Story: My mom went through alot of ghost problems as a kid. Mostly because her grandma attracted ghosts and mediums that see ghosts as well. (One of her medium friends I have known since birth) Anyway, in my grandpa's house there were three ghosts. One was our Uncle Henry that just hung around playing tricks, slamming doors, messing with the lights, etc. However, the other two had already been in that house for a long time. My Grandma's friends always told her to be careful of them. They were said to be two men in their mid-twenties and were pretty vicious against women. They usually hung around the top of the staircase. My mom hated them. One of the things they did was push her down the staircase. She broke quite alot of bones from them either pushing her or her trying to get down the stairs as fast as possible and tripping. She remembers the feeling when they would push her. She said it was like someone coming up from behind and shoving you extremely hard in the back. Eventually they exercised the house and the ghosts left along with Uncle Henry. My mom laughs about it today (she's in her 30/40s) but I don't think I would be able to be so happy about it if it happened to me.

This house was on the South Side of Chicago and is no longer haunted to my knowledge. --Zoe

Response from Slim Pictures: Thanks for sharing the story - quite a unique one. If there's anything more to share (background on the guys, etc.), please let us know.

Story/Question: I currently live in Plainfield, IL, which could also be known as Joliet (we are on the border between the two). My husband and I lived here for seven years. It all started when my first daughter was born. Every night I had a routine of turning on her CD player with relaxing music. Like most CDs, there are 12 songs. They play and the CD stops. After some time, there was nights when my daughter would begin to wake and start to fuss. The CD would begin to play again on its own. This went on for months. We never though much of this.

When my daughter was six or seven months old I was bathing her when she began to look over my shoulder, down the hall as if she was looking at someone or someones face, someone she knew. This is when I got a little freaked out. There was nothing there and there was nothing that would have gotten her attention.

When she was about 2 to 2 1/2, she started to predict things. She was always right. Big deal, right? Well, then she started to talk about my Grandfather who had passed away about 12 years prior. She would say things that there was no way she could ever know unless she spent some time with him, like Grandpa Frank gave me money for my piggy. My Grandfather's way of showing love was to give things, like money, items, etc.

Then, I was laying with her in her bed when she said, " Mommy, Grandpa Frank is here." He says he will protect me. YIKES, right? I was not sure what to do. I just layed there and held my eyes closed as tight as I could.

Then, I obtained my Grandmother's old cabinets that were in her home, which my Grandfather had made by hand. Things started to get freaky. I would hear footsteps on my first floor, which is hardwood, and at the time my husband would travel a lot, so I would be upstairs and hear the sounds of suitcase wheels and footsteps across the floor. I didn't think much of it. I thought my husband was home. So I'd sit, wait, and nothing. Of course I'd go downstairs and no one was there. My garage door would sound like it opened and closed and once again no one was here.

Just recently, my brother in-law was over and we had been doing some work in the basement and discussing the cabinets, my Grandfather, spirits, etc. and he made a negative comment about sprits and ghosts and all of a sudden the beer he had been drinking started to foam. Any advice or comments? -Kareen

Response from Slim Pictures: It is very easy to understand and emphasize with someone finding an uneasy feeling (to say the least) in having a brush with the "other side." That said, the type of haunting you and your daughter have experienced is one of the most common types of hauntings - a visitation haunting. There certainly is a long history of younger people being able to see things that adults cannot. Though it may be a bit disconcerting, most people do find comfort in knowing a loved one you may miss is not far away after all.

Your next occurrence involving hearing footsteps, garage door and suitcase wheels are a different type of haunting all together. In truth, it's a phenomena that may have been happening all along. The reason you haven't witnessed it until now is that, as a result of knowing of your daughters 'encounters,' you are more aware, and, know it or not you are exercising your psychic muscle. We've had similar stories at my house. Our offices are in the basement and we would hear someone enter the house, walk across the kitchen and toss their keys on the counter. Just like your story, no one is there, and it's fairly common. Theoretically, the person coming home was thinking about their actions (or we were thinking about the person coming home and their typical actions), and these are represented in an auditory form. Just a theory, like everything else in this field, but, again, it's not uncommon.

At the same time, having an 'entity' connected to a physical object (your grandfather's cabinets) is also something that happens. I know sensitive people who won't even go to an antique shop for just that reason.

As far as advice goes, there isn't much to give. What you have going on around your home is positive and, at the very least, not destructive or angry. It's not a bad idea to find a medium to visit your home simply to make sure that the spirit(s) in your house are happy there. However, it seems like they are and it's something you should embrace.

Also, what kind of things did your daughter predict correctly?

Reply: It all started with simple things. My daughter and I would be in the kitchen playing together or reading a book and she'd say," Mamma, Pappa's home (my husband)," and I'd say, "No, he's not." She continued to insist, so I walked over and looked out the garage door. Nope, then I'd walk to the front door, after she still insisted. Sure enough as soon as I opened the door there he was pulling in the drive-way.

She said she was getting a Lion Care Bear for christmas... and I just said, "Oh, really, we'll see what Santa brings." She insisted. Later I came to find out that my mother got one for her. Before that there was never any talk about such item or anything like it.

She'd say, out of nowhere, "Mom, my fairy godmother (her godmother) was sick." Note that she does not see her very often nor does she talk with her. I then called my dad, her sister and asked him to call and see if she was okay. Later, found out she was very ill.

