2016 was the year Visitations issue one came out. As people walked through the aisles of C2E2, I would ask them questions about their knowledge of Chicago ghost stories. Because the graveyard in the comic is based partially on Graceland Cemetery ( see my earlier blog post HERE) I would ask the passersby if they had heard of it. Some had and some hadn't. I got a surprise from someone early Sunday morning, the last day of the convention:
"Have you ever heard of Graceland Cemetery?"
"Yeah, my friends and I used to break in there at night and get drunk."
"Really? Did you ever see anything while you were there?"
"...Mmmrf..."
" I'm sorry- did you ever see anything when you were there?"
"We were drunk."
" Um - what did you see?"
" An old man in a newsboy cap floating towards us."
"Floating??"
" Yeah, but we were drunk."
"Did your friends see this too?"
"Yes."
"Um, alcohol doesn't work THAT way..."
This is not the only personal testimonial I've received about the cemetery. In fact, the graveyard is one of those places that has, not only a lot of ghost stories surrounding it, but if you talk to enough people you run into someone who has personally experienced the supernatural there. There is a long history of interesting tales from the place.
Established in 1860, Graceland Cemetery's first residents were individuals moved from the Lincoln Park graveyard known as City Cemetery. It is a stone's throw away from Wrigley Field and is the final resting place of many famous Chicagoans such as Daniel Burnham, George Pullman, Marshall Field, Mayor Carter Harrison, Potter Palmer, Cyrus McKormick, John Kinzie, Louis Sullivan, and Allan Pinkerton. Architect Louis Sullivan, in addition to being buried there also designed a number on monuments. The monuments that populate the cemetery are unique works of art that stand out well past the Victorian era in which they were erected.
The monuments are so interesting that visitors can't help but be impressed. However some of these carry some strange stories along with them. For example, the tomb of a man named Ludwig Wolff was carved from a built up mound with stairs leading down it. There is a vent at the top. The reason behind this, according to legend, is that Wolff himself was afraid that he would be buried alive and had ventilation installed along with literal bells and whistles. While no bells have been heard, something has been seen lurking around the tomb at night. Apartment dwellers nearby have seen an animal with florescent eyes, which has been identified as Wolf's phantom dog, guarding his master's burial place. Many believe this is only a coyote the lives in the cemetery grounds, but nobody knows for sure.
Architect Daniel Burnham has been see near his burial place. He stands on the banks of the island where he is buried with his hands in his pockets. One wonders what he is thinking about.
Reports of a little girl in victorian clothes frolicking around the cemetery during rainstorms are legendary. Truthfully, one just has to look at the monument of Inez Clarke and the imagination takes over. That being said, the statue of the child has numerous stories of disappearing from it's perch, including a first hand account that was related to me at the Chicago Ghost Convention a number of years ago. Oddly enough, her disappearances from the spot have occurred even after a glass case was placed over her statue. Children visiting the cemetery with their families have wondered off only to be found later claiming they were playing with the girl.
Lastly, is there statue known as Eternal Silence. It is one of two monuments by Lorado Taft. An uncomfortable image reminiscent of death- or at least the Ghost Of Christmas Future of Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol". There are many stories surrounding the stutue. First, it is seen by many as the mystical Ferryman of Greek legend who would provide passage across the River Stix. Surrounding the feet of the statue are numerous coins by visitors hoping for safety to the next life. Second, is the story that staring into the statue's eyes will show someone the after life- or a vision of the person's own death. I personally was afraid to look and find out...
There are many other interesting monuments within Graceland Cemetery. Certainly it is worth a visit to anyone interested in art or architecture. Graceland Cemetery is truly an important part of Chicago and it's history.
Order a free PDF of Visitations 1 by emailing us here: visitationscomicbook@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment