Hi folks!
First - any of you who know me know that I take a skeptical approach towards the paranormal.
HOWEVER, I am posting some very REAL locations that IF visited in the spirit of the season could use some real life TLC - as could ANY public location. True, some places are lucky enough to have caretakers, and people who care for the surroundings, but often, its the visitors that DONT care that give us all a bad name. Of course, if you visit ANY location during Halloween and see any vandalism existing, or occuring - contact the local authorities.
In Geocaching - its often frowned upon by those who dont understand the game until they learn about Cache In Trash Out. That kind of action - cleaning up - gives caching a good name. So.. if you visit ANY locations in the Halloween spirit, for fun, for photography, to see some sights, PLEASE PLEASE - take along a bag - clean up. Give no one reason to complain! Be polite visitors - respectful, quiet, and remember whenever you visit cemeteries whether to take pictures, or to see whatever you may see - please please remember that people have family members there.
Since fall is coming (gulp) and Halloween will be here soon - I thought I would jump in to start a list of suggestions for places to visit. I'm going to list some I know of, and welcome anyone to jump in with recommendations. ALL of these locations are gleaned from my high school years - I visited all of the local ones back in the day!
AGAIN, my twist is - I'd recommend when you go to check out some of these locations you bring along a trash bag, and just pick up anything you might see. If you are going to visit, make a difference, and clean up while you are seeing the sights. Be a good representative and care for the place you are going.
Some of these are lovely during the day and most are lovely locations for fall photography, scenic views, etc, some can only be visited by day, but some you can see at night. Of course, there is my standard 'Im not responsible if you get yourself in trouble with after hours visits' disclaimer, and I always recommend visiting in the listed hours.
I just thought this could be a fun alternative to paid 'Ghost Tours' and profit schemes. Most locations can be googled for exact directions/coordinates, but I think pointing them out is a great start.
Cemeteries:
Mill Creek Cemetery -
Mill Creek IL - Millburn Rd.
Some older stones, some new. A pretty strange building stands here - boiler? Crematorium? Who knows, but you can step inside. If you dare! Bwa ha ha! (Ok.. a little over the top, but who can blame me?) Again, lots of wildlife and deer - leave only footprints!
Mound Cemetery - Racine WI -
Off of Hwy 20
A cemetery with several visible old Native American Burial Mounds - you've all seen Poltergeist. Need I say more?
Just dont build anything on them, and you're safe. Lovely place - great stones - beautiful location in fall. Some wonderful stones with amazing history - this is a beautiful location and a lovely place to explore.
Paupers Cemetery - Pleasant Prairie WI
On HWY H after 165 - Before County C.
A TINY cemetery filled with the graves of unknowns. Strange - and not many around like it. There used to be a sign that said 'Beware of ground settling' which makes me uneasy anyways. :/ A lot to be learned here - at least this location has stones, but it is very well maintained.
St Patricks Cemetery - Wadsworth IL -
Mill Creek Rd.
The 'notorious' cemetery for those high schoolers in IL. Supposed hauntings, devil worshippers, etc. Whats weird is the ground in this location is ENTIRELY off kilter, and the OLD stones lean in different directions. Very strange effect on your balance when you visit - and lots of wildlife. At night - its just freaky. Its interesting to see how many of the old families were related/married in, etc. TONS of stories about old Saint Pats. It used to not be maintained well - but now its back in lovely condition thanks to locals who cared enough to remove the spray paint, and keep an eye on vandalism. (Sound familiar?? Its great to see an entire location transformed because of people who care.)
Mount Rest Cemetery - Russell IL
On the 94/41 southbound side.
Sandwiched between I-94 and Hwy 41 - this is an oldie but a goodie. Up on a hill, old stones including a civil war soldier - its worth a visit. Also has a Geocache and Letterbox if you are into that - both owned by myself. This is an often missed, but very nice location. VERY active Geocache!! Bring a garbage bad here, unfortunately people tend to drop litter near the enterance. =(
The usual suspects - Graceland Cemetery and Resurrection Cemetery - Chicago IL- both close at dusk I believe - but have enough beautiful stones and memorials to make the visit worthwhile during the day! The photography in fall is lovely I bet.
Libertyville IL - The Gate
N River Rd
Wow.. what can you say about the gate. Rumors abound! Choose your own story.
Home for Orphans, torn down buildings, not much history remaining, you name it, its just asking for its own horror franchise!
Most have to do with heads of murdered victims being impaled on the gate that STILL stands at this location.
Believe it, or not. =) This site HAS its own Geocache, which is an excellent one that takes you down the adjacent nature trails, but has a nice Halloween theme. WELL worth doing - again - Cache In Trash Out!
Kemper Center - Kenosha WI
Third Ave - near the lake.
Beautiful old building with tales of scandal, murder, missing nuns, and Ghosts!
Check this one out - lovely during the day - gets pretty creepy during evening visits. It can be rented for events - and has a lovely scene on the side of one of the buildings.
Zion IL - several locations - GREAT history.
Shiloh Park - there is an area near the pool with a raised planter. This was where the original encampment of people who came to and founded Zion camped while homes were being built. Legend says, if you stand on the raised area near the Pool parking lot - your voice sounds several octaves higher for some reason. And yeah... it works. Weird, but true.
Several Geocaches nearby - including a night cache in the SAME park. VERY fun!
Shiloh House - Dowie was a nut - well.. according to alot of local history. Founder of Zion. Religious frootloop, almost cultlike. His house stands near the center of the business section, and is fully restored and BEAUTIFUL. Knowing this history, this place is strange! (Along with the dome for the 'Zion Hotel' which once was the largest wooden building in existence!)
There is also now a BIG Haunted House in Zion! The Dungeon Of Doom - not a 'real' location, but hey! Why not mention it for those seeking some Halloween fun that can be guaranteed to scare.
I guess the point is, with Halloween approaching - people will be looking for places to visit, INCLUDING Bachelors Grove Cemetery and its adjoining woods. I think that if people are told about some local places to check out, perhaps they will learn more about them - check out the history - Like I did about Bachelors Grove, which is how I got to this site.
Maybe if we spread the word in a factual way, and ask that they think about the location, the history, and think about how important it is to preserve it, report any bad activity, and clean up - these locations won't go uncared for, and will stay nice for generations to come.
