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| Photograph ©Mystical Universe |
One of the most well-known ghosts in Illinois is called "Resurrection Mary." Mary is not just a story; there are legal records of people claiming to see her, and there's even physical evidence supporting these accounts.
While Mary's true identity remains unknown, many believe she was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Archer Road. According to the legend, Mary attended a dance with her boyfriend, but for some reason, she left alone. As she walked along Archer Road, a car hit her, and the driver didn't stop, leaving Mary to die there.
Sightings of Mary's ghost have been reported for over seventy years, starting in the early 1930s. One account involves a man named Jerry Palus, who met a woman at a dance shortly after Mary's death. They danced all night, and when Jerry offered to drive her home, she became anxious near Resurrection Cemetery. She asked him to stop, jumped out of the car, and disappeared just before reaching the cemetery gate.
In 1971, a taxi driver picked up a disoriented young woman on Archer Road. When they approached the cemetery, she yelled to stop, and when the driver turned to talk to her, she vanished from the back seat.
In 1976, a man reported seeing a frantic young woman inside the cemetery, pulling at the bars as if trapped. Officer Pat Homa responded, finding no one inside but discovered outward-bent heavy steel bars with small hand impressions burned into them. These bars were later removed by the cemetery administrators due to the attention they attracted. You can check the picture below for evidence.
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| Photograph ©Ghost Search |
A few days later, the police received another call. A distressed woman reported hitting a young woman with her car. When the police arrived, they found the shaken woman sitting beside a human-shaped impression in the snow, still holding her CB radio. When asked about the body, she said the woman she hit disappeared as they approached.
In 1978, a married couple driving down Archer Road encountered a woman standing in the middle of the road. Despite slamming the brakes, the car passed right through her. The apparition turned into mist and vanished.
In August 1980, there was a surge in reports of sightings and car collisions with a woman resembling Mary. Despite numerous police dispatches, nothing was found. Over the years, hundreds of similar reports have been made.
Resurrection Cemetery is known for Mary, the most famous ghost in Illinois. However, she's not the only restless spirit. People have reported a horse-drawn hearse driving strangely and disappearing through the cemetery gates. Other strange occurrences are often attributed to Mary, whether she's responsible or not.
Address:
7201 Archer Road
Justice, Illinois 60458