosts relating to the days when the speakeasies rules Decatur. In some areas of the city, speakeasies and illegal gambling parlors operated behind closed doors, usually right under the noses of those around. You'll find one of these ghosts above Bell's Jewelry Store on East Prairie Street. Employees have heard strange noises like someone dropping things, footsteps, and the sounds of music all coming from the closed-off upstairs area.

Also in Illinois is the haunted Greenwood Cemetery. Years ago this cemetery was used by the Native Americans as a burial ground and later early settlers began burying their own there. By the end of the 1830s, the Greenwood Cemetery was also being used by the city of Decatur. Supposedly there are even slaves buried there in unmarked graves, those fateful people who tried to escape slavery on the Underground Railroad, but never made it. By the end of the 1930s, the cemetery was all but abandoned and that's when stories of ghosts began making the rounds. Today though volunteers are helping to get the cemetery back in working order.

One ghost story told about the Greenwood Cemetery is something known as the Greenwood Bride. According to legend, a young couple made secret plans to elope, but the man never arrived. He was killed while trying to deliver illegal alcohol and the grief-stricken woman drowned herself the next day, only to be buried in her wedding gown. People now claim to see the woman walking through the rows as if looking for her lover.

There are also stories of people literally stumbling upon a funeral in progress complete with mourners and a coffin. When they return a few minutes later, all traces of the funeral are gone as if it never existed in the first place. Greenwood also has its own ghost light. At one point in time, parts of the cemetery were washed away in a floor and many bodies turned up in other places. They were reburied, but no one is quite sure if people were buried under the right name since the bodies couldn't be identified. Not long after, the lights turned up and many people believe it's the spirits of those who were moved.

There are also ghost stories surrounding the Barrackman family plot in the cemetery. Some claim to see a woman crying near the plot, exactly at sunset. As soon as the sun sets, the mysterious woman disappears completely. There is also a haunted spot near where several Civil War soldiers are buried. Supposedly some of the men buried there were still alive, but so sick that they couldn't speak or tell anyone. There are stories of people hearing someone crying or screaming near the spot as well as footsteps.Some claimm they were physically assaulted by one of the spirits.

Salem, Illinois is another haunted hotspot or at least the McMackin House Restaurant in town is haunted. The house was built in the 1910s by Charles McMackin and the man lived there for many years with his wife and children. His grandson would die in the house just a few years later when he contracted a deadly strain of the flu. Charles' daughter-in-law followed her son months later when she accidentally caught fire in the house. His daughter Helen stayed in the house even after her parents died until she too died in 1965.

The ghosts of the McMackin House are rather pleasant ones that don't really seem to bother anyone. They play with the family portraits on the wall and move things around. There are also reports of people hearing someone come in the bathroom, only to realize that no one is there. Sometimes this phantom spirit even uses the restroom and washes their hands.

Clements Cemetery in Illinois is haunted by a ghost known as the Blue Man. The Blue Man is believed to be a man who was found dead in the cemetery in 1841, though no one knows if it was suicide, accidental, or murder. Now he appears on full moon nights and those who have seen him claim he glows bright blue.

When in the Williamsburg Hill area, visit the Ridge Cemetery. The old town is now pretty much a forgotten addition to Illinois history, but some claim that the ghosts remained even after the people left. There are lots of stories surrounding this little cemetery including Satanic cults, strange lights, and dark, shadowy figures prowling after dark.

At the Springfield Theatre Center, you'll find a ghost lovingly referred to as Joe. The theater opened in 1951 and Joe was one of the first actors to take the stage. One night after a rehearsal, Joe killed himself and some think he stuck around because he missed his last chance to act. The doors move on their own, things disappear and some have even seen Joe for themselves.

In Clarendon Hills, Illinois you'll find the haunted Country House Restaurant. Supposedly during the 1950s, a teenage girl died in a car accident that occurred right in front of the building. Employees and patrons have both spotted her over the years. Beverly meanwhile, has the haunted Unitarian Church. This former residence was bought by the church in the 1940s and is haunted by a former college student who died there years ago.