Story: There is an old white farm house near the site of the train wreck on route 24. It is severely haunted. My dad lived in this house when he moved from Forrest. I hated to come and visit him. The TV would turn channels by its self and the old wringer washer in the basement would be moved around. Something could always be heard on the stairs and cabinets and drawers would be opened. My brother lived with him here and I would only visit in the summer. I never stayed in the house and would not go in to use the bathroom alone. We played outside a lot. There is a big pole barn in the back and a propane tank towards the side front of the house. There is also a cemetery in the far back of the property. My dad moved a long time ago but still lives in Chatsworth and although his new house looks scary and haunted I am okay to be there. I live near Joliet and to this day I cannot drive by that house and look in that direction. Something or someone is in that house.
I know Chatsworth is haunted. -- Randi C

Response from Slim Pictures: Thanks for your submission. I know you're not the first person to write to us about Chatsworth, Illinois being a haunted town. For those who don't know, Chatsworth is about four hours south of Joliet and two hours west of Evansville, IN. Those of us in Northern Illinois tend to be pretty narrow-sighted in terms of history, often not looking further south than Chicago when it comes to local history. However, the Chatsworth train wreck of 1887 that killed 80 people who were traveling from Peoria, IL to Niagra Falls, NY. You can find out more here. I'd love it if you had any pictures of the house today or from your past there. When was your last visit to the house. Do you believe the hauntings to be linked to the cemetery, to the train wreck or something else? Have you ever done any research on the house?

Reply: This is the house in the background. My brother and dad are looking for any they may have taken when they lived there. Rumor was that they carried some injured to this house, but I have never found anything to support this. I have a request into the historical society to find out the past residents of the house. Another rumor is that one of the men accused of bridge fire lived on this land. No responses yet. I haven't stepped foot on the property since 1985 or so. I have gone past it several times since, but something holds me back from really looking at the house. My brother and I plan to visit my dad soon and are considering stopping by and talking to the current residents if there are any. --Randi Slim Pictures: Thanks for getting back to us. This story is absolutely fascinating. Please do keep me posted. Though it is quite a long way from where I live, if you happen to talk to the new residents and if they state that they experience hauntings, I'd be up for taking a road trip (once the weather warms up) and perhaps meeting up with you.

To the left is the historical marker. The house is visible on the horizon behind it.

Story: While shooting videos for Ursula Bielski's 2007 Chicago Ghost Conference, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Diane Ladley, who had a ton of lesser-known Chicagoland ghost stories to tell. Here are a few of them:

Story: I've recently become very interested in the Peabody Estate, located in the Mayslake Forest Preserve in Oak Brook, IL, near the intersection of 31st St. and Route 83. I was wondering if you had any info pertaining to the Peabody Mansion or St. Paschal's (sp, could be "Pascal's") Friary.
The friary has been abandoned for 12 years and is a thrill to go to. Thanks! --Mike

Response from Slim Pictures: I personally don't know about it, so thanks for the tip. I will post it on my web site and hopefully people will start to add info to it.

Reply: Cool! thanks, I hope you get the chance to visit there some day. I've been inside (unfortunately, set off the alarms in about 15 minutes,) but it looks like everyone just up and left. In the basement, there's a workbench, for example, with carpenters gloves just left there.

Some of Mike's Pictures can be found here:

http://wtdg.net/Andrew/images/photographs/abandoned.jpg
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs21/f/2007/306/5/9/Vacant_by_Gritts.jpg

Story: Have you heard of the haunting of the seminary in Mundelein? The fourth (I think) floor has the ghosts of several young boys or men who died in a fire a long time ago. I was told about this by a former seminarian who had seen them in the early 70s while he attended the seminary. That's why my control of the exact details is so sketchy. If you post it, maybe someone who has better information will respond.

Response from Slim Pictures: Indeed I have heard that the Mundelein Seminary is haunted. My source is a former security guard, but he wouldn't go into any details other than that he's come across some scary scenes. I was hoping to include the Seminary in my book, but I didn't have enough to go on. I hope someone does speak up on this site about the ghost stories. On a somewhat related note, the Mundelein Seminary is mentioned in the book "Muldoon: A True Chicago Ghost Story." In this nonfiction book from Lake Claremont Press, the main character attends school there and is later assigned to a haunted parish. There isn't any info on hauntings in Mundelein, but it's an interesting book nonetheless.

Comment: Got your book and video Book very good, Just wondering about Brads haunted House in Oak Park. I belong to the Ghost Research Society of Oaklawn. We would be interested in any Hauntings that your readers have. Thanks DG

Questions: Hi Scott, I live 15 minutes away from the Stickney Mansion which is located in Bull Valley. Besides the stickney mansion do you know of any other haunted locations in Bull Valley? I heard of an old school burning down with people inside that is believed to be haunted, hear anything about this? Thanks, -- Greg M.

Response from Slim Pictures: Anyone out there have any info on this one?

Story: I am looking for an old abondoned factory/university-looking building. It's a place I saw with a friend while driving to Lake Zurich on Halloween. It was so coool. I saw an old barbed wire gate, had to be on 15 acres... and behind that barbed wire gate was the place. Hundreds of little windows and lots of brick. Definitely abandonded and really, really big, but eerily distant and secluded away from the fence. maybe a quarter mile. I am STILL looking for it.

Response from Slim Pictures: I will post it on my web site and hopefully people will start to add info to it.

Questions: Have you ever heard of any paranormal activity at the corner of Stearn School and Hunt Club involving a rider on horseback? --Bob J.

Response from Slim Pictures: Can't say I have. I'll post something on my web site and see if anyone responds. Do you have any other info than that?

Reply from Bob J: No. One of my coworkers claims she saw this. However, there is a riding stable there ... doubt anyone would be riding at 10:30 pm but who knows?

