Ghosts Of Route 66

Route 66, also known as the Mother Road, is a historic highway that crosses eight states in the US, from Chicago to Los Angeles. Along its 2,448 miles, there are many attractions, landmarks and scenic views that attract millions of travelers every year. But there is also a darker side to Route 66, a side that is haunted by ghosts, mysteries and legends.

Some of these ghosts are the remnants of the past, the abandoned towns and buildings that once thrived on the road but were left behind when the interstate system bypassed them. These ghost towns are like frozen snapshots of a bygone era, where you can still see the signs of life that once filled them: old cars, gas pumps, motels, diners and shops. Some of these ghost towns are well-preserved and open to visitors, such as Oatman in Arizona, where you can feed the wild burros that roam the streets, or Calico in California, where you can explore the silver mines and watch gunfights and gold panning demonstrations. Others are more decayed and desolate, such as Glenrio in Texas, where only a few crumbling structures remain, or Hofflins in Missouri, where nature has reclaimed the land.

Some of these ghosts are more supernatural, the spirits of people who died or suffered on the road or near it. Some of these spirits are friendly and harmless, such as Angel Delgadillo, the 93-year-old barber who still cuts hair in Seligman, Arizona, and who is considered one of the guardians of Route 66. Others are more sinister and scary, such as La Llorona, the weeping woman who haunts the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and who is said to drown children who wander near the water. Some of these spirits are mysterious and unexplained, such as the Hornet Spook Light, a glowing orb that appears on a rural road near Quapaw, Oklahoma, and that has baffled scientists and locals for over a century.

If you are brave enough to explore the ghosts of Route 66, you will find a rich and diverse history that spans cultures, eras and genres. You will also find stories that will make you wonder, shiver and maybe even believe. Route 66 is more than just a road; it is a journey into the unknown.

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Suicide Bridge on Route 66 - Pasadena, California

The majestic 1913 Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, California not only wowed early travelers crossing the causeway, but soon took on a more sinister note when people began to leap from the 150 foot bridge to their death. Within a decade of its construction, locals had begun to call it the "Suicide Bridge,” and as you can imagine, legends began to abound that the bridge was haunted be those unfortunate souls.

The beautiful concrete bridge spans 1,467 feet across the Arroyo Seco, a deeply cut canyon linking the San Gabriel Mountains to the Los Angeles River, and containing the intermittent Arroyo Seco Stream for which it is named. The bridge is often incorrectly referred to as the "Arroyo Seco Bridge."

In Pasadena's early days, before the historic Colorado Street Bridge was built, crossing the Arroyo Seco was an extremely difficult task. Horses and wagons descended the steep eastern slope, crossed the stream over a smaller bridge, and then climbed up the west bank through Eagle Rock Pass.

The bridge was designed and built by the J.A.L. Waddell firm of Kansas City, Missouri and named for Colorado Street (now called Colorado Boulevard,) which was the major east-west thoroughfare through Pasadena. Known for its Beaux Arts arches, ornate lamp posts and railings, initial design proved difficult due to finding solid footing in the Arroyo bed. However, when engineer John Drake Mercereau conceived the idea of curving the bridge, he created a work of art.

The first tragedy on the bridge occurred before construction was even complete. Allegedly, when one of the bridge workers toppled over the side and plunged headfirst into a vat of wet concrete, his co-workers assumed he could not be saved in time and left his body in the quick-drying cement. His is only one of the many souls said to haunt the "Suicide Bridge.”

The first suicide occurred on November 16, 1919 and was followed by a number of others, especially during the Great Depression. Over the years, it is estimated that more than 100 people took their lives leaping the 150 feet into the arroyo below. One of the more notable suicides was when a despondent mother threw her baby girl over the railing on May 1, 1937. She then followed her into the depths of the canyon. Though the mother died, her child miraculously survived. Evidently, her mother had inadvertently tossed her into some nearby trees, and she was later recovered from the thick branches.

By the 1980’s the historic bridge had fallen into great disrepair as chunks of concrete began to fall from its ornate railings and arches. After the Loma Prieta earthquake near Oakland in 1989., the bridge was closed as a precautionary measure. Eventually federal, state and local funds provided some $27 million dollars in renovation costs and the bridge was reopened in 1993, complete with its original detail, plus a suicide prevention rail. Though the number of suicides throughout the years has decreased, the bridge continues to retain its nickname and its ghostly legends.

According to the tales, a number of spirits are said to wander the bridge itself as well as the arroyo below. Others have heard unexplained cries coming from the canyon. One report tells of spectral man that is often seen wandering the bridge who wears wire rimmed glasses. Other people have claimed to see a woman in a long flowing robe, who stands atop one of the parapets, before vanishing as she throws herself off the side.

In the arroyo below, phantom forms have been seen walking the river bed, a number of unexplainable sounds are often heard, and the atmosphere is often described as "thick.”

The Colorado Street Bridge was part of Route 66 until 1940 when the Arroyo Seco Parkway opened. Today, the bridge has received a Civil Engineering Landmark designation and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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The Haunted Georgian Hotel - Santa Monica, California

At the end of your Route 66 travels, be sure to check out The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, California. Built in 1933 and originally named The Lady Windemere, it was designed to be an intimate hideaway, catering to Los Angeles’ high society. At the time the hotel was developed, it was nestled in a heavily-wooded shoreline of the little-known seaside community of Santa Monica. The dream of Rosamond Borde, a daring and progressive entrepreneur, she commissioned Eugene Durfee to construct the posh resort in an art deco style opening its doors to the rich and famous in 1933.

During prohibition, the Georgian was home to one of Los Angeles’ first speakeasies and soon became the rendezvous point for many up-and-coming Hollywood studio executives and celebrities including Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who sought secluded weekends away from the cameras.

The oceanfront veranda provided a stage for martinis, jazz and notorious figures including Bugsy Siegel and Fatty Arbuckle. The hotel was considered to be one of the most modern facilities of the time, featuring a beauty parlor, barber shop, playground and dining room, in addition to its most popular speakeasy. The primary reasons for the hotel’s popularity and success was the exclusive, secluded location and the discriminating manner of Rosamond. Borde.

