According to Troy Taylor, the land that would become Greenwood was originally an Amerindian burial ground, and then was later used by the first white settlers to bury their dead until the late 1830s. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: This long-abandoned building operated as an asylum from 1959 to 1986, and now it is rumored to be haunted. A very hard day for us losing two places at one time. Like Peoria (Bartonville) State Hospital, Manteno was laid out in a âcottage plan,â which meant that the patients were housed in a series of separate buildings rather than in one single institution. There are many places that have become abandoned over the years for one reason or another, and some of their stories are truly heartbreaking. In 2011, Electrolux closed its office in Bloomington and moved to Charlotte, NC.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'mysteriousheartland_com-box-4','ezslot_2',109,'0','0'])); Chanute Air Force Base opened in Rantoul in July 1917 and was a vital part of the local economy for nearly 76 years. In the woods to the northeast, however, sits a rickety steel bridge, currently collapsed into the water. Learn more about this small town, Burials at this cemetery began around 1840 and ceased around 1989. The Truly Grim Reality Of 8 Deserted Ghost Towns In Illinois. As a matter of fact, I’ve even built visits to abandoned places into trips. Abandoned structures like the Damen Silos on the South Side of Chicago harken back to the city’s past as a thriving industrial center. So if you know where it is, now is the time to go! According to legend, his blood seeped into the stone floor and formed an outline of his body. Flickr/ken fager. The most haunted places are the basement, and the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th floors. 3 Bed 1 Bath House 21953 W IL ROUTE 176 15 plus acres of rolling land and 2 plus … Chicago, Illinois The 606 aka Bloomingdale Trail Treasure seekers soon tore the mansion apart, but no one has ever found Azariahâs gold. Since the hospitalâs closure, many people have visited its remains and have come away with strange stories. Of course, some say it's haunted. After a stroll through the legendary ruins of Joliet Iron Works , I headed to the massive walled-off prison compound that lies just north of the abandoned steel mill. Learn more from previous Only In Illinois coverage. Visitors can still see remnants of the community and learn how they engineered their way of life. Though it is not available for general tours, groups may schedule times to conduct their own paranormal investigations. Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in Southern Illinois sits an abandoned town you must visit before it withers away completely. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Some visitors have reportedly seen the ghost of a lady in black wandering the grounds. Once one of the world's great cities, Cahokia was a place of religious worship, trade and mass human sacrifice before being mysteriously abandoned. Other people soon arrived to live and work there, but the isolated nature of the resort impeded its growth. Several of the original gazebos remain behind. Old Book, as he was sometimes called, mourned the passing of each and every person he helped inter in the cemetery. When it first opened, Manteno accommodated 6,620 total residents. Waukegan, Illinois 64.7 miles from Rockford, IL. Police say the suspect made small talk before he pulled a gun, robbed three … According to her wishes, all 140 acres will be turned into a wildlife sanctuary. Little abandoned house nestled in the wildflowers. Here’s a selection of some of the most ghostly abandoned places around the world, every single one of which has its special charm. Though once a large Native American city that thrived, this plot of land has been left to decay since about the 1400s. Published on 5/25/2016 at 12:05 AM. Manteno State Hospital was later renamed the Manteno Mental Health Centre and closed in 1985. Thank you everyone for sticking with me through my silence! Built in 1906, these 15-story grain silos were abandoned after an explosion in 1977, yet enough of its secret tunnels and rail line are still standing. From empty prison cells to mysterious nuclear laboratories, the US is full of fascinating, slightly unnerving places whose empty halls echo with the stories of past occupants. Love Illinois? Coming across abandoned places near me allows me to take a peek back at the history of certain time and place. Divided into eight distinct regions and listed by county and town or neighbourhood, each location features a description, directions, and sources from a wide variety of books, articles, and websites. They have seen apparitions of patients and nurses, and have heard voices over the long-defunct intercom.