Haunted Towns
Top 3 Most Haunted Towns of Farm & Home
By Katie Bigley
Unsolved mysteries, unexplained sightings, odd experiences, and eerie sounds… this blog is going to be a little different as I am going to explore the secrets of the top three most haunted towns in our store areas. So, buckle up and hang on as we dive into some mysteries that are too close to home!
First up is Jerseyville, IL. A small town that is big on community… and hauntings. If you’ve ever driven through Jerseyville, you probably wouldn’t think it would be a popular ghost hunting spot, but this one location says otherwise –
Cheney Mansion – In 1827, the first ever building was constructed in Jerseyville and what still stands today marks an important landmark to the community. The Cheney Mansion is packed with history and the stories are still living on today. Since the building was first constructed in 1827, the site has played many different roles over the years. It served as a stop for the Stagecoach that traveled through, and it played a part in the Underground Railroad as a place for slaves to hide out. It also became a bank at one point, a doctor’s office, and then a community town center. Today, the Cheney Mansion is open for ghost tours and is also the headquarters of the Jersey County Historical Society.
Those unlucky enough to experience the odd happenings in the mansion reported that the basement is the hot spot for activity. There have been reports of seeing a black mass in the basement and visitors having their hair played with and even left with scratch marks! It has been said that paranormal activity increases in the mansion when no male figures are around. Creepy right? There are also the usual reports of hearing voices, specifically a woman laughing and a child singing. Scary stuff but considering the age and history of the building along with the various roles it has been used for over the hundreds of years, it makes sense that something suspicious would be going on.
Our next stop takes us to my hometown of Quincy, IL. A quiet but growing town located alongside the Mississippi River. I grew up in Quincy and have heard all the spooky lore of places around town. However, two locations have always stood out to me -
The Villa Katherine – What is most often thought to be a castle is one of the few Moorish-style houses along the Mississippi River. The story of the Villa Katherine is more desolate than what you would expect for something claiming to be “haunted” and I think that’s what intrigues me the most. The house was built for W. George Metz in 1900 who designed the house based on sketches he created while traveling the world. Metz was a big fan of the Mediterranean architecture and that’s where he got most of his inspiration for the design. Here, Metz lived alone with his beloved Great Dane, Bingo. Now, it’s not Metz who you would expect to be the reason behind this home holding a haunted title… Bingo is. When Bingo passed away after living a long life, Metz decided to bury Bingo on his beloved property of the Villa Katherine. Metz sold the Villa soon after the death of his best friend. The story goes that you can still hear the sound of Bingo walking on the floors throughout the house, the sound of his nails clicking across the hard floor. You might even hear a large woof on occasion! Whether the canine continues to live on the property or not, the Villa Katherine is a beautiful structure that will always hold a special place in Quincy.
Ghost Hollow Road – Also located in Quincy is a road with a reputation. While most of the stories behind Ghost Hollow Road have been choked up to be urban legends, I can’t help but wonder if there were any true haunting things that happened on this road. It is said that if you drive the road at night and look back in your rearview mirror, you will see a woman in white floating in the distance. It is also said that there is a hidden cemetery located in the woods that line either side of this mysterious road. Growing up, my friends and I would always hear stories of this perplexing “hidden” cemetery, and many times we have tried to find it with no luck. When you ask locals about it, you will hear mixed things. It seems that no one truly knows where the cemetery is located or if there is even anything left of it. However, the land is not public so maybe that plays a factor in rediscovering it again.
Now our next spooky store location happens to be located in what has been named “The Most Haunted Small Town in America”. Yep, that’s right. Welcome to Alton, IL. Some say it’s from the river and all the limestone that surrounds the town that helps hold the energy that keeps the spirits around. But what got them there in the first place? After diving into some research into the history of Alton, I was shocked to learn about the dark past.
While there are several superb spots to try and catch a scare in Alton – the ones that stood out the most to me were the Milton School House and the First Unitarian Church.
Milton School House – Featured on several paranormal shows, the Milton School House might be one of the most notable haunted locations in Alton. The school was built in 1904 and while it is no longer an operating school, there is still a lot of activity going on according to the locals. You can occasionally hear children laughing and running up and down the halls! People who have been inside the school during ghost tours report the locker room located on the lower level to be the most eerie location in the entire school. However, there are no historical facts about any tragic happenings with the students who attended the school during its operating years. However, it was noted that a janitor suffered a fatal heart attack in the boiler room. Could he be the cause of the strange occurrences?
First Unitarian Church – The second landmark that got my interest in Alton is the First Unitarian Church. The First Unitarian Church was built in 1854 on the former site of St. Mathews Church, which burned down in 1853. The First Unitarian Church lasted until 1905 but was then also unfortunately consumed by a fire. From there, it was rebuilt to what stands today. From the outside, the church is truly beautiful and almost peaceful. But inside it has a different story. The church is supposedly haunted by the former paster Phillip Mercer, who took his own life in the church in 1934. Friends and family of Mercer couldn’t find any answers as to why he decided to go through with that, and it remains a mystery today. When inside the church, people claim that you can hear footsteps walking throughout the church, odd knocking sounds, and even smell whiffs of men’s cologne! Could it be Mercer continuing on in his church watching over everything? No one will truly know why or what exactly happened and that just adds to the mystery of the story!
I think Farm & Home Supply has a unique history with the towns we are in! If you find yourself wanting to visit any of these locations – be sure to do your research beforehand. Most offer guided ghost tours and have hours when they are open to the public. However, some locations may not be accessible to the public or located on private property. Most of these haunted sites are historic landmarks so please be respectful of the buildings and the property. Be safe & happy ghost hunting!