When prohibition finally ended and expansion dramatically occurred in the 1950's, Los Angeles began to develop into a major metropolitan city. It was during this decade that The Lady Windemere was sold, refurbished and renamed the Georgian

The property remained a favorite vacation residence for the new era of jet setting Americans and Europeans. In the Spring of 2000, a $2 million renovation was completed which included the addition of numerous elegant amenities to the Georgian’s guest rooms, lobby, hallways and meeting facilities.

Today the old hotel is surrounded by modern office buildings rather than pristine forests, but still continues to attract Hollywood celebrities such as Oliver Stone, Robert DeNiro and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And, according to legend, it continues to play host to a number of other unearthly guests, whether they be famous or infamous. In the hotel’s Speakeasy Restaurant, both staff and guests have reported a number of strange phenomena over the years. At many times when the restaurant is completely empty, employees have heard loud sighs, gasps and have been startled by a disembodied voice who greets them with, "Good Morning.” At other times the sounds of running footsteps are heard throughout the restaurant when no one is there and a number of transparent apparitions have been seen.

So, perhaps if you stop to have a libation at the Speakeasy you’ll bump into none other than Robert DeNiro if you’re lucky, and if you’re not, you might "bump” into an unearthly presence for which you cannot see.

At any rate, it should be a fun look around at this vintage hotel, officially recognized by the City of Santa Monica as a historical landmark.

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Ghosts of Calico - Calico, California

One of the most often sighted spirits is that of Lucy Bell King Lane, a woman who spent nearly seventy years of her life in Calico.

When Lucy was just ten years old, she moved with her parents, two brothers, and a sister to nearby Bismarck, which overlooked the town of Calico. To get to school, Lucy would have to slide down the steep slope in the morning and make the long tiring hike up the hill afterwards. When she was 18 years old, she married John Robert Lane and the two opened a general store that provided not only provisions to the mining population, but also cloth, nails, and hardware.

They prospered briefly but when the silver market began to decline, the couple left Calico in 1899. However, the couple returned in 1916, making their old store their home. Four years later, they moved into the old courthouse and post office building. Her husband John died in 1934, but Lucy would continue to live a long life, staying in the same house until she died in 1967 at the age of 93.

Today, their old home has become a museum, that exhibits the life the Lanes lived, as well as a collection of mining materials, photographs, and Native American displays from the times before Calico's silver deposits were discovered.

Though Lucy died four decades ago, she is evidently fond of her old home town as she is frequently still sighted there. Most often she has been seen walking between their old store and the home that she lived in until her death. When she is spied, she is described as wearing a long black dress, most likely the very lace one that she was buried in. Her favorite rocking chair has also been said to rock of its own accord and often pictures are taken off the wall at night, only to found the next morning in a neat pile on the floor. At Lane’s old store, clerks have often heard unexplainable noises and catch movement out of the corners of their eyes, which they also attribute to Lucy. The Lane house was the longest occupied original structure in Calico.

But, favorite resident Lucy Lane is not the only phantom that lurks in Calico. At that very same school house sitting atop the hill in Calico, a number of people have reported seeing a little girl about 11 or 12 years, most often old smiling through a window. Sometimes she even leans out and waves at passers by.

Others have allegedly seen phantom school teachers and another small child who has been known to grab people’s legs or pinch their ankles. Some visitors have also reported seeing a floating red light inside the school.

But the most incredible story is one of two British tourists who reported having a long visit with a staff person in period costume, who explained to them that she was the "last teacher’ in Calico. As they were ready to leave, they had pictures taken with the self-proclaimed teacher. The last school mistress in Calico was Margaret Olivier, who passed away in 1932 and is buried in the Calico Cemetery. When the couple returned home and got their pictures developed, they were amazed to see that the "staff member” didn’t appear in the photographs. Later, they found that there had been no staff member working at the school house during their visit.

Though the hills surrounding Calico once held dozens of mines, and the many pits and ruins continue to attest to this, Calico features the Maggie Mine, that once produced some $13 million in silver ore, and now its tunnels can be explored by visitors. In the 1,000 feet of tunnels that are open to the public, it should come as no surprise that many believe that spirits lurk within the mine’s depths.

A number of visitors have reported extreme cold spots throughout the mine and feelings of "one's hair standing up" in various places, but most particularly where two miners known as the Mulcahey Brothers made their home in the mine. Though portions of the mine are blocked off behind grates, macabre mannequins add to the spooky feeling in the mine.

Near the Maggie’s Mine is Hank’s Hotel, which once belonged to an angry old cowboy whose spirit allegedly once punched a man in the leg who was standing on his fence. But more commonly, people have reported something tugging on their wrists, hands and clothing along the boardwalk in front of the hotel. These antics; however, are not generally blamed on the angry cowboy, but rather on a 4-5 year old child who has been seen roaming the boardwalk and the surrounding area.

Also said to haunt Calico's boardwalks on Main Street is that of its last marshal, Tumbleweed Harris. A number of visitors have described seeing a big man with a white beard which fits the description of the man who kept the peace in Calico for seven years.

At the Calico Corral, a number of people have often heard the voices of crowds and celebration coming from the barn that once hosted regular Saturday night dances. At Lil’s Saloon, one of Calico's original buildings, sounds of an old-style piano and rowdy crowds have been heard when no one was in the building. Employees have also often reported hearing the jingle of spurs and other noises that can’t be explained. Another spectral lady in a long white dress has frequently been seen walking near the outskirts of the ghost town and at the building that once housed the town theater, which is now the R&D Fossils & Minerals Shop, a another female ghost named Esmeralda, has allegedly has taken up residence.

And finally, Calico had another famous resident – that of Dorsey, the "mail carrying dog.” Dorsey was found in 1883 by Postmaster Jim Stacy, when the hungry and footsore black and white shepherd was lying on his porch. Stacy quickly adopted him and Dorsey became his faithful friend. In addition to his postmaster duties, Stacy also had an interest in a mine in nearby Bismarck. On one occasion, when Stacy needed to get an urgent message to his partner at the mine, he tied a note to Dorsey’s neck and sent him up there. Before long, Dorsey returned with a reply. Dorsey was soon carrying messages back and forth to the mine frequently, when Stacy had the idea to make the dog a regular mail carrier. Soon, the dog was carrying all the mail from Calico to Bismarck, bearing his load in little pouches strapped to his back. For three years, Dorsey covered the mail route between the two camps and became so valuable that Stacy was offered $500 for the dog, to which Stacy replied: "I'd rather sell a grandson."

