Headless Horseman of Lakey’s Creek - McLeansboro, Illinois

A legend has grown around a small crossing of Lakey's Creek near what is now the town of McLeansboro, located in the southern part of Illinois.  A legend that is based on a settler who was known as Lakey. 

The Headless Horseman of Lakey's Creek haunts a bridge near McLeansboro, Illinois

As the story goes, Lakey came westward and chose a spot along a creek that was next to a place where it was shallow enough for the wagons to ford. He was very friendly and would chat with any passerby who was willing to stop. It seems he was in the process of building his cabin in this spot when one morning he was found dead.  His body was propped against a tree and his head had been lobbed off with the axe Lakey was using to fell trees for his home. They buried the body, head with it, right there on the spot near the half finished cabin.

It was soon after this that travelers crossing the ford would hear heavy horse hoofs clapping behind them only to turn and see nothing.  There have been numerous accounts however, where witnesses claim they turned to see a man on a very large black horse pursuing them.  What was odd... was that the man had no head.  He would always appear on the same side of the creek, downstream from the rider, emerging from the forest where Lakey met his end.  The headless rider would never completely cross the creek.  It would turn and head back downstream.

These sightings have continued on over the centuries, always with a similar pattern and has become folklore of the area.  The old ford on what is now called Lakey's Creek, has long since been abandoned and a bridge spans the creek today.  The headless horseman of Lakey's Creek has been spotted on the bridge on numerous occasions.  Many travelers pass over this bridge in the area on their way to and from the many great outdoor spots in the area, not knowing the legend behind it.

Bachelor's Grove in Midlothian, Illinios (Chicago Suburbs) - The Phantom House

Created in 1844, is a cemetery in Midlothian, Illinois which is in the suburbs of Chicago. It was founded by Clarence Fulton, a local farmer who is now one of it's inhabitants.  The cemetery has long been abandoned the last burial being in 1965. Over the years the grounds have succumbed to litter, destructive vandalism, and is rumored to be an occasional site of satanic rituals. There is a stagnant pond next to the cemetery that supposedly was the dumping ground of bodies by Al Capone and other mafia members. This cemetery and surrounding grounds are reported to be the most haunted cemetery in America.

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery

Bachelor's Grove Pond believed to be the dumping ground of corpses by Al Capone

There have been many reports of plasma orbs showing in photographs of the cemetery.  Stories of a strange unexplained blue glow cast over the tombstones and surrounding area at night add to it's creepiness.  Witnesses say they have seen "The White Lady" wandering around the cemetery at night or sitting on a bench.  She is also known as "Madonna of Bachelor's Grove" as she is sometimes seen carrying an infant in her arms.  It is believed this is a woman who was put to death after it was discovered that she lured young men to this cemetery, then killed and beheaded them.

Photo believed to be the "Madonna of Bachelor Grove"

Then there is the tale of one of the cemetery caretakers.  He apparently killed his family, then hanged himself there on the grounds.  He can be seen roaming the grounds as well, brandishing a shovel over his shoulder.

The most amazing haunted legacy of Bachelor's Grove of them all is that it is host to a phantom house.  It is said that sometimes through the eerie blue fog a farm house can be seen and sometimes it cannot.  It's location seems to be random as sometimes it appears on one side of the road leading into Bachelor's Grove and at different times it is seen on the other side of the road!  Perhaps this is the home of the phantom caretaker or even Clarence Fulton who's tombstone is one of the few that are left remaining in the graveyard. 

Grave site of Clarence Fulton

St. James Cemetery and Church "Monk Castle" - Chicago Suburbs - Lemont, Illinois

Suburban Chicago plays host to many haunts.  One of the most haunted being the St. James Cemetery and Church located in Lemont, Illinois.  This church was built in 1833 and is the oldest Catholic church in the Chicago area.  The church acquired the nickname "Monk's Castle".

St. James Cemetery and Church

It is believed that a group of monks lived at St. James once. If they caught anyone trespassing there at night, they would make them kneel in payer to repent their sins all night until morning.  Over the years there have been many sightings of robed monks roaming the cemetery and grounds late into the evening.  Sounds of chants in Latin the same as monks practice have been heard coming from the grounds at night even though nobody is around.  All of this seemed to be rumor until 1977 when a police officer patrolling the area spotted a bunch of hooded figures walking the grounds.  He reported that they moved almost as if floating. After stopping and demanding that they come out, they continued walking up over the cemetery hill.  After retrieving his shotgun, the officer pursued.  However, once he crested the hill, there was no one to be found in the wide open grave yard.

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