You also have the haunted Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois. Julia Petta was fairly young when she was buried here and not long after her death, the girl's mother started having dreams. She forced workers to open up the grave because she didn't believe her daughter was dead. The workers found that she hadn't decomposed at all. Today people report seeing a woman matching Petta's description wandering around the cemetery.

Lemont is home to the haunted St. James-Sag Catholic Church and cemetery. There are stories of ghostly figures in monk robes chanting inside the cemetery as well as mysterious white lights. Right down the road is the Archer Woods Cemetery where people also see ghosts. Visitors have heard someone crying and sometimes see the woman, always wearing a white dress.

Also haunted is the Rosehill Cemetery. This Chicago area cemetery dates back to the 1850s and has several ghosts. The Hopkinson Mausoleum is haunted by the man who designed the site. He wanted an elaborate crypt, but his family was taken to court over the design and forced to change it. Now the disturbing sounds of someone moaning and crying can be heard inside. The Rosehill Cemetery Mausoleum is haunted by two men buried there that are sometimes seen walking around the other graves.

One story making the rounds in Prairie Du Rocher surrounds a ghostly funeral that happens every July 4, or at least when July 4 happens to occur on a Friday. At one point in history, the area was used as a fort and those living there were attacked by a local group of Indians one night. Several of the men were captured and later killed. Another man exchanged words with an officer and was killed in the confrontation. The commanders decided to host the man's funeral late at night, to keep what his officer did a secret. Many believe this procession is what several people have witnessed over the years.

Jacksonville, Illinois has the distinct honor of having the haunted Illinois College. The Presbyterian school opened in 1830 and quickly grew popular with students for their lecturers and guest speakers. Like other colleges in the Midwest, Illinois College houses a few ghosts along with its students.

Beecher Hall on campus dates back to 1829 and people sometimes hear someone walking around upstairs, even when no one is there. Some say that medical students once hid cadavers in the building and the ghosts of those people still walk. Others say the ghost is Williams Jenning Bryan who once belonged to the fraternity there or even Abraham Lincoln who sometimes spoke.

Also haunted at Illinois College is the David A. Smith house. This 1854 house is haunted by a ghost many believe is Effie Smith, daughter of the first owner. Legend says that she fell for a man her father didn't approve of and the man was chased by her father. He hid in the house and died there, which caused Effie to kill herself in grief. Other versions of the story claim she killed herself after her lover died in the Civil War or because he left her at the altar.

Illinois College also has the haunted 1882 building Whipple Hall. A man in gray is sometimes seen on the staircase. There's also Ellis Hall where a girl kid herself and people experience electrical appliances with a mind of their own and doors that close and open. Others say the girl died of a long disease while living there. You can also see the Fayerweather House. Supposedly the house was built on an old burial ground, which explains some of the strange activity.

In addition, the school has Sturtevant Hall where people see a man in an old-fashioned military uniform, and Crampton Hall. Legend claims that a student mysteriously died there and now haunts his old room. The McGaw Building is haunted by the ghost of a student from the 1940s while Rammelkamp Chapel is haunted by a ghost that likes to play with the doors.

In the Arcola area, you can find the Chesterville Witch Grave. The woman buried there was labeled a witch because of her beliefs and outspoken nature; it didn't help when she began questioning the church. No one knows exactly what happened, but one day her dead body was found and the locals had a tree placed on her grave in the belief that it trapped her there. People have reported seeing the woman walking around the cemetery and some say that if the tree ever dies, she'll escape to wreak her havoc.

When in the Carlinville area you should look for the Loomis House. There are reports that a man who died there still haunts the old building and people can feel him watching them. Others claim to see a shadowy figure or experience cold chills inside.

The Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Worth is haunted by a teenage girl believed to be a healer in the community. People started seeing Mary Alice in the late 1930s, not long after her death and the sightings still exist today. There are rumors that even in death she can still heal the sick. Maybe this will give you something to think about the next time you find yourself in Illinois.