Dorsey's legend was revived in a 1972 album entitled "The Ballad of Calico” by Kenny Rogers. The song was called "Dorsey, the Mail Carrying Dog.” And, of course, in haunted Calico, he has been revived in another way – the "spectral dog." On several occasions, Dorsey has been seen as a shadow-like apparition at the cemetery and near the Print Shop that stands near the original location of the post office.

Unless you sit on Hank’s fence, it appears that none of the ghosts in Calico are malevolent, so don’t let them stop you from visiting this great old ghost town.

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Revived From A Desert Grave - Calico, California

Three miles north of Interstate-15, midway between Barstow and Yermo, California sits the historic and restored ghost town of Calico, California.

It all began in 1875 when roving prospectors first found silver on the south slope of the Calico Mountains. However, it wasn’t until some five years later that additional ore discoveries worth $400 to $500 per ton brought about a small rush and the filing of many claims.

In the spring of 1881 came the discovery of the Silver King, Calico’s richest mine and less than a year later, the new settlement supported several businesses on a commercial street flanked by tents and adobe buildings on a narrow mesa between Wall Street Canyon and Odessa Canyon. It took its name from the myriad of colors in the mountains which are the backdrop for the town.

The weekly Calico Print appeared in October, 1882 and a local stamp mill was built to begin working ores.

But in the spring of 1883, many of the local miners left Calico when borax was discovered three miles east at Borate. Later the same year, a fire destroyed much of the camp, but Calico again boomed in 1884 as additional silver discoveries were made. Gaining a population of some 2,500, the town supported two dozen saloons and gambling dives that never closed, as well as more legitimate establishments such as a church, a public school, a dance school and a literary society, along with dozens of retail businesses.

After 1884 many of the mines consolidated and late in 1888, the Oro Grande Mining Company erected an even larger stamp mill at a cost of $250,000 on the north bank of the Mojave River. Soon it connected the stamp mill, near Daggett, to the Silver King mine by the ten mile narrow-gauge Calico Railroad.

By the late 1800's, Calico was bustling with prospectors searching their fortunes and the Calico Mining District became one of the richest in the state.

During its heyday, the district would produce $86 million in silver, and $45 million in borax. However, when the price of silver dropped from $1.31 an ounce to 63 cents during the mid 1890's, Calico became a ghost of its former self. The narrow-gauge Calico railroad was dismantled just after the turn of the century and the town officially died in 1907 with the end of borax mining in the district.

Around 1917 a cyanide plant was built in Calico, recovering values from the Silver King Mine dumps and the town was revived. However, by 1935, the town was entirely abandoned and left to Mother Nature’s elements in the Mojave Desert.

In 1950 Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park bought the town site and began restorations. Its owner, Walter Knott, spent a lot of time in Calico as a boy, as his uncle lived there. He even helped to build a silver mill in Calico at the time of World War I. Knott's time spent there, no doubt, influenced his decision to buy the town and restore it.

One of the rebuilt attractions is the one-mile short line "Calico & Odessa” railroad which loops through steep canyons and hills past old mines and buildings north of Calico. Though the original town site has been mostly rebuilt by new and restored buildings, one-third of the town is original and the remaining newer buildings were carefully reconstructed to recreate the spirit of Calico's Old West past.

In November 1966, Knott donated Calico to San Bernardino County, and Calico now operates as a one of the many San Bernardino County Regional Parks.

Though Calico is no longer a crumbling ghost town thanks to Walter Knott, it most definitely gives the visitor a feel of what life might have been like during those old mining days. The false front stores and saloons, towered by the craggy mountains above and overlooking the desert valley below, provide an otherwise, unobtainable, glimpse into Calico's rich history.

Today, walking tours are available with Calico historians who examine the life of miners during its heyday. The narrow gauge railroad operates within the town limits, the hard rock silver mine provides underground exploration, buildings such as the schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and saloons can be explored, as well as a live gold panning operation.

The Calico Town site is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk, featuring numerous shops, restaurants and other attractions. In the canyons below town, a full service campground, camping cabins, and bunkhouse provide the opportunity for extended stays.

It's admission price of just $6.00 and reasonable prices "inside" the town at its restaurants, shops, and additional attractions, make it one of California's best tourism values. For instance, it only cost an additional $1 to ride the train or tour the mine.

If Calico’s rich history, meticulous restoration, and gunfights aren’t enough entertainment for you, there’s more!! Allegedly, this old town is haunted by a number of lingering spirits.

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Ghosts of Greater St. Louis

The Ghost of the Meramec - The Lynching of John Buckner

In January, 1894, in Valley Park, Missouri, A black resident named John Buckner was taken from the authorities and hanged from the "Old Wagon Bridge" over the Meramec River. The story goes that he had sexually assaulted 2 black women and 1 white woman in the area, and after a crime wave in the County of St. Louis, 150 citizens from the surrounding areas removed Buckner from the custody of local authorities, took him in the middle of the night to the main bridge in Valley Park, and lynched him.

The town was becoming a boom-town on its way "to rivaling its better known neighbor of St. Louis"--until a flood in 1915 pulled down the three-span steel bridge from its foundations. The nearby businesses burned to the ground after the electric plants had been flooded, and they never re-opened. Two Thousand people were left homeless and unemployed, and several drowned in the disaster. A new bridge was built, and was pummeled again and again, until it too was destroyed. Many locals say that a ghost haunts the Meramec River, and some have speculated that the spirit of the lynched John Buckner roams the Meramec where a new bridge (Highway 141) crosses over the spot of the lynching. They say his ghost longs for revenge on the town, and is the continuing cause of the bad luck their town has endured.

