Welcome To Illinois: The House Where Slavery Lived.

One of the things I love the most about researching paranormal phenomenon, is learning about the history of our great nation, although sometimes our history is not that great. Slavery was a very difficult time in our nation’s history, I could never wrap my mind around the concept of how an entire nation felt that they had the right to enslave and subjugate an entire race of people just because they were of a different skin color. Thank God we had a visionary president who saw the evils of slavery and said, “Enough of this crap, this just isn’t cool.” I’m sure those were not Abe Lincoln’s exact words however the idea is certainly applied. A great war was fought between brothers to bring an end to this most wicked of institutions many men met their fate on the battlefield so all American’s could be free.

When you look back to that period and the history of the state of Illinois, you may think that Illinois was a very northern state and led the charge against slavery, however one thing that folks don’t know is that in the small southern Illinois town of Equality, one man thought that he could thumb his nose at the law of the land that made Illinois a free state that person was John Hart Crenshaw and his home of slavery and horror was Hickory Hills, the home where slavery lived.

Crenshaw, came to the state of Illinois from the east and almost immediately took advantage of the lucrative salt and coal mines that were virtually untouched in the southern region of the state. After making millions of dollars, Crenshaw built his dream home for his family in the ironically named town of Equality in the mid 1800s. To all apearances, Crenshaw lived the life of a well adjusted family man, he attended church on Sunday’s and gave lavish parties for all his friends, but the money Crenshaw already had was not enough for him he wanted more and would do anything to get it. Within this seemingly ordinary man lived the heart of a cold blooded beast and the soul of a real son of a bitch.

After a few years Crenshaw began to lose money on his mines due to a dwindling work force that left his employ to seek jobs at other mines that paid much better. The idea of losing money was sickening to Crenshaw who felt that he needed to do something quick to obtain cheap labor. Crenshaw hit on an Idea that he felt was pretty sweet. Knowing that Kentucky, a state that allowed slavery, was just a short ride away Crenshaw came the conclusion that the only way to get cheap labor was to tap into the south’s resource of men and women who kept in chains and forced to do hard labor for absolutely nothing. Crenshaw, felt that if a state that was only a mere few minutes away should have slaves than why not him?

Crenshaw, went about the task of hiring himself a gang of shady characters that sympathized with his feelings that slavery should be legal. Crenshaw’s, “Night Riders” as they were called would wait in the shadows of the heavily forested area and keep a look out for any slaves who crossed their path looking for freedom in the north. Thousands of men, women and children were captured by the sinister night riders and brought back to Hickory Hills and Crenshaw. These slaves who thought they fleeing to freedom were either put to work in Crenshaw’s mines or sold back to southern slave owners at a premium. Whatever Crenshaw, had lost in losing cheap labor he would gain back by sending entire families back to the institution they tried so desperately to escape.

Crenshaw, knew the law of land in Illinois and the stiff penalty attached to it if he were caught enslaving escaped slaves. Crenshaw didn’t care to his these folks were nothing but cattle and were created to break their backs in service to the white man. However, people started to sniff around at this workforce, Crenshaw had acquired and questions were being asked. Crenshaw panicked and knew that he had to find a place to store these folks otherwise the law would find out his little enterprise and certainly send him to the gallows. That was when, Crenshaw hit on another nifty idea. His home, Hickory Hills, had a large attic that could easily accomadate perhaps 75 or 100 of the slaves if they packed in there like sheep. Crenshaw and his night riders immediately went about the task of fashioning chains to the walls of the spacious attic to keep his “workforce” from escaping and he installed whipping posts in case any of his property got out of line. So while, Crenshaw was throwing lavish parties for his friends, who I’m sure had very anti-slavery ideas, men, women and children languished in the top level of Crenshaw’s house of horrors.

The historical record tells us that one day a group of slaves revolted against Crenshaw and his task masters. A few of the task masters lost their lives and Crenshaw’s leg was severed when a slave lopped it off with a hatchet. When the night riders arrived with more slaves they discovered the revolt in full swing. Men who were formerly kept in chains and subjected to torture believed that they now had the upper hand, freedom was just a heart beat away, however Crenshaw’s nightriders had other ideas in mind. In one night every last one of the revolutionaries was wiped out and order was restored to Hickory Hills. Shortly thereafter the authorities in the county got wind of the massacre that had taken place at the home of John Hart Crenshaw, All the wickedest man in Illinois received was a slap on the wrist and a stern talking to. In 1871, John Hart Crenshaw died a very wealthy man never knowing justice.

As the years progressed and the twentieth century arrived, tourists began to hear tales of this home where hundreds were kept as property in southern Illinois. The owners really did not mind the attention at first and began charging admission for those who wanted to take a tour of the house where slavery existed. Those who ventured up to the top floor attic came back down with strange and terrifying tales of ghosts. Many visitors told stories of a cold chill that seemed to fill the entire attic despite the summer months. Others reported hearing screams and catching glimpses of shadows that would appear one moment and be gone the next. Some reported the feeling of absolute dread when they reported what felt like hands touching them. Is it any surprise with all the tragedy that ocurred in the attic that some of the slaves who tasted death would hang around and seek revenge despite the fact that Crenshaw was long since dead? I’m not surprised.

In 1928, a well known ghosthunter arrived at Hickory Hills to investigate the strange goings on in the third floor attic. He was on a mission to prove these ghosts existed and hoped that perhaps in some small way he could help them find rest. The intrepid ghost hunter attempted to spend the night in haunted attic but did not make it. The story goes that he clamly left the house and went home and died of a heart attack face down in his mashed potatoes. The spirits had claimed themselves a victim.

In 1966, a couple of badass Marines, who saw action in the early days of the conflict in VietNam, heard of the of the terrifying specters that haunted Hickory Hills and took up the challenge to spend a single night in the attic of horrors. In the middle of the night these tough guys ran from the house screaming like little bitches vowing to never again step foot in that house. When they were asked what had scared them the marines gave a detailed account of the experience that robbed them of their bravado. As they were bedding down for the night they began to hear what sounded like distant voices speaking unintelligable words in the attic. Thinking that a trick was being played on them they turned their flashlights on and were treated to one of the most horrifying spectacles any man could hope to see. A large group of black shadows began swirling around the attic and the once distant voices were now a chorus of screams of agony. I’m really not sure what happened to those once brave Leathernecks.

Only one brave soul ever made it a full night in the attic and came out a changed man. In 1978, local television journalist, Dave Rodgers took up the challenge in the hopes that he could gather evidence for a special halloween segment on haunted houses. When the sun rose and Rodgers descended the attic stairs he reported that during the course of his sleepover he could hear what sounded like men, women and children crying and he reported seeing the occassional dark shadow flit across the walls. Rodgers had accomplished the previously unthinkable, he survived a night in the haunted attic of Hickory Hills.

Today, Hickory Hills is a registered historic landmark in the state of Illinois. Hundreds every year flock to take tours of the house where slavery once lived and thrived in a state that outlawed the practice of slavery. Even today, those brave enough to ascend the stairs that leads to the notorious attic come away believing that something of the home’s evil past still remains and haunts never knowing true rest.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com