Illinois College, founded in 1829, is rumored to have several haunted buildings. Among them are Sturtevant Hall and Beecher Hall, where folks have reported apparitions, footsteps, and other noises. Beecher Hall, according to campus talk, was formerly a medical building and the top floor was a space for storing cadavers. Williams Jenning Bryan is thought to be one of the spirits haunting Beecher. The Smith House is purported to be haunted by original owner’s daughter Effie, around whom many campus legends have been spun, and Whipple Hall is home to a Gray Ghost who has no face. Ellis Hall is haunted by a mischievous ghost called Gail, who died while living here, and Fayerweather House is visited by Susie, who hanged herself in Room 5’s closet. Crampton Hall, the McGaw building and the Rammelkamp Chapel are also on the long list of Illinois College’s haunted places.
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Geographic Information
- Address:
- 1101 W College Ave
Jacksonville, IL 62650
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 39.73219144703613, -90.24758827712498
- County:
- Morgan County, Illinois
- Nearest Towns:
- Jacksonville, IL (1.0 mi.)
South Jacksonville, IL (1.9 mi.)
Lynnville, IL (6.1 mi.)
Woodson, IL (7.3 mi.)
Chapin, IL (8.4 mi.)
Concord, IL (8.9 mi.)
Murrayville, IL (10.1 mi.)
Arenzville, IL (12.0 mi.)
Winchester, IL (13.2 mi.)
Exeter, IL (13.3 mi.)
Contact Information
- Web:
- http://www.ic.edu/
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Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends.
I’m a senior at IC, and I can say that most of the stories on campus have no historical backing. None of the people in the ghost stories were ever proven to have existed (plus, there’s usually only a first name given in the story). That being said, I did have some creepy experiences when I lived in Fayerweather house and the supposed spirit of Susie. I was there by myself for early move-in, and my tv remote flew off the desk while I was sitting on my bed on the opposite side of the room; I heard all kinds of footsteps at all hours of the day as well as whispers. I was very glad when everyone else finally moved in. At one point, a bunch of us went into the basement and the attic to explore… Super creepy basement, especially since it was used in the Underground Railroad and there’s a hidden room down there. I’ve seen a lot of inexplicable human-shaped shadows when no one is around and heard all kinds of weird noises when the campus halls are deserted, but whether they were ghosts or mind tricks as a result of sleep deprivation, I’ll never know.
Graduated in 2015 and have a few horror stories. Ghosts do.live there and we had Chris Fleming come and do an investigation. I wish I could go back and join another hunt.
My daughter , whom shall remain nameless at this time , is a freshman staying in Pixley Hall . She told us of her experience at the Governor Duncan Mansion , when she was doing her community service of cleaning . She said she was vacuuming in one room and she watched a picture fly off the wall and land in the middle of the floor . She told one of the employees or volunteers at the Mansion , and they said it happens all the time , not to worry about it , it’s just the resident ghost . Needless to say , she was freaked out by this , especially since she wasn’t even half way through her shift !
Freshman at IC living in Ellis hall on the fourth floor. When me and my roommate first got moved and and started settling up our room we noticed things had went missing that we sat on our desk and still have never found them. We often have our door open and close throughout all hours of the day. At night we hear knocks and often scratching noises on the walls. We asked the girls who lived next to us if it was them and they had no idea what we were talking about. I was once standing in my friends room, who also lives in ellis, just causually talking and felt something or someone grabbed my leg. At first i thought it was a friend behind me but i noticed everyone was on their beds and i was in the middle of the room. My friend who also stays in ellis once said she was waken from her sleep from being grabbed by someone while the door was locked and her roommate was asleep. Several people often say they get an ill feeling when walking down the halls at night like someone is walking behind them. While living on the top floor we often hear walking on the roof at night while laying in beds wondering how we can. I will say most of the campus is haunted especially ellis my roommates boyfriend lives on the third floor but the room “gail” died in and can command the ghost to move things off of desks and you can see it falling seconds after.