Ghostly Girls at the Edgewood Children's Center

Located in the southwest St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, sits the historic Edgewood Children’s Center. Today the center serves as a treatment center for abused and abandoned children; however, the center has a long history dating back almost 175 years. In 1834, the St. Louis Association of Ladies for the Relief of Orphan Children was created in response to the many children left orphaned by the 1832 cholera epidemic. After expanding their facilities and services in 1848, the name was changed to the St. Louis Protestant Orphans' Asylum

In 1869, the group merged with the Western Sanitary Commission, a volunteer organization designed to provide relief for veterans of the Civil War. As a result of the merger, the group moved from its north St. Louis location to the Rock House in Webster Groves, originally the sight of Webster College School for Boys purchased by the Western Sanitary Commission in 1861.

The Rock House, sitting in the middle of the new 23 acre site already had history of its own. Constructed in 1850 by Reverend Artemus Bullard, the preacher successfully operated a seminary for young men in the Rock House until his untimely death in a train wreck in 1855. It is known that Reverend Bullard was a strong abolitionist, and is believed that he used the Rock House as a way station in the Underground Railroad, helping to move slaves into safety in the north. It was believed that a tunnel, several blocks long, ran beneath the Rock House acting as a hiding place for slaves escaping to the north. The exit was sealed off in the 1890's after two children became lost in it and died.

In 1910, a devastating fire gutted the old Rock House and at least one child perished in the fire. Though the interior was destroyed, the lovely stone exterior was not damaged

Changing the name from St. Louis Protestant Orphan's Asylum to Edgewood Children's Center in 1944, the agency successfully bridged the transition from the care of homeless children to meeting the needs of emotionally disturbed children. Today the 155 year old Rock house is listed as a National Historic Landmark and houses the Edgewood Center’s offices.

It comes as no surprise, with the center's long history and the numerous children who have lived and died on these premises that it is reportedly haunted. Many have claimed that they have seen the ghost of the little girl who perished at the Rock House fire in 1910. Said to be a friendly little spirit, the staff have fondly named her Rachel. Often the sounds of footsteps are heard in the hallways of the Rock House when no one is present. Furthermore, the footsteps are heard to continue up a staircase that stood almost a century ago but no longer exists today. Reports from adults who have lived on the second floor include moving objects, more phantom footfalls, and feelings of an oppressive uneasiness.

Outside many have reported hearing the sounds of children playing on the grounds under an old cottonwood tree in the early evening hours. Some have even stated that they have seen a little girl under the tree, sometimes floating.

The historic Rock House and Edgewood Children’s Center is located at 330 North Gore Street between North Rock Hill Road and West Kirkham Avenue in Webster Groves.

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Devil's Promenade & the Hornet Spook Light - Hornet, Missouri

Bobbing and bouncing along a dirt road in northeast Oklahoma is the Hornet Spook Light a paranormal enigma for more than a century. Described most often as an orange ball of light, the orb travels from east to west along a four mile gravel road, long called the Devil's Promenade by area locals.

The Spook Light, often referred to as the Joplin Spook Light or the Tri-State Spook Light is actually in Oklahoma near the small town of Quapaw. However, it is most often seen from the east, which is why it has been "attached” to the tiny hamlet of Hornet, Missouri and the larger better known town of Joplin.

According to the legend, the spook light was first seen by Indians along the infamous Trail of Tears in 1836; however, the first "official” report occurred in 1881 in a publication called the Ozark Spook Light.

The ball of fire, described as varying from the size of a baseball to a basketball, dances and spins down the center of the road at high speeds, rising and hovering above the treetops, before it retreats and disappears. Others have said it sways from side to side, like a lantern being carried by some invisible force. In any event, the orange fire-like ball has reportedly been appearing nightly for well over a one hundred years. According to locals, the best time to view the spook light is between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and midnight and tends to shy away from large groups and loud sounds.

Though many paranormal and scientific investigators have studied the light, including the Army Corps of Engineers, no one has been able to provide a conclusive answer as to the origin of the light.

Many explanations have been presented over the years including escaping natural gas, reflecting car lights and billboards, and will-o’-the-wisps, a luminescence created by rotting organic matter. However, all of these explanations all fall short of being conclusive.

As to the theory of escaping natural gas, which is common in marshy areas, the Hornet Light is seemingly not affected by wind or by rain, and how would it self-ignite? The idea that it might be a will-o’-the-wisp is discounted, as this biological phenomena does not display the intensity of the ball of light seen along the Devil's Promenade. Explanations of headlights or billboards are easily discarded, as the light was seen years before automobiles or billboards were made, and before a road even existed in the area.

One possible explanation that is not as easily discounted, but not yet proven conclusive, is that the lights are electrical atmospheric charges. In areas where rocks, deep below the earth’s surface, are shifting and grinding, an electrical charge can be created. This area, lying on a fault line running east from New Madrid, Missouri, westward to Oklahoma was the site of four earthquakes during the eighteenth century. These types of electrical fields are most commonly associated with earthquakes.

Other interesting legends also abound about the light that provide a more ghostly explanation. The oldest is the story of a Quapaw Indian maiden who fell in love with a young brave. However, her father would not allow her to marry the man as he did not have a large enough dowry. The pair eloped but were soon pursued by a party of warriors. According to the legend, when the couple was close to being apprehended, they joined hands above the Spring River and leaped to their deaths. It was shortly after this event, that the light began to appear and was attributed to the spirits of the young lovers.

Another legend tells of a miner whose cabin was attacked by Indians while he was away. Upon his return, he found his wife and children missing and is said to continue looking for them along the old road, searching with his lantern.

Others say the Spook Light is the ghost of an Osage Indian chief who was decapitated in the area and continues to search for his lost head, with a lantern held high in his hand.

Sightings of the Spook Light are common, sometimes even reported to be seen inside vehicles. A few people, who have been walking along the road at night, have even claimed to have felt the heat of the ball as it passed near them.

Reportedly, the moving anomaly, growing brighter and dimmer, larger and smaller, can be seen approximately twelve miles southwest of Joplin, Missouri. To get to Devil's Promenade Road, take Interstate 44 west from Joplin but before you reach the Oklahoma border, take the next to the last Missouri exit onto Star Route 43. Traveling south for about four miles, you will reach a crossroads which is Devil's Promenade Road.