Story/Question: Hello, my name is Jenn and I need your help with two things. First of all, I too am inquiring about the blue Victorian house over in Willow Springs. It was always an attraction when we were teens and I've always wanted to know the history on it. I have even considered purchasing and restoring it. Please tell me what you know.
Next I would like to know ANYTHING you can tell me about the "building" over in Wadsworth. People say that it's an abandoned mental institute. I have seen it. If you were traveling east on Wadsworth road coming from Hunt Club road you would keep your eye out for a big white house on your right on a dirt road. You would then turn on this dirt road and follow it down quite a ways. Then straight ahead of you there will be what appears to be a big house. There are VERY strange people that will follow you in your car through here. Trust me, I've run into a couple and they're not your typical bunch of people just wanting you to stay out. Needless to say I was scared away. So I went home and looked on line at satellite photos only to find that what I thought was a big house at first was really the "mental institution". It's a very big building with a side entrance and a large wing extending from the back. I compared this photo to those of very large houses and this building was defiantly more than a house.
Please help me. I have tried to research it and found nothing. Please help, Jenn

Response from Slim Pictures:  Jen, As for the house in Willow Springs, I do know of the one you speak, but, since it's a private residence, there is little I, myself, know about it. If you wrote me in the past (others have had the same questions about it as you), I can only refer you to theunexplainedworld.com. The operator of that web site knows much more than I do. In addition, I have recieved word from Willow Springs police officers who have eMailed me to tell me to stop posting info about that particular location on my site (which is pretty laughable since there's almost no mention of it whatsoever on my site).
As for the location in Wadsworth, I am not familiar with it, however I will start looking into it. If anyone out there in Internet land has any information, it is much appreciated by Jenn and myself. However, most importantly, do not tresspass, don't break the law and look out for your own safety at all times.

Response from Jenn: Dear Scott, thanks for letting me know about the house in Willow Springs.
I am also writing you to give you better directions to the "mental institution." I read over my original message to you and you would have gotten lost if you went by that. I will assume that you will be taking 94. If I am right, then you would want to get of on Rt 132/Grand Ave west. Take that to Hunt Club road and make a right (north).You will then take this to Wadsworth Rd. and make a right (east). Now from here you just have to keep your eye out for a dirt road on your RIGHT. It's right before the overpass that takes you over 94. There's a large white house there. Make a right on that dirt road and just keep going until you see what I thought was just a house but is actually THE building that I am speaking of. It has a large circular driveway. Like I said, there are some strange folk back there so be prepared. No police were called on us so at least that was a bonus. Now lets back up for a minute - when you are traveling north on Hunt Club road, you will come to a stop sign at Milburn Rd. You can go left but there's a sign that states NO Outlet to your right, (another dirt road) but there is an outlet. This too will lead you to this house however you will get noticed ALOT sooner taking this route than the first way. I am just letting you know that there is an alternate route. One more piece of advice I can give you is that both of these roads are very very bumpy and rough. They are both extremely dark!!! I will try my best to email you a copy of the aerial photo. Good Luck if you decide to go & thanks Again, Jenn

Response from Bob Jensen (paranormal investigator from Ghostland Society - www.ghostlandsociety.com): In regards to the whole wadsworth aslyum off of hunt club. . . its all BS. Mary met an ex GF of mine that lived back there. those people like their privacy and do what they can to conceal it from everyone.

Question: Hello Scott! We are a small Girl Scout Troop and we were looking to make a mini documentary about spooky places in Lake County IL to give to local the schools. We want to make it lighthearted as these are elementary schools. Could you recommend a book or website that concentrates on just Lake County, IL? I can find all sorts of information on Chicago but that is not where we live. Thank you so much! Teri

Response from Slim Pictures:  That's a tough challenge finding a Lake County only book. The best lead I can give you in the ways of your age category would be a book by Ursul Bielski called "Creepy Chicago : A Ghosthunter's Tales of the City's Scariest Sites." It can be found on Amazon.com for about $18, around $6 used. However, that is not Lake County-centered and I don't even really know how many Lake County stories are in that book. It might be fun to take a more active approach and have the girls talk to their friends and family to uncover local ghost stories and urban legends....some of the taller tales, you'll be able to find the origin of at snopes.com. Good luck!

Question: Scott, me and my friends in the Joliet area are interested in local hauntings and have visited several sites, and have actually purchased your documentary. Are you still currently active in investigating haunts? On your web site it refers you to booking events, what would you actually go over? Please E-mail me back. Thank You. Becky

Response from Slim Pictures: 

Story/Question: I received the book today. Although I have not finished it yet, I will add that Antioch High School, is now remodeled, but when I was there (class of 1996), I used to be in the art classes and pottery class. Very strange things always happened in that hallway. It was also always was the coldest part of the school. My locker used to be in that hallway freshman year. I would find my locker open eventhough I had closed it. I switched lockers against principal rules, but told him I could and would not be in that hallway any longer than I needed to be.

Do you know anything about the movie theater in Antioch, which, I read is haunted as well?

Response from Slim Pictures: 

Story/Question: I was wondering if you had any information about the houses, barn, and supposed five point star on Shoe Factory Road. From what I've heard, there is one house that a kid killed his parents in, and another just across the way which has a barn where either a) a man escaped from an asylum, hid in the barn, and when the family found out, he killed them, or b) the husband thought the wife was cheating, went mad and killed his family, then hung himself in the silo.

I went to the first house a week ago, then returned today to both houses and the barn. The first house is rather small, very destroyed, (everything in it is smashed to pieces), and covered in graffiti and gang signs. The second house was not quite as bad, and much bigger. The stairs to the second floor were still secure, and it looks like someone tore apart boxes full of magazines; there were old curtains, papers, clothes, magazines, schoolwork, all over the place. The most recent date I found was 1982, and the oldest was 1967 or so, and also the name of the owner was Elmer Lauffenburger. There was still some old furniture in the house, a few chairs, a couch, silverware all over, just random odds and ends. In the barn, there is just junk really lying around. I went to the second floor, probably not a good move as several of the floorboards seemed rotted out. There was also random buildings on the property that looked as old as the barn and house. One did not look as old (15, 10 years, maybe) but still deserted. There's also a few random mobile homes. The fields next to it were planted, however, so someone definately owns it. I did not see a pentagon of dead trees, then again, i wasn't really looking for it. The only very slightly odd thing that I noticed was that when I was there last week, I took 2 pictures in the first house on a disposable camera, one of which was of my friend, and the picture was superimpoed on another one of the house, which was strange, because the other picture turned out fine. Ionly took two, and there were no others were double exposed on the camera. Then again, it was a cheap disposable camera, so who knows. I took more today with my good camera, so we'll see.

