I grew up on the South Side of Chicago.  It's a tough, no-nonsense kind of place.  Either you get with the program or the program spits you out…in pieces.  Many neighborhoods within the South Side have roots in the "Old Country."  Funny how the "Old Country" actually represents a bunch of countries.  Anyway, that implies that along with pierogies, goulash, and heavy beers…the people also brought with them certain superstitions and various ghost stories.

Yet, the most famous ghost story told wasn't from the Old Country.  It was from right there on the South Side.  It was the story of Resurrection Mary.  Everyone knew a guy whose brother worked for a guy whose cousin, on his mother's side, knew this girl who dated a guy whose father actually encountered Resurrection Mary.  (Chicago is like that.  Very connected.  You're always two guys away from anything.  Need a new TV?  "I know a guy who knows another guy…who knows of a truck that TV's just happen to be falling out of."  Need some plutonium?  "I know a guy whose got this guy that works in shipping for labs, no problems."  Ghost stories, you're still connected, it just takes more people, usually a good 5 or 6.)

Anyway, it never occurred to me to write about it.  I guess I just kind of assumed that it was local and not a big deal.  Not until I read this story about her in the Examiner (which is quickly becoming my favorite site for tom-foolery, shenanagins and overall nuttiness) did I learn differently:

 http://www.examiner.com/x-16975-Grand-Rapids-New-Age-Examiner~y2009m8d3-Resurrection-Mary-The-Midwests-Most-Famous-Ghost

Here's another link that talks a bit more about the cemetary itself:

 http://trueillinoishaunts.com/a-2007/resurrection-cemetery/

And one more, just a few more tales:

http://www.ghostresearch.org/sites/resurrection/

I've been down Archer Avenue past the cemetery maybe…I don't know…a thousand times?  All times of the day and night.  I never saw anything but maybe I just have bad luck…or good luck…depending upon your point of view.  The cemetery itself is kind of nice actually.  It really doesn't have that classic "spooky" vibe to it, even at night.  Without the stories of Mary, I don't think people would really even look at it for ghosts or whatever.

I've seen stories or articles on this ghost for a long while but I never bothered to click on any of the links because I know the stories pretty well.  I just wasn't aware that it was one of the most famous and most documented cases in the US.

So, this kind of intrigued me.  What's the most famous ghost story where you live now or have lived in the past?  And have you been to the location?  And if so, what are your thoughts on it?

StanTheMan said:

However something even more interesting is located in Norton – the Devil's foot print.  The legend is that the late 1600's/early 1700's a man suddenly became very wealthy with no apparent means - except selling his soul to the Devil.   Upon his death the Devil came to claim the soul but was interupted by the man's family.   The Devil took the body and jumped out the window landing on a large rock.    To this day there is a fairly deep impression in the rock where the Devil's foot landed and burnt in.    I have seen it and it is impressive.

Hmmm…pretty interesting.  Apparently, that's not the only "Devil print" in the area.  Thanks for bring this up.  Here's a site that has a few pictures and tells a couple of stories about them:

http://www.boudillion.com/devilsfootprints/devilsfootprints.htm

JoftheInternet said:

I myself have been there several times(all in the day time, because I have a fear of being arrested…)and haven't really experienced anything that I could write home about.  Distant voices and weird sounds, but that can probably be attributed to the nearby 143rd.

I had heard about Bachelor's Grove when I was still in Chicago, but really only in reference to Al Capone and him supposedly dumping bodies there.  I've never been there myself since there was never really a reason for me to go to Oak Forest or Midlothian.

A few years back, I swear a saw a show that featured this place.  It was a short lived paranormal show that feature older teens checking out haunted locations.  I can't remember the name of it or even the channel it was on.  The only thing that drew my attention was that they were in Illinois.  From the pictures that I've seen, it "looked" like the same place.  Anyway, the show itself was dreadful.  I wasn't surprised that it was canceled…I was surprised that it was even made in the first place…

And by the way, if interested, in the second link in my original post, this location is listed.  If you want to check it out, look in the column on the right.  It's listed under the 2007 heading.

JoftheInternet said:

Rev-  I totally remember watching that show!  And you're right, it was horrible.  Especially when you know how large(or in this case, tiny) BG actually is.  I don't remember what the exact situation was, but it was pertaining to someone hearing or seeing something..and the unspoken reality that it was from a spot that was like, 10 feet away from them.  Crap, I wish I could remember how it went.

---

I know.  It's driving me crazy now.  Usually I'm pretty good with names of shows too.  I saw another one.  A couple of girls went to a shack/cabin/house out west somewhere.  Something made a noise and they went screaming out of the house.  I felt bad for the sound-guy.  He probably still can't hear well after that…   I'll keep digging and see if I can find the name of that show.

Blinddog- The Bonaventure cemetery looks amazing.  Thanks for the link.  The only cemetery that I've personally seen that could maybe rival it is the Recoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  I haven't looked for ghost stories about it, but I'm sure it has to have a few. 

Now, if only we could get the ghost dogs from Bonaventure cemetery to chase out the feral cats at the Recoleta cemetery…we'd be golden.  It's very odd looking at a mausoleum and then turning around to see a cat staring into the same one.