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Haunted Inn at 835 in Springfield - Springfield, Illinois

Built in the early 1900s, the Inn at 835 in Springfield, Illinois first housed luxury apartments. The dream of Bell Miller, a turn of the century businesswoman, it was designed during the Arts and Crafts movement by architect, George Helmle.

While still in her 20’s, Bell Miller began a floral business in the early 1890’s, catering to Springfield’s high society. Before long, she expanded her small business into a number of greenhouses, encompassing a city block.

In December, 1909 her dream home was completed, including airy verandahs, massive fireplaces and exquisite oak detailing in a neighborhood once termed "Aristocracy Hill.” In no time, the dignified building attracted an array of aristocratic tenants who graced the luxury apartments over the years..

In 1994, the building was completely renovated and the apartments were converted into seven luxurious guest rooms, each offering private baths and amenities such as double Jacuzzis and airy verandas. In 1995, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

But according to the legend, Bell Miller became so fond of her dream home, that she refuses to leave. From guests and staff come the stories of a warm friendly voice that seemingly comes out of nowhere. On other occasions, a ghostly figure has been seen drifting through doorways. One report included a book taken from a tightly packed shelf and placed in the middle of the room multiple times. On another occasion, when the wallpaper began to peel away from the wall, it was found to be perfectly repaired the next morning. Apparently, Miss Miller continues to care for her luxurious home.

She also seems to have a penchant for candy as the sound of the lid from a crystal candy dish is often heard being removed and replaced when no one is around. Most often reported are the strange events occurring in the elevator. Guests often report that regardless of the button they push, they wind up on a different floor. Though the elevator and been serviced and inspected on multiple occasion with reports that it is in perfect working order, the events continue to occur.

In any event, Miss Miller is seemingly a benign and friendly spirit at the Inn, which today provides every modern convenience without detracting from the sense of gracious luxury which Bell Miller created almost a century ago.

Today the historic inn provides gourmet breakfasts and evening wine and cheese in its luxurious surroundings. Meeting and banquet facilities are also available for up to 150 guests.

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Haunted Cigars & Stripes in Berwyn - Berwyn, Illinois

Cigars and Stripes, the hip lounge and comedy club on old Route 66 in Berwyn has plenty of atmosphere – most of which cannot be easily explained. Customers and paranormal researchers are saying it is a "hot spot” in more ways than one.

"It was more than weird. It was very weird,” said Simone Tervydis of Cicero as she and her friend, Bernice Jan tried to describe their astonishment when they saw the top of a martini shaker flip upside down and then roll across the bar at Cigars and Stripes. "The top just lifted up on its own. We were shocked and jolted. We all looked at one another. It was very weird.”

Chicago-based, Supernatural Occurrence Studies (SOS), Inc. investigators have been recording the testimonials and first-hand accounts of unexplainable occurrences and sightings that patrons of the hip eclectic lounge and comedy club have been experiencing. SOS Inc. Theorist Dave Black said he "sensed things” as he took a walk around the basement and first floor of the lounge. "There’s definitely something going on in this building,” he said.

"From what I hear of the all the testimonials, it has been manifesting itself in various ways. People have been hearing things, seeing things and things have been moving.”

Black said there are multiple testimonials of glasses falling off shelves, the phone lifting up by itself, bottles falling and martini shakers just flipping in the air. "All the people are watching this happen,” said Black.

Though he’s somewhat skeptical about the paranormal "happenings”, Cigars and Stripes’ owner, Ronn Vrhel explained that when they were first renovating the 80 year old building five years ago, his wife heard sounds like there were parties going on downstairs. When he would go downstairs to check, there was nothing there.

Vrhel said that not long ago, he lost his large bundle of keys and searched high and low for them. A short time later, he heard a loud sound and "the keys dropped out of nowhere” in plain view of all the customers who were seated at the bar.

"The keys slammed off one of the corners and just flew down the bar. I grabbed them and people were saying, "What was that all about? Where did those keys come from?”

Black said that while doing some of the research, he witnessed some unique experiences as well as "very intense” sensations in the basement. His own accounts include hearing someone walking down the stairs – when no one was there, and hearing noises and activity in the empty basement.

SOS Inc. has been researching the paranormal since 1998. They’ve explored some well-known haunts such as Bachelor’s Grove, The House of Blues and the sites of some well-known murders.

"The ultimate goal is to collectively put together a story of what’s taking place. We also want to make sure that every piece of information is backed by fact.

"There are a lot of testimonials from bartenders and customers. At least 2 out of every 15 regulars have experienced something,” said Vrhel who is also researching the building’s history.

At least five customers have seen a shadowy figure walking down the hallway at the rear of the bar. One customer described seeing the shadowy figure "scoot down the hall and around the corner”.

Vrhel invited Spiritual Advisor Lee Murphy to walk through the building to see if her insight validated the ongoing investigations of supernatural activity. After touring the main floor and the basement of Cigars and Stripes, Murphy confirmed the findings of the SOS Inc. group - several spots were charged with energy. Her insight brought to life many stories of the past as well as many possible explanations of the haunting activity.

Murphy’s insight points to several sources of supernatural activity, including a former customer who fell dead in the business entryway nearly 30 years ago, and who may still be walking in to enjoy the social atmosphere.

A presence at the rear of the building is sensed to be an elderly woman who prayed and worried considerably about the well-being of family and friends.

The large hand-crafted bar, which was brought over from the former Stardust Lounge several blocks down from Cigars and Stripes, may be the source of a true love story playing out in some of the current "playful” events.

Murphy said that the energies of the bar are especially intense in one location, which Vrhel shared was the place where Rose, the late former owner of the bar, was best remembered to sit. Rose and her husband Joe owned the Stardust Lounge, and he built and hand-crafted the bar especially for her. Murphy said that Rose’s presence is an exceptionally loving one.

As investigative results are gathered and more and more testimonials of unexplainable occurrences and sightings are being documented, the Supernatural Occurrence Studies, Inc. group has agreed that the place is definitely haunted.

"I do believe that this location is haunted,” said SOS Vice-President William Wolfe who, along with his group, made an overnight visit to the location.

The SOS group, which was founded in 1998, set up their equipment in various locations of the first floor and basement, especially in the areas that have been noted to have the most paranormal activity. After leaving the location for several hours, the group returned to study the results of the camcorders, infrared cameras and tapes.