Basically, I am wondering if you know anything about hauntings, the houses, the barn, or murders on Shoe Factory Road. By the way, we did not hurt either property in anyway, but simply looked around. Thank you for your time! -- Leyla

Response from Slim Pictures: 

Story: I am not sure where this house was, but when I was 16 years old, and now I am 47, we found this deserted mansion, in the Cuba road area.

It was the strangest thing, and it haunts me to this day.

This beautiful home was deserted. Being teenagers, naturally we were drinking beer and exploring the house. It was so huge to us, and we could not believe that someone could just close the door and leave a place like this.

I don't remember much in the main house, but I do remember a smaller house, or guest house, that was on the property across from the main house, and we found all sorts of pictures of the of the house when it was in it's glory, I think I remember being in an attic or upper floor. People were standing in front of the mansion, like a family, and we also found receipts from funerals and very personal stuff. There were lots of law books like the person was a lawyer or something.

It had been ransacked previously, but I vividly remember the pictures of the famlily in front of the mansion. I have often wondered what caused this abandonment and where did the family end up. Can you shed any light on this? -- Lisa

Response from Slim Pictures: 

Question: Hey do you know anything behind the story of Rainbow Road house or the Stone House on Shoe Factory Road? I'm really Interested in the true story of who lived there and what happened to all the people that used to live in those houses. Anything you have would be a big help. because I'm doing a school report on the haunted places in the Barrington area and chicagoland. -- Monica

Response from Slim Pictures: 

Story/Question: I've lived in Oak Park all my 19 years. I am really into ghosts and all. I'll tell you my best story and worst moment in video history... Me and about 7 or 8 other friends went to Bachelor's Grove in Midlothian. Caught an awesome orb floating for about 20 sec around my friends and the stone of the dug up grave. I showed everyone I knew, so about 30 people saw it! But one day I got it ready to put on my computer and forgot about it... next time we went needless to say it got recorded over! >:o! It all started from that... We did get rather odd orbs with my friends diggy cam at Woodlawn in Forest Park but they are debatable... you can have a look if you'd like. (After all that) My reason for E~Mailing is to learn more about Oak Park and the Oak Park areas hot spots to gain further incite. My friend’s house is really haunted on the north side of Oak Park. Strange poundings, foot steps, and door slams on his 3rd floor. We have yet to look into it due to college and all. Any incite would be much appreciated! Thanks a lot.~Brad

Response from Slim Pictures: 

Question: Hey, I was surfing the web and I came across the whole Rainbow Road hauntings. My father and I have driven down there and spotted an enterance blocked by a gate leading to nothing...atleast from what I can see. Do you know what is exactly behind that gate. Also, I heard that big glass house has a story behind it. I am interested in your book, where can I buy it? Thank you for your time -- Aly Pecka

Response from Slim Pictures:  Aly - Yes, by finding that area blocked off by a gate, you did find the place known as the House on Rainbow Road. I do have a few pictures in my photo gallery section (slimpictures.com/ghostpicture.htm). You can also read the introduction to the Cuba Road chapter, which covers Rainbow Road (slimpictures.com/cubaroad.htm). The CD-ROM that comes with the boook has a number of pictures and video clips of what's beyond those gates. I have heard recently that the remainder of the buildings back there have since been bulldozed in order to construct new homes on the land, but I have not been able to stop by and verify that. What was back there was a three story abandoned mansion that, by many accounts, was incredibly haunted. You can purchase the book online at slimpictures.com/slimstore.htm
The book can also be purchased in person at:
Witchy Wearables
147th & Kilbourn, Midlothian, IL

As for the 'big glass house' you speak of, I admit I have no information about it, but I hope that someone speaks up with anything they may have heard.  eMail me here!

Response from w00t!! (a fellow reader): I have been there once before last year - about July, maybe August. I saw what looks like more of a barn, and silo, of which also had a doghouse next to it. Laying next to those buildings I saw a foundation for something. it seemed to me to be a foundation for a greenhouse of some sort. I say greenhouse because in the foundation there was broken pots for plants, remains of soil in crevases, nails that looked to have been burned and rusted, and alot of glass. Now this isn't for certain, but I think the glass house Aly speaks of was a greenhouse at one time or another, as for the story behind it....I know nothing of a story behind it. I'd love to hear something about that myself.

I would like to add that when me and my friends went there we decided to look around the backside of the barn and there was a 6 maybe 7 ft tall sliding door (no longer able to slide...the poles and brackets that it had been on rusted together making it impossible to open. The door led into the basement of the barn. When we approached the door written on it was "do not open," "dead bodies inside" scattered across it, my friend who's built like the hulk decided to pull on the handled a couple times till he managed to break the back door off, looking inside of it layed, rolled-up carpets, which were the most prominant items noticable in there along with other junk, we deicded against venturing in because the barn was delapitated and that was just freaky knowing that it was a a mafia house at one time. Also when we looked in the ground-level area there was some phone line in there and other misc. junk like a lawn mower and stuff....maybe people dumped stuff there. Also as for the third level of the barn which, I would not go onto any further than the
stairs, if you looked up there you could see with just the tiniest bit of sunlight beaming in that there was a single sewing machine upstairs.

I heard there was an asylum on the property (which I'm lead to believe is a lie) but, in search of that, we went through the thick forest behind the barn...a path which branchs off into 2 directions will lead you to the forest. There wasnt much to see...there's a small creek, some phone lines and markers for whatever. We went all the way through that forest till we hit some upscale houses. There was no asylum to be found.

On our trip, as mentioned previously by other peopl,e we did see a camera box hidden in the tree with wires yanked out of it and smashed up pretty dang good to the right of the gates. Also I didn't see a thing writen in the road as one person had stated seeing "Dr. Tibol" in it. The road was pretty badly beaten up so, who knows, maybe it's there but I highly doubt it. I was watching the driveway pretty closely because of it being so badly ripped up, I was on bike...if I didn't I woudlve been eating asphault. On bike is a pretty good way of gettng in and out real fast if we needed, if you can I'd recommend that to people if they wanted to look around for themselves.

