Location: Equality, IL
It's hard to imagine in this day and age that Illinois was once a state that forced slaves to work on plantations. For certain, it is not one of Illinois's proudest historical aspects, but Hickory Hills Plantation definitely deserves a spot on this list for the sheer mystery and curiosity it provokes. History Hickory Hill was built by a man named John Hart Crenshaw, a descendant of old American family with ties to the founding of our country. Crenshaw himself has a notable spot in the history of Illinois, thanks to both his public and private deeds. His family moved west and settled in New Madrid, Missouri, only to have their home destroyed by the great earthquake of 1811. A short time later, they moved to Saline County, Illinois and started a farm on the east side of Eagle Mountain. There was a salt well on the farm called Half Moon Lick. Not long after settling in Illinois, William Crenshaw died and left his eldest son, John, to provide the family. By the time he was 18, he was already working at Half Moon Lick. Crenshaw is best remembered today for Hickory Hill and his ties to Illinois slavery, kidnapping and illegal trafficking in slaves --- all in a state where slavery was not technically allowed by law. There were exceptions, however, and one exception allowed for slaves to be leased for one-year terms in the salt lands of Gallatin, Hardin and Saline counties. Legend has it that John Hart Crenshaw, who leased slaves to work the salt mines, kept a number of night riders in his employ to watch for escaped slaves. He used this as a profitable sideline to his legitimate businesses. Present During the Civil War, Crenshaw sold Hickory Hill and moved to a new farmhouse closer to Equality. He continued farming but also diversified into lumber, railroads and banks. He died on December 4, 1871 and was buried in Hickory Hill Cemetery, a lonely piece of ground just northeast of his former home. Whether John Crenshaw rests in peace is unknown, but according to the tales of Little Egypt, many of his former captives most certainly do not. According to the accounts, 'mysterious voices can be heard in that attic, sometimes moaning, sometimes singing the spirituals that comfort heavy hearts.' Shortly after the house became a tourist attraction, visitors began reporting that strange things were happening in the place. They complained of odd noises in the attic especially, noises that sounds like cries, whimpers and even the rattling of chains. A number of people told of uncomfortable feelings in the slave quarters like sensations of intense fear, sadness and of being watched. They also told of cold chills, being touched by invisible hands and feeling unseen figures brush by them. The rumored hauntings had little effect on tourist traffic and if anything, the stories brought more people to the house. Other legends soon began to attach themselves to Hickory Hill. The most famous is the story that 'no one could spend the entire night in the attic.' The story got started because of an incident involving a 'ghost chaser' from Benton named Hickman Whittington, who planned to put the ghosts of the house to rest. Years passed and, despite many attempts, no one managed to spend the entire night in the attic of the Old Slave House. Thrill-seekers had a habit of running from the house long before daybreak. Eventually, the practice was ended because, as George Sisk informed me later, a small fire got started one night by an overturned lantern. After that, he turned down requests for late night ghost hunting. |