Cemeteries

Click the links below to read a full page preview of each issue, or click on the link next to each name to download the full issue in .pdf format.

Archer Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Archer Woods and Cemetery is yet another infamous location along Chicago’s Archer Ave. It is home to a lady in white and a phantom hearse. Ursula Bielski has called it one of the best kept secrets of this infamously haunted region.

Aux Sable Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Aux Sable Cemetery outside of Mokena has been a thorn in the side of local authorities for years. The cemetery itself is tucked behind a highway and rumored to be the home of the ghost of a little girl. An old, stone shed is also thought to be a gateway to Hell.

Bachelor’s Grove (download the .pdf)
Chicago’s most infamous haunted cemetery, featuring a vanishing house, tales of grave robbery and occult practices, a white lady, and other phantoms. Join the Legends and Lore of Illinois as we explore what is perhaps the most famous haunted place in the world.

Bishop-Zion Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Nearly a half-century ago, the smoldering embers of a rural church gave birth to a legend—a legend that has since been passed down among the residents of Mason County. Anyone brave enough to knock on a particular tree is said to be treated to the sound of a preacher’s voice calling out from the grave.

Calvary Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Situated across the street from Lake Michigan, Calvary Cemetery is home to a ghost known to locals as “Seaweed Charlie.” Seaweed Charlie is said to be the ghost of a WW2 test pilot who drowned in Lake Michigan as the result of a training accident.

“Cemetery X” (download the .pdf)
Is Thomas-Anderson Cemetery Christian County’s infamous “Cemetery X”? Decide for yourself! “Cemetery X” or “Graveyard X” gained notoriety in the 1990s for being home to cold spots, spook lights, and a variety of other phenomenon. Recently, questions have been raised about the legitimacy of the tales coming from this central Illinois cemetery.

Chesterville Cemetery (download the .pdf)
This cemetery outside of a quaint little town may hide a centuries-old secret. It is said to contain the grave of a woman who turned up dead after being accused of witchcraft in the early 1900s. The town planted a tree over her grave to trap her spirit inside and prevent her from taking revenge.

Cumberland Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Cumberland Cemetery, located near the town of Wenona in Marshall County, is rumored to be the home of a headless lady, spook lights, and the ghost of a little girl. The cemetery itself is rich in history, and was the location of a fort built to protect settlers during the Black Hawk War.

Elmwood Cemetery (download the .pdf)
For many years, local residents have claimed to hear otherworldly music coming from the statue of a young girl. Does “Annie” continue to play her violin in this unassuming Southern Illinois cemetery long after her death? Find out!

Greenwood Cemetery (download the .pdf)
From the weeping lady on the Barrackman stairs, to a man with no eyes, to spook lights, this Decatur cemetery has its fair share of ghosts., and it is rumored to be one of the most haunted locations in central Illinois.

Harrison Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Located between the town of Christopher and the village of Buckner in rural Franklin County, Harrison Cemetery is home to two luminous phantoms, as well as haunting, ethereal tones. This is one of the oldest cemeteries in the region.

Moon Point Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Moon Point, sometimes known as Moon Creek, is said to be haunted by a “hatchet lady.” Some say her ghost is connected to an abandoned barn nearby. Also, according to local legend, your car will no longer run if you get trapped inside the cemetery by a passing train.

Mt. Pleasant Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Not much is known about this abandoned church in southern Illinois, but passersby have heard phantom music emanating from inside. Join the Legends and Lore of Illinois as we use this location to demonstrate the basic steps in researching abandoned locations.

Old Union Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Central Illinois contains many hidden and abandoned graveyards. In this issue, we bring you the complete story of one of these, which was formerly located next to a church and is said to have been the scene of illusive ghost lights.

Peck Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Peck Cemetery was a long-abandoned graveyard in central Illinois and was rumored to be home to occult practices until its recent rehabilitation. Sometime in the 1970s, a local cult used a “devil’s chair” for nefarious purposes, until it was destroyed by a local sheriff.

Ramsey Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Ramsey Cemetery has the distinction of being near to “haunted caves”. A werewolf is rumored to inhabit the caves, and visitors have reported seeing a man dressed in black with glowing red eyes. The cemetery itself is also said to be haunted.

Resurrection Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Resurrection Mary is Chicagoland’s most famous ghost. Celebrated in literature, movies, television, and song, she has been seen hitchhiking up and down Archer Avenue since the 1930s. Join the Legends and Lore of Illinois for a tribute to her legacy.

Ridge Cemetery (download the .pdf)
Ridge Cemetery sits at the end of a lonely road atop one of central Illinois highest points. It has attracted many stories over the years. The hill that Ridge Cemetery occupies once also sheltered a town called Williamsburg, one of the many that sprung up and disappeared during the nineteenth century in central Illinois.

St. James-Sag (download the .pdf)
Some say that St. James-Sag is the focal point for all the supernatural activity along Archer Ave. Considering the road’s reputation, those are tall shoes to fill!