Side note: January 15th, 2005 after seeing the a bad movie "White Noise," we deicded to go and see the graveyard on Cuba Road so we went down Rainbow Road and drove past where the gates stood when I went to the house in July. The gates arent standing any longer and the tree that had the camera in it was cut down. I'm not sure about this part but I could've sworn seeing a bull dozer sitting mext to where the tree stump was where the camera had been hiden in the tree. None of my friends I was with had knowledge of the house on Rainbow Road so they didn't want to stop to check it out...they didnt believe me that there was anything there from that decievingly long driveway..they were also scared and it was freezing .

We went to the cemetery on Cuba Road...It was quite boring actually...the driver and my other friend didn't wanna go so me and a fourth person went in, jumped the fence to avoid having the huge lightpole turn on next to the gates. Then we got a little too close to the pole after just looking around so it went off and we took off before the cops came....looked for orbs but no such luck :(

Story/Question: I'm pretty sure my house is haunted. I'm never that sure what to think when weird stuff happens in my house. My parent's think I'm nuts whenever I say our house is haunted. There have been a few really freaky things that have happend to me. I live in Plainfield. My parents say our house was built on farm land. There was one night I remember so clearly. I was 8, I think. I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, so I got up. I looked down the hall to the kitchen and saw a girl about my age then standing at the fridge, getting some water. She was just standing there, drinking the water and looking at the magnets and pictures of my brother and I. I thought it was my friend, who might have spent the night until I remembered it was a school night. I freaked out and jumped back in bed. Nothing more like that happend for a while. I learned to not look down the hall when I woke up to go to the bathroom. My friend and I are Wiccans so we believe Oujia boreds really do work. Last year on Halloween, we were working with her and we contacted a little girl that was alive during the Civil War and had her throat slit by Confederate soliders. There have also been cases of me seeing things out of the corner of my eye. There was one other thing the scared the hell out of me. I was standing in the door way of my bathroom while I was putting my belt on and I looked up. I saw someone through the foyer wall into my living room. I booked it out to my bus. I've also heard people walking around behind me as I'm at the computer. Last year, I even had a ghost...stalker for lack of better words. It's all starting to really get the better of me. Is there anyway to figure out if my house is haunted? -- Jessica

Response from Slim Pictures:  Jessica, First off, thanks for sharing your interesting story.  It certainly does sound like there's quite a bit going on at your place.  First thing's first though, always remember to determine something happening as being a paranormal event as a last resort.  Skepticism is one of the best traits a paranormal investigator should have.  As fir Oujia boards, I'm sure you're aware that they have the potential to be dangerous and the answers you get aren't necessarily true stories - even if you are getting answers from the other side.  Tall tales, jokes and outright lies are just as common coming from people living or dead.  As for getting an answer, I would suggest contacting a medium such as McHenry's Denise Guzzardo, Mundelein's Susan Wiseheart, or Chicago's Dave Black (sos-chicago.com).  Good luck with your quest and keep us posted!

Question/Comment: Hello Scott, I received your book on Monday and I have not put it down yet. Thank you very much it is very informative!!!!

I l led several ghost hunts this year to Robinson Woods. Last year I caught many highly glowing orbs and colored ones as well. I have so far caught two orbs and had many temperature changes this year. The digital thermometer went from 57 degrees to 46 degrees and in another area on a different night it went from 47 degrees to 61 degrees. I am going to head back there next Friday with my group. We will be heading however to Cuba Rd first on the night of 10/29/04 to examine White Cemetery and the bridge with the suicide. I have been to the asylum last year several times. We had a friend who would drive around because of the parking issue and a small group of us would deploy and look around for about 45 minutes. We would then call him and he would come and get us. Unfortunately he is now in San Francisco. Anyway those are the ghost-hunting plans for next week. Thanks Again - Dan

Response from Slim Pictures:  Dan, I'm very happy to hear that you're happy with the book. Feel free to submit your stories and/or pictures to the web site. Of course have fun and be careful on Oct. 29, but also keep a look out. Being such a well-known ghost site, the Cuba Road area is highly patroled.

This same letter was sent to fellow ghost hunters/researchers Henry Pena (chicagoghosthunterssociety.net), Dale Kaczmarek (ghostresearch.org) and John Cachel (http://pages.prodigy.net/ghostfish/)

Question: My wife and I have been interested in "ghost hunting" for years.  We have also been researching the subject for years.  We recently broke down and started buying some equipment (no touch infra red thermometer, EMF detector, assorted audio recorders) along with our existing Sony camcorder w/ night vision, digital and analog cameras.  So I assure you this interest is not seasonal.  Now I am starting to reach out to the Chicagoland paranormal community and see what is going on.  Does your club get together often, share info, that kinda stuff?

We have a little tour scheduled for the 22nd of October, kinda for my wife's birthday on the 21st.  Nothing truly scientific, more for fun, seeing that we have 14 chicagoland spots to hit.  But I truly hope to begin scientific and professional investigations for fun.   We have taken a few popular ghost tours and always came away saying "we can do better".  These tours always make me feel like a tourist in my own town.

Like I said I am just beginning to reach out to the community and see what is going on outside.

Have you heard of any activity at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park IL?  I work in Oak Park and have dealt with the "Home and studio" often.  I think I might get permission for an opportunity to conduct an extensive study in the building.  Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Steve

Response from Slim Pictures:  There are certainly a lot of drawbacks to bus tours, just the nature of the beast: it's hard to create an intimate atmosphere when there are a few dozen other people walking around you snapping off pictures and some places you may want to visit don't welcome busses full of tourists, so they are off limits to you.  Before you go on  your self-guided tour, please send me your list of locations.  Likely I've been to most of them and I may have a good tip to share with you from my experience.

