Spectacular photos! Ghostly figures ‘caught on camera’ lurking in windows and doorways of a 19th-century mansion in Alton…America’s ‘most haunted small town’
These terrifying photos are said to have captured the spooky goings-on in America’s most haunted town.
Alton, in southwestern Illinois, has a long list of ghostly residents, from phantom nuns to a bank robber who haunts the local Irish pub and hotel guests… who can never leave.
The creepy snaps we present here were taken at McPike Mansion, one of the city’s most popular attractions.
It is owned by Sharyn Luedke and her husband, George. They bought it as a bed and breakfast, but then turned it into “a historical and paranormal destination.”
One photo shows what appears to be a dark figure standing in the open doorway. Ms Luedke told MailOnline Travel that the photo was taken in 1995 on a 35mm camera by a previous owner, Rick Dixon.
This image shows what appears to be a dark figure standing in the open doorway of McPike Mansion in Alton, Southwestern Illinois, known as the most haunted town in America. Owner Sharyn Luedke believes it is the original owner of the 19th century mansion, Henry Guest McPike
LEFT: ‘Energy’ flies through the air. RIGHT: This photo shows, according to Mrs. Luedke, Henry Guest McPike ‘looking out the window’
She believes the figure in the doorway is the original owner of the 19th century mansion, Henry Guest McPike, adding: “Rick and his wife Sugie were the last people to live in the house.”
Another image, Ms. Luedke said, shows Mr. McPike looking out a window, while a third image shows a “little African boy we think is called Zach, perhaps a child of the house helper.”
A fourth photo, meanwhile, shows “energy flying through the air.”
This photo shows a “little African boy we believe is named Zach, perhaps a child of a domestic helper,” Ms. Luedke said
McPike Mansion (above) is a popular historical and paranormal destination
She said: ‘We had absolutely no idea the mansion was haunted when we bought it. One of my first experiences was when I saw a man standing in the window seven weeks after we bought the house. He was wearing a shirt and tie and I hadn’t seen any pictures of anyone at that time. Later I saw a photo of the family who lived there and identified one as the man I had seen in the window.
“I’ve seen many ghosts in the basement, including Henry McPike as a dark shadow.
“One time I was in the basement with some young adults and family and I heard a loud banging on the door, and inside I thought, ‘I’m out of here!’ But I did my best not to show my fear to the guests.
‘The spirits here love people and enjoy communicating with people who visit the manor.
‘One time I brought a friend home and she asked if I felt the floor moving. I didn’t, but then I heard the ghosts shouting, “How could you bring her here!” She must have brought back the ghost of someone from their past. My friend later heard them say to her, “Don’t covet my house.”
Alton has a long roll call of ghostly residents. In addition to the McPike chases, there’s also a bank robber haunting the local Irish pub and hotel guests… who can never leave
‘My husband was outside the house and saw two women running towards him, so he moved aside and they disappeared into the house. He went inside to look for them, but couldn’t find them.
“When I asked them how they were dressed, he said like native Americans. That makes sense, because there were tribes that inhabited the area.’
Ms Luedke added: ‘Our visitors on our tours often take photos of people in the windows of the house which they will share on our website. Facebook page.’
For more information about Alton and its spooky attractions, visit www.riversandroutes.com/things-to-do/haunted.