Clare (not her real name) grew up in a stone house that used to be an inn along an old stagecoach route. So the ghosts she lived with while growing up were just part of her family’s history. “My mother always talked about seeing the ghosts of a little boy with his governess or nanny,”…
Category: Freaky Friday
Orbs
Last week I had the opportunity to speak with the Lake Carroll Women’s Club and tell some ghost stories. I had a great time, they were a wonderful audience. Afterwards, one of the women came up to me and asked me what I thought about orbs. She mentioned a friend who has taken photos of…
Say Cheese
On Wednesday, July 12, a trucker named Saul Vazquez encountered a traffic accident on the highway heading the opposite direction from where he was headed. On his Facebook page he wrote, “I took this picture just few minutes ago from the cab of my truck. It was an accident between Campton and Stanton on the…
Oakdale Nature Preserves
Oakdale Nature Preserve is one of the most peaceful settings in the Freeport area. Once out amongst the trees and the birds, you really hate to leave. This is the story of someone who never did. Jim, the former supervisor at Oakdale, has had several experiences with this long time nature lover. “The first time…
Tales Around the Campfire
The sun has set, the moon is rising and the frogs have begun their starlight serenade. As the darkness rolls in, you move closer to the campfire, closer to that circle of light. You look over your shoulder, gazing into the woods that surround you. You jump when the fire pops and you laugh nervously…
The Corner of Your Eye
A few years ago, when I still had my office in our walk-up attic, I had a very interesting experience that led me to learn something new about ghosts. I often wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and go to my office and write. (The advantage of having your office…
Kitchen Help
There is a family who lives in the Freeport area who has very unusual kitchen help. “We’ve lived here since the late 70’s,” said Doris (not her real name). “Our dining room and living room are right next to each other, separated by an archway. From one chair in the living room, you can see…
Stairwalker
After a program at the local library I was giving on ghost stories, a family of four approached me. They had sat quietly in the back of the room for the entire program and hadn’t offered to share anything, so I thought they were just there to listen. I found out I was wrong. “I…
Power Outage
Where were you when the lights went out? It was an exceptionally warm May evening, just a few weeks ago. Our family was gathered around the table chatting when suddenly, the power went out. Living in rural northwest Illinois, occasional power outages are just part of life. Whether it’s a combine taking out a power…
Hum
The young, college-aged man had come home for the week-end. He had enjoyed several days of visiting with both family and friends, although his last visit with friends had ended up much longer and later than he had planned. Which was why he was struggling out of bed well past his usual time. He made…