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'mysteriousheartland_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',110,'0','0'])); A Touristâs Guide to the Weird and Wild Places of the Prairie State! Much like Detroit and Jacksonville, Chicago has the grit and grunge necessary for a perfect blend of urban exploration locations. The institution was rebuilt and reopened in 1902 with a new name and a new superintendent. Editors note: after receiving word that the Old Milton School is now a thriving small business incubator (and no longer abandoned), we have removed it and updated our list. The depot was in use between 1917 and 2000. If you're urban exploring or just looking for a place for a photo shoot, I'm sure we'll having something for you to discover.. And remember, we don't know if you're allowed to visit any of these places so you'll need to get the … Get more stories delivered right to your email. Today, the Hartford Castle is nothing more than a hole in the ground, surrounded by concrete debris and a shallow moat. Abandoned places have a way of sending chills up your spine. According to her wishes, all 140 acres will be turned into a wildlife sanctuary. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! im looking for anything near central illinois, that is abandoned, it would help if it was still standing, i know about a bunch of the stuff up north, but im looking for anything really around central illinois, houses, buildings, anything, help? Dutch, an experienced canine with 957 drug arrests under his collar, pursued something up to the roof, where he suddenly and unexpectedly leapt 15 feet off the building and fell to his death. In 1972, vandals destroyed the interior, and a fire ravaged the grounds a short time later. According to other Abandoned Illinois explorers, the Crystal Lake Farm House and Barn were torn down as of October 18, 2010 as well. At Mysterious Heartland, we spend a lot of time crawling around the ruins of some of Illinois most notorious and spooky abandoned hospitals, mansions, and schools. Check out 11 abandoned places around the state that are on the brink of crumbling away. 1. Alton, Illinois. As urban explorers, our goal is to tell their story and history. According to former employees, there is a haunted room on the 3rd floor. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Thereâs nothing unusual about the concrete bridge over Plum Creek along Old Post Road. The school shut down in 1979 and many of its buildings have long since been torn down. As one of the nation’s largest cities and the crown jewel of the Industrial Midwest, Chicago is packed with abandoned places just begging to be explored by local and visiting urbex enthusiasts. Homes Our Dayton, Ohio based urban exploring crew has a passion for adventure and history. He sold the mansion and moved west. It was built in the 1920s and in the 80s there was a fire that killed and injured many. Learn more about this ancient psychiatric ward, Due to flooding of the Ohio River, this once-thriving town is currently home to fewer than 300 people. Some visitors have reportedly seen the ghost of a lady in black wandering the grounds. Ghost hunters hole up in the McPike Mansion, a grand Victorian home whose caretakers have seen … These graves have since disappeared. Horror movies about old psych wards are probably all based on this one. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals. Today, all that remains is the old hotelâa shadow of what it once was. When Bookbinder died, Dr. Zeller wrote that four hundred staff and patients observed his ghost mourning at his own funeral just as he had for countless others while he was alive. Storytellers say Azariahâs ghostâalongside snakesânow guards his lost loot. It is technically illegal to go here, so proceed with caution. As the war raged, Azariah Sweetin didnât want to take any chances, so he stuffed all his gold coins into jars and buried them around his property. When backup arrived, they chased the man to the old steel bridge, where they shot him dead. Get out and explore the deserted pockets of our beautiful state with this handy list. Located along the Mississippi River, this building was once used by the U.S. military to store equipment for the Rock Island Arsenal, which is nearby. His corpse was securely inside. During a farewell gala for newly enlisted Union soldiers, two farmhands, Henson and Isham, got into an argument that ended with one thrusting a knife into the back of the other. During the 1970s, the university made an effort to locate all the unmarked graves of the dead that had been buried during Sunset Havenâs years as a poor farm. Located at 29th and Damen on the banks of the Chicago River, this is a popular spot for teens to roam. Abandoned Illinois: Forgotten Places and Lost Histories is a visual chronicling of these places, from homes filled with left-behind belongings to a steel mill that was responsible for forging more aviation parts for the U.S. government than any other during WWII, to an ornately designed church whose parish lasted over 100 years before becoming obsolete, to a mental … (Rick Drew) CT: Some of your photos combine cosplay with urban exploration. Let’s check out some of the most haunted places in Illinois! Check it out: For more Illinois history, check out seven rare photos of our state’s farming roots you’ll never forget. Dixie Square Mall in Harvey. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. In its heyday, it spanned 13,000 acres, though most of that is now a nature preserve.