Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery – Evanston, IL
By Michael Kleen
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Compared to Chicagoland’s more notorious haunts, Evanston’s Calvary Cemetery is barely a footnote, yet it is not so obscure as to escape the pages of most books on Chicago and Illinois ghost lore. This picturesque resting ground along the shore of Lake Michigan is home to a tale too strange to resist even brief mention. It is the tale of “the Aviator,” or as he is sometimes affectionately known, “Seaweed Charlie.”
The Aviator’s ghost story appears in Ursula Bielski’s Chicago Haunts (1998), Jo-Anne Christensen’s Ghost Stories of Illinois (2000), Richard T. Crowe’s Chicago’s Street Guide to the Supernatural (2000, 2001), and Troy Taylor’s Haunted Illinois (2004). Richard T. Crowe, as always, has done impeccable research on the tale and found its likely origin in a real event. Unlike most hauntings, that would make the story of Evanston’s “Aviator” grounded in historical fact as well as geography and folklore.
The story begins along Sheridan Road between Lake Michigan and the eastern gate of Cavalry Cemetery. During the day, there is hardly ever a break in traffic and bicyclists and joggers navigate the winding path along the boulders overlooking the lake. It is a charming scene. Between the late 1950s and 1960s, however, some passersby were treated to the alarming sight of a man drowning far out of reach in the icy waters. Even more startling was what came next.
What happens next? Click here to download the entire issue (.pdf) and find out!
Legends and Lore of Illinois Vol. 2 – on Kindle!
Or, order all 12 issues of the Legends and Lore of Illinois from 2008 for only $5.00 in a special Kindle edition. Places covered in Vol. 2: Archer Cemetery, Sunset Haven, Peoria State Hospital (Bartonville Asylum), Airtight Bridge, University of Illinois, Calvary Cemetery and ‘Seaweed Charlie,’ Lakey’s Creek, Peck Cemetery, Blood’s Point Road, Old Union Cemetery, Hartford Castle, and more!
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Legends and Lore of Illinois: Case Files!
Or, order our book, Legends and Lore of Illinois: Case Files Vol. 1 to get two years of the Legends and Lore of Illinois (2007 & 2008) in one paperback volume (8.5 x 11, with 140 pages and 24 haunting photographs).
With this new collection, you may enjoy the past two years of the Legends and Lore of Illinois distilled to its very best, featuring updated content. This unique look at Illinois ghostlore is presented in a fun, entertaining way that sheds light on the dark recesses of our imagination.
But that’s not all. Delve into the secret history of your favorite paranormal adventurers with two rarely-seen stories from the early days of The Fallen. Plus get a special preview of their next adventure: Black Willow Grove. This is the Legends and Lore of Illinois as you have never seen it before!
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