Unlike the others you eMailed, my organization is a production company that does a lot of different work.  It just so happens that we have produced a video and a book/CD-ROM about Chicago ghosts.  I consider myself a ghost reasearcher rather than hunter (though I respect anyone looking to learn more).  Other than speeches, we do not have events or meetings.  Of all of Chicago's 'names' in this field, I would endorse anything Ursula Bielski or Troy Taylor does.  The same goes for Dave Black of sos-chicago.com.

Not being a ghost hunter I cannot contribute much technical information, however I would say - don't go anywhere without infrared camcorder or analog camera.  There are debates regarding whether or not digital cameras pick anything up.  I'm undecided, but tend to lean away from digital.  Troy Taylor would have most anything you'd want to know on prairieghosts.com.

As for the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, I have heard that it was haunted, but that's all I heard.  We were given that tip too close to the deadline of our book to be able to research it.  Whenever we to a revisited version of the book, we will look into it and a number of other Oak Park locations we've heard were haunted.  Good luck and above all, be safe out there!

Story: There are railroad tracks that run along side Manhiem road. Where I-90 crosess over the tracks at the bridge, early in the morning you can see a bum sitting on the tracks drinking, you can here the sound of a train whistle grow louder and louder and then whisp past you like a real frieght train it last about five minutes and then both the train sounds and the man are gone. I have lived in Des Plaines my whole life, and never belived this was true, untill one night comming home from work early in the morning, I herd a train, but knew there wasn't suppost to be one. Scared half out of my mind, I pulled the car over and parked and started walking tord the tracks, when I got close sure as anything there was the bum drinking on the track, only you could see right threw him. And a train whiped past me for what felt like forever but there was no train. When the wind was gone so was the bum. -- leslie kerner

Response from Slim Pictures:  Wow, that is amazing, truly incredible. Of all my time researching ghosts in Illinois and all my time living in Lake County, I have never heard of this story or location. When you say "a train whiped past me for what felt like forever but there was no train," are you saying that you saw a train, but it eventaully vanished, or was there never a visual representation, simply sounds and wind? I'm just trying to get a visual and find out a little more. Just out of curiosity when did this happen and is this a well-known story in Des Plaines.

Response from Leslie K (a fellow reader):You never see the train, only hear the whistle and feel the wind. I am 27 and my brother in his thirties. It is well known for people my age and my brother and kids who lived in that part of Des Plaines. I remember being very little and that is where bums used to live and teenagers used to drink. I have looked up everthing I can to try to find out if one of them died there but haven't been able to find anything out. I do know there was a girl raped there when I was in grade school and that we were always told to stay away from there.

Story: It's a real long-shot case to investigate because there isn't much to the haunting activity; usually only the workers know of it: The "Lady in Red" at the old Alcyon Theater (now the Highland Park Theater). She walks down the right-hand balcony aisle and if anyone makes fun of her, she gets back at them by playing pranks; when I worked there, we heard a loud noise like the sound of a boiler pinging (the theater has no boiler) in the main theater. We found nothing when we walked the aisles and when we apologized for the disturbance to the moviegoers, no one had heard a sound!! The Alcyon was a Vaudeville theater so we felt that she had simply returned to happy memories after she died. Perhaps the owner might have more information, I don't know. Might be worth looking into.

There's also St. Mary's Convent on St. Mary's and Old Rockland Rd. in Mettawa (east Libertyville) that I've been investigating....a white figure has been seen in the south wing of the old building.  The statue of St. Mary "entrances" people who stare into her eyes. The son who restored it is not the nicest of people, but his father, who lives in the main house off to the side of it, is afraid of the place, hardly ever taking his eyes off of it. -- S. Frumin

Response from Slim Pictures:  Great stories!  Thanks for your submissions.  The tale about Alcyon Theater is a new one to me, but sounds very much like stories I've heard about the Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock, Il.  Seems there are a few actresses out there waiting for one last curtain call.  I'd be interested in hearing anything more you might find out about St. Mary's Convent.  Libertyville already has more than its fair share of hauntings (St. Sava's Serbian Monastary, "The Gate," plus several haunted houses), and I'm sure the best stories haven't been told yet.  Please do keep us posted!

Reply:  Where's St. Sava's??

One quick question about the Gate.....when you did your research, did you find any concrete evidence of a school having been there (like an old map, church records, etc.) and if you found a diocese it belonged to, which one?  Someone challenged me to find out about the REAL place (not the ghost story) and I've had bum luck finding any factual evidence.

I do plan to purchase your book and DVD this coming week (payday) to hear more of the ghost stories of The Gate!

Response from Slim Pictures (2):  First off, St. Sava's is on Route 21 (Milwaukee Ave) near to the border of Gurnee.  You can practically see Six Flags from the driveway.  (it's covered in the book - that story alone will be worth the pay day you have coming up!  It's one of my personal favorites...still gives me chills!)

Next, some of the research on "The Gate" came from Ursula Bielski's "More Chicago Haunts."   When I lived in Mundelein I was in the unique position of giving speeches about haunted sites near to where the sites actually were.  Often, after a speech people would come up to me telling me of their experiences.  When giving one speech in Libertyville, a man came to me and told me that when he bought an older used car, a sign was left in the trunk.  The sign was for the orphanage that was back in that area.  It also helps that my family was among the first to settle in Lake County, so after all these years, the family has accumulated quite a bit of local history knowledge.  I also got testimony from a woman living next to "The Gate," who could vouch for the hauntings from her own accounts.  I have a lot of confidence in Ursula Bielski's research, she is one of the best in the business at finding historical fact.