When the group played back the tape recording, definite sounds and voices could be heard. "We heard knocking sounds, voices, whispering and conversations. One voice sounded like it was saying ‘No, no, you can’t!’ in a man’s voice. There were some howling or screaming sounds in the background, too. We will definitely do some more audio recording here,” said SOS Theorist/Field Guide Dave Black who added that extensive analysis will be performed on the EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) tapes.

Sophisticated energy readings showed that there were drastic temperature variations in some locations. "We were getting readings of a 30 degree temperature variance in the area known as the hot spot,” said Wolfe.

"You never know with old buildings, and you suspect explanations such as drafts and such. They said, ‘Get over here. You have to check this out!’ They were feeling something. I went over there and it was so intense that my eyes started watering and I was having difficulty breathing. I had to put my hand on the stool to stay upright. We all felt it,” said Black.

Numerous Cigars and Stripes customers have reported seeing a shadowy figure in the hallway near the rear of the bar. Owner Ronn Vrhel said that most people describe it as an outline of a figure. "People describe it as having no arms or legs – just a shape. They see it go around the corner,” he said.

SOS researchers and many of the customers report hearing footsteps on the stairs when no one is there. Sounds have been heard in the basement as well. Wolfe said that the night they did their research, they heard sounds like beer cans being thrown around. "Ronn doesn’t have beer cans in the lounge, only bottles,” he said.

Wolfe also thinks that the location was likely an Al Capone haunt. "Based on the history of the place with people dying at the bar and the age of the building, it’s a good possibility that Capone visited here or offered his protection for the businesses that were here. It’s a prime location for Capone tactics,” said Wolfe.

With a long list of stories which include four deaths in the building, keys dropping out of nowhere, martini shaker tops flipping and rolling down the bar, phones falling off the hook and then ringing, light switches and spotlights turning on by themselves and bottles and glasses toppling with no reason, the conclusions are clear that the place is "special”.

Spiritual Advisor Lee Murphy agrees that the place has many stories to tell. She said that for the most part, the place has a "very colorful” energy. She walked through the basement, upstairs game room and bar area and told Vrhel some of the stories she "picked up” which included the story of a former owner who prayed and worried about her family and friends. She said it is a good possibility that this former occupant, who passed away on the premises, still occupies the scene and even, perhaps, cares for the present owners and/or customers in some way.

Murphy feels that there is a special energy attached to the hand-crafted bar which came from the former Stardust Lounge located several blocks from Cigars and Stripes. Vrhel had always admired the bar, brought it to his establishment and set it in place carefully.

Murphy said she feels especially strong impressions from the area that Rose, the former owner, used to sit most often. Vrhel said that the "hot spot” seems to be a favorite place for many customers. Murphy offered an explanation as to why that might be.

According to Murphy, Rose’s energy is clearly present and may even be working in a match-making kind of scenario. "I sensed that Rose’s relationship with her husband was very loving and special. She may be helping others in finding the same kind of relationship. She seems to have had a very good understanding about such things,” offered Murphy.

Along with it being a spot where many like to gather, the "hot spot” was the place where two customers met and then married not too long ago, explained Vrhel. "It’s likely to be a great place to meet someone or even to improve your existing relationship. The energy is really very special,” said Murphy as she sat in Rose’s former seat.

Vrhel said he is getting used to the occurrences and even feels like something is working on his behalf. "A while back I was talking about getting out of the business. It seems like some of these things really started to happen then. I get the definite impression that ‘they’ want me to stay and are looking out for us in some way,” he said.

"In conclusion, yes, this bar is haunted. It probably has more activity than a lot of other places we’ve been to and documented. There are a lot of testimonials - to a degree that I haven’t experienced in most places we have been,” said Black.

Dave "Od” Black first sensed the strange goings-on when he was at the lounge performing his stand-up comedy act. After the show, the comedian/paranormal investigator asked Vrhel if his place was haunted. "Funny you should mention it…” answered Vrhel.

Spiritual Advisor Lee Murphy has assisted police investigations and worked with clients across the U.S. for almost 25 years. She is semi-retired and lives in the Western suburbs.

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Ghosts of the Rialto Theatre in Joliet - Joliet, Illinois

The historic Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, not only hosts hundreds of entertainment patrons, but also a couple of resident ghosts.

The theatre began its life as a vaudeville movie palace in 1926 when the six Rubens brothers formed the Royal Theatre Company and desired to build a "Palace for the people.” Designed by the Rapp & Rapp Architect firm of Chicago, the opulent theatre, reflecting Italian Renaissance, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Rococo, Venetian and Baroque architecture, cost nearly two million dollars to build – a staggering amount at the time. After two years of construction, the theatre opened on May 24, 1926.

The Royal Theatre Company leased the operation of the theatre to the Great States Theatre, Inc; however, the property itself remained under the control and direction of the Rubens brothers.

On its opening night theatre-goers paid 50 cents to see the silent movie "Mademoiselle Modiste." As they entered, they were amazed as they viewed the inner lobby, styled after the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles and the dome in the rotunda, reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome, with one of the largest, hand-cut crystal chandeliers in the country. The arch between the esplanade and rotunda area was carefully copied from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Throughout the theatre were displayed numerous sculptures, art, elaborate drapes and furnishings, and for its patrons’ comfort, was fully air-conditioned. The theatre opened to grand applause and for decades entertained the public with vaudeville and stage productions, musical and comedic entertainers, ballet and opera, and served as a "movie house” during the "Golden Age” of films. Over the years, it hosted such names as Andy Williams, Mitzi Gaynor, Red Skelton, Victor Borge, Liberace and hundreds of others. Interestingly, the Rialto was also one of Al Capone's favorite haunts.

However, time and weather took its toll on the magnificent theatre and by the mid 1970’s it was facing possible demolition. Thankfully, it was rescued by a grass-roots campaign by the Rialto Square Arts Association, now called the Cultural Arts Council of the Joliet Area. With the assistance of local business people, funds were sought from city, state and federal officials, and soon the majestic theatre was undergoing restoration.

Actual work began in April of 1980, and by the following year the Palace for the People” was restored to its former glory, reopening as the Performing Arts Center.

