Halloween Poll: Vote For Patch's Scariest Illinois Urban Legend

ILLINOIS — Coronavirus has put a stop to many celebrations this year, from parties and graduations to weddings and even holidays. But nothing can stop the lure of spooky season, and Halloween can be celebrated safely even amid the pandemic.

And just in time for Halloween, Patch has rounded up some of the scariest tales and most haunting legends in Illinois history. From local lore to unsolved mysteries to ghost sightings, there's something for everyone.

Read through our roundup of spooky sightings and urban legends, and then vote in Patch's poll to tell us: Which story is the scariest of them all?

Humphrey House: Only one family has ever lived in the Orland Park home, and at least one psychic medium believes they never left. "Spirit Feeler" Edward Shanahan believes the ghosts of the late state Sen. John Humphrey and his family — including his first and second wives and their children — still inhabit the mansion.

Ghosts of Geneva: Local historians will tell you the city is home to one of the most haunted blocks in the county, from prankster ghosts to a restaurant "crawling with ghosts" that touch people’s shoulders and mess with the lights, plus a girl in a red dress.

The Ghost of Sheridan Road: Marion Lambert, just 18 years old, was found frozen in the woods — dead from cyanide poisoning — in 1916, and some locals believe she still haunts the forest. More than a century later, it remains a mystery whether her death was a suicide or if she was slain by her lover.

"Devil's Gate:" Legend has it someone — either a camp counselor at a summer camp, a principal at a girl's finishing school or a ward attendant at an asylum, depending on who's telling the story — killed four people behind the mysterious stone gate in Libertyville. Tales of the gruesome murders — which may or may not have happened — persist to this day, along with the ghosts the killings allegedly left behind.

H.H. Holmes House: Thanks to best-seller "The Devil In The White City," many people now know the story of America's first serial killer and his "Murder Castle" built during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. But the notorious mass murderer also had a suburban home — which, according to legend, was built with lumber stolen by the famous killer. After Holmes' gruesome crimes came to light, reporters converged on the suburban home trying to interview his former wife. The mystery remains whether Holmes was responsible for unsolved crimes in the suburbs, including the brutal murder of a neighbor.

Spectral Car: One of the oldest cemeteries in the Chicago area, the famously haunted Barrington White Cemetery is known for its reports of ghost lights, shadowy figures that vanish into thin air, a ghost woman who wanders the road and translucent cars driven by invisible drivers.

Bat-Winged Creature: Several years after a rash of reported sightings of a "flying humanoid" in Chicago and the suburbs, the latest report comes from a witness who reported seeing the creature — 4 feet tall and bat-like — flying through the area.

Bachelor's Grove: Famous as one of the most haunted places in Illinois — and possibly the U.S. — the cemetery has been the site of rumored paranormal activity for more than a half-century. Stories of vandalism, grave robbery, Satanic rituals and more abound at Bachelor's Grove, along with reported sightings of its famous ghosts, including the "White Lady" or "Madonna of Bachelor's Grove," often seen carrying a baby. Other stories include the "Phantom Dog."

Ghosts of Graceland Cemetery: The famed Uptown graveyard continues to fascinate residents with ghostly stories that have become legendary since it opened in 1860. From legends surrounding the mysterious statue at the burial site of Dexter Graves to the tomb of Ludwig Wolff, whose dog is rumored to be seen pacing in front of the grave on nights with a full moon, spooky tales are plentiful. Another famous Graceland ghost is "the girl in glass," or 7-year-old Inez Clarke, who is rumored to be seen by children in the cemetery (but not during rainstorms, as little Inez is believed to be afraid of lightning).

Lemont Limestone: In this urban legend, it's not a place that's rumored to be haunted but a building material. Paranormal enthusiasts believe limestone acts as a "conductor" of sorts for spirit activity, and many places built with Joliet-Lemont limestone — from the Chicago Water Tower to the gate to the Stockyards, Holy Name Cathedral, part of the Auditorium building in Chicago, Old Main at Northwestern University and part of the Capitol building at Springfield — are sites of rumored hauntings.

The Demon Butcher of Palos Park: The legend of Hermann Butcher, a late 19th-Century resident of Palos Park, whose last name was derived from his family's long-held occupation, still haunts a suburban ice cream shop where his butcher shop once stood, according to local lore. As the story goes, the irritable Butcher capitalized on the accidental death of his apprentice — chopping him up and selling the meat — before turning to murder to satisfy his hungry customers.

Ghosts of the Rialto: Built as a vaudeville palace in 1926, the "Jewel of Joliet" is known for its beauty ... and its reported hauntings. The venue has drawn paranormal investigators and even the TV-famous "Ghost Hunters," and staff believe they know the identities of the ghosts that call the theater home.

Dole Mansion: Some have said they've seen the ghost Eliza "Lou" Ringling, the widow of circus owner Al Ringling, at the Crystal Lake landmark, which was built in the 1860s. One employee tells the tale of seeing a shadow figure at the mansion, guests have seen a girl in old-fashioned clothing on the staircase, and some have reported unexplained temperature changes in the building.

Resurrection Mary: One of Chicago's favorite ghost stories, the tale of poor Mary — apparently doomed to walk the earth in search of a dance partner — has captured the imagination of those who've heard it for decades. Mary, whose identity varies depending on who you ask, is famed for dancing the night away at the Oh Henry Ballroom — later known as the Willowbrook Ballroom — then asking for a ride home, only to vanish at the gates of Resurrection Cemetery. She's also famous for being seen walking along Archer Avenue, scaring unsuspecting drivers who are afraid they've hit the vanishing ghost. But since a fire that burned down the Willowbrook Ballroom days before Halloween 2016, the question remains: Where does Mary dance these days?

Now, for the moment of truth: Vote in Patch's poll. (Note: The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but is meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way.) Cast your vote by Thursday, Oct. 29.

From historic ghosts to unexplained phenomena, read through Patch's scary tales to get you through Halloween: Illinois Halloween 2020: Urban Legends

This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch