As promised, I’m continuing my Halloween theme this week with Chicago’s most famous hauntings. These uninvited guests and notorious legends have definitely left more than a few curious renters with chills after a visit to their stomping grounds.
- Harpo Studios and the Eastland Disaster: Harpo Studios, which is located on Washington Blvd. and home of The Oprah Winfrey Show, was built on the site of the warehouse that became one of the makeshift morgues used to house the 844 dead after the Eastland Steamer capsized in the Chicago River. Employees and visitors alike have reported eerie laughter and a “Grey Lady” on many occasions.
- Chicago Water Tower and The Great Chicago Fire: The Chicago Water Tower, located on N. Michigan Ave., was one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire, which claimed up to four miles of downtown Chicago and over 300 lives. It is said to be haunted by a water worker, who stayed behind to pump water to help put out the flames. Legend has it that he hanged himself from the top of the tower staircase to avoid an inevitable fiery death and can still be sen when peering inside.
- Jane Addams Hull House: The Hull House, located on S. Halsted St., is best known for its philanthropic history as an intake facility and educational center for immigrants and the local less fortunate. However, according to legend, the original owner, Mrs. Charles Hull, never left after her death and still haunts her old bedroom. She also supposedly shares her post death home with the “devil baby“.
- The Biograph Theater : The Biograph Theater, located on N. Lincoln Ave., is site of the death of the infamous public enemy, John Dillinger. It is said that every evening around 9 PM, a hazy figure can be seen running down the alley next to the theater reenacting the grizzly death that took place there.
- The Congress Plaza Hotel: The Congress Plaza Hotel, located on S. Michigan Ave., was owned and used as a headquarters by one of the most notorious gangsters of all time, Al Capone. Many believe that Capone returned to his beloved hotel after his death in 1947, and that his ghost still roams the halls and secret passageways.
Whether or not you believe these local legends, they have contributed greatly to the rich history enjoyed by many a Chicago renter and visitor; however, they are only a small sample of the many legends and haunts said to be scattered around the city. You can check out more at Weird and Haunted Chicago. What are some of your favorite legends in your city?
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MSN.com has an article out about the most haunted places in the U.S. and the Congress Plaza Hotel is on it. Nice job Linds!
Well thanks, Jen. I'm glad you enjoyed it. : ) And thanks for the tip! Here's another great list http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33409692?OCID=HAL3.
We are glad that you enjoyed it. If you would like to keep track of it online, you can always bookmark it and access it from there. Thank you for your interest.
Thanks for some quality points there. I am kind of new to online , so I printed this off to put in my file, any better way to go about keeping track of it then printing?
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