Listed on the National Register of historic Places, and now considered one of the top 10 theatres in the country, the Rialto Square Theatre continues to host plays, concerts, and other talent, as well as being called home to the Rialto School of the Arts, and hosting numerous events and meetings.

The "Jewel of Joliet” not only continues to host hundreds of customers; however, it also is called home to a couple of resident ghosts. The most often spied is a nameless spectral woman who is thought to have been an actress who performed at the theatre many years ago. She is described as being in her twenties, very pretty, sometimes surrounded by hazy light, and thought to have been a well-known performer of her time. She has been reported to have been seen floating around the theatre by staff, customers, and workmen, becoming especially active during the period of time that it was closed to the public. Many believe that she so loved performing there that she’s just not ready to leave this world.

Two more spirits, one male and one female, are sometimes spied in the auditorium’s balcony. According to the legend, the pair fell to their deaths from the balcony, and like others who have died in tragic accidents, they just won’t move on.

Other reports include sudden periods of icy coldness, strange noises, objects that seemingly move of their own accord, and the feeling that they have been "jabbed” by an unseen finger.

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Ghosts of Historic Springfield - Springfield, Illinois

The Ghost of Abraham Lincoln

While there are a number of spirits who are said to haunt this historic town, the most famous is that of Abraham Lincoln himself. According to over a century of legends, Abraham Lincoln continues to lurk around his tomb, now a state historic site in Springfield.

Sightings of the former president have been told almost since the day his body arrived in Springfield in on May 3, 1865. After lying in state at the capitol for a night, the body was placed in a receiving vault at Oak Ridge Cemetery. In December Lincoln’s remains were removed to a temporary vault not far from a new proposed memorial site. In 1871, three years after laborers had begun constructing the permanent tomb, the body of Lincoln and those of the three youngest of his sons were placed in crypts in the unfinished structure.

The construction of the permanent tomb lasted for years and it was at this time that the first sightings of a spectral Abraham Lincoln were reported as he wondered near the crypt. Others would report hearing the sounds of crying and footsteps near the site.

In 1874, upon completion of the memorial, Lincoln's remains were interred in a marble sarcophagus in the center of a chamber known as the "catacombs," or burial room. In 1876, however, after several Chicago criminals broke into the tomb, intending to kidnap the corpse and hold it for ransom. However, the attempt failed as one of the men in the gang was a spy for the Secret Service.

Over the years, the legends have persisted as tourists and staff members report uncomfortable feelings, phantom footsteps, whispers, muffled voices, and weeping. Along with our former president, Oakridge Cemetery also has reports that the apparitions of a small boy and a mysterious woman in a flowing red cape have been seen on the property.

Lincoln has also been reported to have been seen walking the streets surrounding Springfield's original courthouse, as well as the hallways of his former home. Others have reported seeing the ghost of Mary Lincoln at their old home located at 413 South Eighth Street. Having a long-standing reputation as being haunted, reports range from apparitions of a woman to toys moving of their own accord. Most people believe that the house is haunted by Mary. Maintained by the national Park Service today, staff deny any reports of paranormal activity. Today the Lincoln home is the centerpiece of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Restored to its 1860s appearance, it stands in the midst of a four block historic neighborhood which the National Park Service is also restoring. When complete, the neighborhood, like the house, will appear much as Lincoln would have remembered it.

The most interesting haunting surrounding Lincoln is the phantom funeral train. Said to be seen during the month of April on the anniversary of Lincoln’s death, the ghostly train is said to ride those very same tracks that bore his body to Springfield in 1865. Reports indicate that this ghostly funeral procession is actually two trains, with the first steam engine pulling several cars draped in black, adorned with black streamers, and playing the sounds of mournful music. The second train is said to pull a flatcar that carries Lincoln’s coffin. Unfortunately, the train is said to never reach its final destination.

Dana House

Designed and constructed by renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902, this house is reported to still play host to its original owner. Designed for Springfield socialite, Susan Lawrence Dana, she was said to have thrown lavish parties in her home as well as being a major contributor and volunteer to charitable causes in the city.

Shortly after the home was finished, several family deaths caused Dana to turn to metaphysical and mystical religious groups for comfort. Before long, she became one of the city’s leaders in the Spiritualist movement that swept across American around the turn of the century. Her parties took a different turn with her involvement in the movement and soon her home became a Spiritualist center where séances were common and large parties of occultists gathered.

Finally, when a cousin who had lived with her for many years died, Susan was left alone in her Wright-designed house. A short time later, about 1928, Susan moved to more modest, less costly quarters. Declared incompetent by the courts in 1942, she was admitted to a local hospital, where she died in 1946. Her personal effects were inventoried in 1942 and auctioned at a public sale in July 1943. Her Frank Lloyd Wright House was sold the following year.

Maintained today by the State of Illinois, management denies any paranormal activity. However, there have been dozens of reports by other staff and visitors of object which move of their own accord and the sounds of unseen people speaking in different parts of the house.

The Dana House is located at 301 East Lawrence in Springfield, Illinois and is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday all year round.

Illinois Executive Mansion

Seven Presidents, including Lincoln, have been received here. Three levels are open to the public including four formal parlors; a state dining room; ballroom; four bedrooms, including the Lincoln bedroom; and a library handcrafted from Native American Black Walnut.

Built in 1855, this is the third oldest continuously occupied Governor’s Mansion in the country, having served as the official residence of Illinois' Governors and their families since Governor Joel Matteson first took up residence. Over the years, the magnificent home has been witness to many of the major events in the state’s history, none so trying perhaps as the Civil War.

During the Civil War, the mansion was called home to Governor Richard Yates and his family. Today, the mansion is said to continue to play host to Yates’ wife, Catherine. Mrs. Yates makes allegedly makes her presence known in a variety of ways, including tampering with electronics and smoke alarms. The upstairs bedroom where her portrait hangs is said to be the most active room in the house. On one occasion Mrs. Yates was credited with trapping an Illinois State Trooper in an elevator for four hours.

The Illinois Executive Mansion is open to the public during certain hours and days of the week. Three levels can be viewed which include four formal parlors, a state dining room, ballroom, the library, and four bedrooms, including the Lincoln bedroom. The mansion is located at 5th and Jackson.