Story:       When I was younger, we lived with my grandmother in her house in Calumet City, IL. I don't know the history of the house at all, but it is very creepy there. I remember being very young and laying in bed in my bedroom by the bathroom, when I heard someone in there use the bathroom and then I heard the shower turn on. I thought nothing of it until I rolled onto my back and saw all the steam pouring into my room. When I checked, the bathroom light was off, and the shower was on full blast hot water. Nobody was in the bathroom.
        My mother also told me that when she and my stepfather were there alone for the weekend one time, they cleaned up my toys and put them in the room before going to the grocery store. When they returned, a toy was sitting in each spot that they had been sitting on, on the couch.  Also, the garbage can was moved from it's normal spot to in front of a curio cabinet in the dining room, where the door was open, as if someone had been looking for something. There was also now dust on the coffee table and a "D" was written in it and was circled as well...my mom's name is Dawn. My step father searched the house with a gun, but found nothing and all the doors and windows were locked. She also told me that she used to see a man out of the corner of her eye, but she never mentioned it to anybody until one day my step dad told her that he kept seeing this man out of the corner of his eye and described the same man.
        When I used to have friends spend the night we would sleep in the living room, late at night when everyone was asleep, we could hear the kitchen cabinets opening and closing. My grandfather died last year and now my grandmother lives alone in the house. She swears the house isn't haunted and never was, but she did tell me of a strange occurrence that has been happening recently. She wakes up in the middle of the night to someone knocking on her front door. She goes to the front door, but no one is there.
      There is a very scary room in the basement that I refuse to go in because I am afraid of it, but I think it has something to do with the hauntings. It is located in a very small back room in the basement. The wall to the room has been knocked out because when my grandparents moved there, my grandfather knew there had to be a room behind that wall, so he knocked it out. The room behind it is very small and has a dirt floor. My mother and I both think that somebody was murdered there and buried in that room and then it was sealed, but we have nothing to go on because we don't know anything about the house other than the fact that it is well over a hundred years old and was at one time used as either an apartment house with very small one room apartments or some kind of boarding house. We would love to know the history, if you would find the time or curiosity to look into it.

Response from Slim Pictures:  Unfortunately for you, I cannot personally look into your case as I am now living in Honolulu working on my next book.  However, there are several things you and your family can do to satisfy your curosities.  On the historic side, go to your local historical society.  On the metaphysical and acientific side you can contact psychics and other mediums.  The best way to find a 'legit' one would probably be by contacting Dave Black and his group at sos-chicago.com/sos.html.  Also, you might decide to try Ed Shanahan at theunexplainedworld.com.  They might be interested in your story enough that they'll want to bring their small television crew, which would include video cameras and people who are sensitive to the 'other side.'  Keep us posted!

Story: There's an apartment place in Mundelein that I swear is haunted. Washington Apartments off of Alanson. I was at my friend Amy's apartment sleeping over. This might be back in 96 or so. She lived on the first floor of the building that is on the left when you enter from the front entrance. We, of course, were playing with the weejee board. (i hate actually spelling it, creeps me out.) After a while Amy went to sleep on the couch and I was lying on the futon on the floor. I was watching this comedy show when I decided to go to sleep. I turned off the TV and closed my eyes, and fell asleep. I woke up to the sound of the TV going on and off, on and off. Amy was moaning on the couch like she was having a bad dream. I assumed that she fell asleep on the remote and by her movement, she was making the TV go spastic. So I raised my head up to wake her and I looked on the floor. The TV remote was right in front of me, Amy was not on it and some "thing" was turning the TV on and off. So I quickly placed my head down, saying the lords prayer over and over, and I fell asleep to the sounds of my words and the TV going off and on. I woke up to the news being on the TV and Amy's mom was in the kitchen making breakfast. I assumed she turned on the TV to listen to the news and I was just dreaming. So I went in to say good morning. She said, "I woke up and the TV was on. I didn't want to turn it off because I didn't want to wake you girls." I stood there in shock, because I remember fully well, turning off the TV before I went to bed. That means that Amy was having a nightmare and that my bad dream was real. There was no other way for the TV to be going on and off other than some invisible hand doing it. My body was lying right in front of the TV and my eyes were right on the remote. Let's just say I was totally freaked out.

There was another time in another apartment there where we had some problems with weird feelings and glowing eyes out of paintings. But I'll save that for another time. Plus, we were stupid enough to use the weejee. They really have to put a warning label on those things.

Response from Slim Pictures:  Keep me in suspense no longer.  What's the glowing eye story???

Reply: It's really hard for me to tell the glowing eyes story without flying my hands all over the place. (I should have been Italian) And then I can't type. Well, I'll try. Keep in mind, we were all high schoolers. So we didnt' know better.

Same apt. complex, different wing, and of course different apartment. Amy, Joe and I were doing some "Healing" things like laying of hands, and other holistic stuff we thought we knew we were doing in a bedroom. Amy, Joe, and I were all holding hands in a triangle on the bed. Well, Amy "Felt" Something outside the window. A light, and she said it asked her to come in. She said it was a good spirit. So she "let it in" and it was talking to her. Then all of a sudden she gasped for air and I felt this shockwave go through her to Joe to Me and out my other arm and back to her. She started really crying and felt something bad. Joe and I started saying the Lords Prayer (the only thing I felt worked) and when we were done doing that he decided to do the Hail Mary. Then he started to feel really bad and "icky" and in pain. I told them all to get out of the bedroom. So here we were running out of the bedroom, Amy's crying and lying down in the hallway, and Mike's mom is going "What the hell is going on!" We came back inside his bedroom and discussed what happened. Now there's this old picture on his wall that almost looks Napolionesk. I felt something to my right and I looked at it and it's eyes glowed red for a few seconds and diminished.

So that's the story of the glowing eyes. It's much better when i tell it in person. Who knows if what we felt was real or just a bit of our imagination running wild because of what we experienced in Amy's apartment. But I gotta tell you. That place still freeks me out when I pass it.

Story:  I was looking at your site.I love it. only one thing. you guys have one of the sites listed as the flight of 191... des plaines mobile home park. wrong! it was actually touhy mobile homes park. i know because i live there. the plane had crashed in the field next to the park.  The engine was laying on the ground down the street from where i now live. between trailer 67 & 66....... it was a horrible crash. I was not living here at the time. however i- like you guys live to find ghosts.

