In his first book, Bruce Cline opened the archives of the Little Egypt Ghost Society and the Gaslight Ghoul Club for the first time. Now, join him again as he brings you all new tales of southern Illinois' most notorious places and historical events. You may have heard of John Crenshaw, Little Egypt's notorious slave owner, but did you know that he may have been responsible for the haunting screams emanating from the mysterious Pig Island? Have you heard the story behind the bloody Harpe Brothers, or braved Tuttle Bottoms and its monster? From Southern Illinois University's hidden tunnels, to the Gates of Hell, to the stomping grounds of the Hamp Mine Monster and beyond, join the Little Egypt Ghost Society as they explore some of Illinois' oldest and most interesting places!

At long last, the archives of the Little Egypt Ghost Society and the Gaslight Ghoul Club have been opened. Within these pages, uncover the secrets behind some of southern Illinois' most famous ghost stories and legends. Bruce and Lisa Cline expose the truth behind the Murphysboro Mud Monster, present evidence of paranormal activity at places such as the Rose Hotel, Oakland Cemetery, and Harrisburg's Cinema 4, and explain the history behind some of southern Illinois' most controversial and eccentric figures. From the Old Slavehouse, to the Rose Hotel, to the Woodlawn Sarcophagus and beyond, join the Little Egypt Ghost Society as they explore some of Illinois' oldest and most interesting places!

The first statewide history of the Irish in the Prairie State Today over a million people in Illinois claim Irish ancestry and celebrate their love for Ireland. In this concise narrative history, authors Mathieu W. Billings and Sean Farrell bring together both familiar and unheralded stories of the Irish in Illinois, highlighting the critical roles these immigrants and their descendants played in the settlement and the making of the Prairie State. Short biographies and twenty-eight photographs vividly illustrate the significance and diversity of Irish contributions to Illinois. Billings and Farrell remind us of the countless ways Irish men and women have shaped the history and culture of the state. They fought in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and two world wars; built the state’s infrastructure and worked in its factories; taught Illinois children and served the poor. Irish political leaders helped to draw up the state’s first constitution, served in city, county, and state offices, and created a machine that dominated twentieth-century politics in Chicago and the state. This lively history adds to our understanding of the history of the Irish in the state over the past two hundred fifty years. Illinoisans and Midwesterners celebrating their connections to Ireland will treasure this rich and important account of the state’s history.

Between 1779 and 1896, ninety-eight men and one woman were legally executed by hanging in the state of Illinois. Some were innocent, but most were guilty. Includes the story of H.H. Holmes, the most notorious and evil man to ever walk the streets of Chicago.

In this collection of articles describing the people, places, and folkways of southern Illinois, John W. Allen provides entertaining and informative glimpses into the region’s past. Included here are sketches of the early pioneering days when wolves were literally chased from the door, stories about the many Indian artifacts discovered among the rolling hills and valleys of the area, and articles pertaining to the strategic role the region played during the Civil War. Allen also describes the activities of such infamous outlaws as Samuel Mason and the Harpe brothers as well as the famous Illinois-born heroes “Bat” Masterson, “Wild Bill” Hickok, and Wyatt Earp. In his warm and friendly style, Allen reminisces about the self-sufficient and satisfying rural life of a previous generation with its oxcarts, pie suppers, threshing machines, kerosene lamps, and blacksmith shops. Any reader interested in southern Illinois and its history will delight in this collection of stories from John W. Allen’s popular newspaper column, “It Happened in Southern Illinois.”

From the mediums of Spiritualism's golden age to the ghost hunters of the modern era, Taylor shines a light on the phantasms and frauds of the past, the first researchers who dared to investigate the unknown, and the stories and events that galvanized the pubic and created the paranormal field that we know today.

What darkness lurks beneath the Season of Lights? T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring … but are you sure about that? The dark winter nights can hold many secrets. Sylvia Shults has gathered over 120 tales of Christmas ghosts, giving new meaning to "the dead of winter". Shults organizes the book around seven themes. They encompass everything from strange Christmas customs ("We Wish You A Merry Christmas … Or Else!"), to the season's monsters ("He Sees You When You're Sleeping"), to ghost stories of Christmas ("'Tis The Season" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"). Unwrap this book, and shiver your way through this great collection of gho-ho-hosts.