Springfield Theatre Center

Built in 1951, the Springfield Theatre Center has hosted performances continuously through today. In addition to numerous wonderful performances throughout the years, the place is said to have been haunted for most of its existence.

On May 13, 1955, an actor Named Joe Neville left the theater after a dress rehearsal then committed suicide once he returned home. Apparently, during an audit at the company where he worked, it was found that substantial funds had been misappropriated and a fellow employee fingered Joe.

Said to have been an eccentric and unfriendly fellow, he loved the theater and at the time he killed himself, he was scheduled to play his first lead role. After his death, the theater group simply replaced him and the show went on.

But, apparently, that wasn’t the end of Joe. Returning to the theater after his death, his disposition evidently was as nasty as ever. Almost immediately strange and inexplicable events began to occur. While some of these are seemingly harmless, such as lights turning on and off on their own, doors opened by unseen hands, and several who have reportedly seen Joe’s filmy apparition; other antics of Joe’s are down right dangerous. On one occasion when two men were building a set, one of the men voiced his skepticism about the ghost. The next thing they knew, the saw started up by itself, several sheets of plywood fell to the floor, and a standing ladder was seemingly pushed over by unseen hands.

The tampering with stage sets is the most often occurrence, but other smaller happenings occur such as items moving of their own accord, missing costumes, and the permeating smell of Noxzema wafting through the air, despite the fact that the cream was long ago banned in the theater. On one occasion a girl reported having her hand held by an invisible escort while she was crossing a room.

Not open to the public except during show times, the theater is located at 101 East Lawrence Street.

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The Mother Road

The often romanticized Mother Road inspires in many of us a nostalgic bone which niggles at something buried deep within us. While some may see Route 66 as a link to our parents and grandparents, others perhaps feel the sense of freedom that the road provided to those early travelers. And then, for those of us that live continuously in the nostalgic past, the Mother Road is, but yet, the next adventure beyond the Santa Fe Trail. Whatever the reason, the Mother Road is an experience, a feeling, a perception, a taste of sight and sound, and a mystery that can only be resolved by driving the pavement itself.

The "super-highway,” as it was thought of in 1926, represented unprecedented freedom to travel across the American West. Spawned by the rapidly changing demands of America, entrepreneurs, Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma and John Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri conceived of the grand idea of linking Chicago to Los Angeles and began lobbying efforts to promote the new highway. While other East/West highways existed at the time, most followed a linear course, leaving out the rural communities, dependent upon transportation for farm products and other goods.

No doubt a daunting task for the pair, the federal government finally pledged to link small town U.S.A. with metropolitan capitals in the summer of 1926 and designated the road as 66. Unfortunately, shortly after work began on the Mother Road came the depression, halting progress on the new "Super-Highway.

However, in 1933, thousands of unemployed men were put back to work and road gangs paved the final stretches of the road. By 1938 the 2,300 mile highway was continuously paved from Chicago to Los Angeles.

John Steinbeck, in 1939, proclaimed Route 66 as the "Mother Road” in his classic novel The Grapes of Wrath. When the movie was made just a year later, it immortalized Route 66 in the American consciousness. Shortly thereafter, more than 200,000 people migrated to California to escape the Dust Bowl of the Midwest, symbolizing the highway as the "road to opportunity.”

When World War II broke out, Route 66 proved to be invaluable in transporting troops, equipment and products across the vast West to California, where the government established multiple industries and armed force bases. When the war was finally over in 1945, the Mother Road served to transport thousands of troops home.

Perhaps more than any other American highway, the Mother Road symbolized a new positive outlook that spread through the nation’s postwar economic recovery. For thousands of returning servicemen and their families, Route 66 was more than just a highway. "It became," according to one admirer, "an icon of free-spirited independence linking the United States across the Rocky Mountain divide to the Pacific Ocean."

Almost immediately, the tourist industry began to grow, giving rise to countless tourist courts, motels, service stations, garages and diners. However, the excessive truck travel during World War II and the ever expanding automobile industry had left the Highway in appalling conditions, with narrow pavements and poor road conditions.

In the mid 1950s public lobby was demanding a federal sponsorship for a system of divided highways and in 1956, the Federal Aid Highway Act was passed for a national interstate highway program.

With the passing of the Interstate Highway Act, Route 66 would soon be doomed. Doomed or not, by the 1960s, many points of interest were familiar landmarks to a new generation of travelers and the television series, "Route 66” was aired "driving” the Mother Road into homes all over America. Though the series created great interest in the American public, it was to be short-lived, as by 1970, nearly all segments of original Route 66 were bypassed by modern four-lane highways. By 1984, all of the poorly maintained vestiges of Route 66 had been completely succumbed when the final section of the original road was bypassed by Interstate 40 at Williams, Arizona.

As Route 66 was decommissioned, its signs were removed and the Mother Road was almost lost. Even to this day, the Mother Road appears on very few current maps. Most states have installed Historic Route 66 along portions of the road, but, unfortunately, they rarely give exit directions where the road so very often veers off from the interstate highways.

Obviously, the route today is not what it was in the past. The sights and sounds of the Mother Road change daily with the emergence of new businesses and development along the old highway. You will want to take a lot of pictures, because what is here today might be very well gone tomorrow.

However, much is preserved and the Route 66 Historical Associations and private groups have done much to preserve these vintage treasures. As you travel along, you will often see a sign or marquee of the vintage road as these icons of history are preserved, though their buildings are long gone.

Traveling the road, you will experience everything from the frustration of finding the route in a metro city to being pleasantly surprised by the next small town that you venture into. The landscape quickly changes from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan area, to quiet meandering roads, to tall grass prairies, where you feel as if you might be the only person left on earth.

While it’s a good idea to plan your trip, because the road can be confusing, the whole idea is to experience the Mother Road. Our advice is to get a couple of really good Route 66 books and some good maps before you begin your adventure. Here and there, some places will give you a road sign when the road veers off the interstate, but mostly not. Even with a few good maps, you will, no doubt, take a wrong turn here and there. Take the Business Loops off the interstates when possible – they will often lead you to your photo opportunities of our scenic past.

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