After living here for quite sometime. i can tell you that i feel alot of the horror here in the park from that crash. i just wanted you guys to correct the web page and say that it was touhy mobile home park.... not des plaines. des plaines is the next park over from  here. if you guys ever get the chance please come out here and check out the crash site......... i think you would find it to be interesting to say the least.....

Touhy mobile home park is located right next to the k-9 place.. the park right next to that one is called Des Plaines mobile home park.. I live on that side on the park ( the left side of the park closest to the k-9 place) The park that everyone lists in books is wrong. always has been. The landlord here is totally against bad raps that this trailer park gets from the airplane crash. When the accident happened I was living in Arlington hts. ( not too far away from des plaines ) When I moved here I had heard about the crash and began asking the local residents about the crash. I have always had a sort of "pull" to ghost sites.  After questioning a ton of people in here. I went to go look around the land behind my house. I can feel vibrations and you just " know" this place has several " ghosts."

But I can tell you that someone needs to come out here and check out this whole area. Over 200 people died when this plane went down. Some of the people were never found. My mother in law did clean up there on that night. I guess children were on the plane as well. I believe that these ghosts are what I call "recording ghosts" every year they repeat the same actions.

I am moving very soon. I bought a home in Antioch, IL. Have you guys heard anything about the history out there at all (Antioch H.S. Abbey Woods, etc.)? I do know the town was founded in 1853 or something like that. and that there was a huge fire around the turn of the century, claiming many lives. Also anything thats around water has some paranormal action to it.  Please let me know if you guys have anything on lake county at all. Esp. Antioch. -- Janet

Response from Slim Pictures:  Janet, as far as Antioch High School is concerned, there is no concrete edivence as to why it is haunted. One student died in the gymnasium and another died during a school-sponcered Halloween function, but it is the art wing in the basement of the school that is haunted. The haunting has been acknowledged by students, teachers, and the principal, although the principal is attempting to keep it quiet, ignore what's happening. Abbey Woods is actually the grounds of monastary, so, technically, even visiting the area is tresspassing. From what I've been told through interviews the area was very often used for "Fight Clubs" ever since the movie "Fight Club" came out. Also, I know one Antioch HS teen attempted suicide on the land, however they did not die. The amount of info on the location I've found so far is really not enough. That's why, after doing interviews, we decided not to include it in the book we put out.

However, "The Gate" (a Lake County Haunt), Antioch High School, and the crash of Flight 191 is in the book. I have not come across any Antioch hauntings relating to the fire, but you are absoluetely right that it's worth looking into further. Places like Antioch, Milburn, Waukegan, and Crystal Lake are really overshadowed in the ghost community by places like Lake Forest, Cuba township, and Justice, IL, and overshadowed in the historical community by Chicago and, again, Lake Forest despite the fact that these smaller towns have a long and rich history.  As far as "The Gate" is concerned, I have a page on my site that has pretty much everything I know on it. Check out www.slimpictures.com/thegate.htm.   Lastly, ghost images on film. I can say without a doubt that we've captured images on still photo film and on infrared videotape that we cannot fully explain. On video in Bachelor's Grove we captured strange lights and even the image of a boy on infrared video. In most images of the type it's a far-off blur, but in this case the boy is standing in front of a tree about four feet from the camera. Also, this image was only descovered upon returning home and watching the video again - we did not notice it at the time.  It's a very safe estimate to say we've visited known haunted locations - always with video and photo equipment - at least 500 times, but we never expect to see/experience/photograph anything unusual. It's rare that we ever do. saying this, we've had the most 'success' at Bachelor's Grove Cemetery (Midlothian) and Robinson Woods Indian Burial Grounds (Norridge).  All the best & keep your questions coming!

Response from Faeriesdust74 (a fellow reader): I am responding to a question about Antioch, IL. I attended Antioch High for a couple of years and never heard of hauntings, but that was back in the late '80s/early'90s. However, while I attended Antioch, many students died in crashes, suicides, and there was also a murder committed by a classmate against another classmate. I lived in Oakwood Knolls subdivision and had been to Abbey Woods often. There was many sighting in and around the Abbey itself. Antioch is also known to have been a retreat area for Al Capone. It's said he owned a house in Antioch and that it's haunted.

Haunted Chatsworth:

I currently live in Chatsworth, IL, which is known for one of the worst train wrecks in American history in 1887. I believe this town has many ghosts. It is a very small town of 1300 people. I bought an old house that was built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. I believe this house to be haunted. Often while taking pictures, many strange things show up in them and while walking on the stairs, people often feel as of they are being pushed. Several accidents have happened on these stairs. The attic door opens by itself and things are heard throughout the house as if people are moving about when I am the only one home. Have you heard of any other hauntings in this area?

Story:  Me and my friends are ghost hunters we have been there, we saw the five tree mark, then in the tree mark there was a red light in the middle of the five trees. incase you don't remever anything about the five trees, it's right by the swing set (behind the barn).

Does anyone know anything about the insane asylum on Lake Zurich Road?   We have been there and traveled all around the place, and found documents.  I just want to know the story behind it. I have not only been to the house of Rainbow Road, but also inside the asylum, and my friends took pictures and we got photos of actual ghost, then all are bateries died, and it got really cold and stuff. The road is off of Cuba Road, you go down and take a right on Lake Zurich Road.  At the asylum you can take pictures and when they come out you get picturess of ghost, its freaky yet exsiting. --Troy

Reply from another Reader: I have been to the house twice. The first time the "Guest House" next to the barn was still there and the second time it had been torn down. There was never an insane Asylum on the property. It did belong to a family who were killed there around Christmas. There is currently a care-taker, who takes care of the property so anything new there is from him. I would suggest not going on the property because the last time I was there, the care-taker was there. Since we left without doing anything he didn't call the poliece, but my cousin's friend had the poliece called on him and is no longer allowed to go on or near the property. Again, there is nothing left there to look at and they are currently trying to sell the property. But, yes the house was and the property is haunted. -Rachel