Haunted Bachelors Grove Cemetery In Midlothian Illinois

by Mike V.
(Morris, Illinois)

In 1967 myself and two friends hopped in Nick's old 1953 Chevy and started out to go to Bachelors Grove Cemetery in Midlothian Illinois. It is located off the Midlothian Turnpike way back into the woods.

The cemetery was begun some time in the very early 1800's and received its name because only bachelors could be buried there. Most of the graves are from the early to late 1800's, and through the years many of the headstones have been cracked or pushed over by the idiot kids who just went there to do damage.

Back to the story, we got there about 11pm on a cold, damp November night. We got out of the car and walked into the cemetery. As we walked in about 100 feet, we all spotted a glowing flame. It was like a gas light out in the middle of the grounds. We all thought it was like some kind of tribute to someone, like the Kennedy flame. Well we kept walking straight ahead to get to the flame, but the more we walked towards it, well it just never got any closer. We stopped and looked at each other and looked backward and seen that we are now about a city block from the entrance.

After thought about this light, we took a few steps towards it again, and then it happened. The light started moving towards us at a more rapid pace than it was walking toward it. At that point, we all turned around and took off for the front gate and the safety of Nick's car. At least we hoped that would be the case. As we arrived outside the cemetery fence we stopped and turned around and the flame was in the same area as when we started. That was enough for us and we got out of there as fast as we could.

We went back there, in the daytime, and no flame was found. We walked the whole cemetery and it was as quiet as death could be. We picked up a few headstones that we found toppled over and then left again. Today the place is still there but the state has a chain across the entrance, and from what I hear, you have to contact the state to get entrance in it. And, there is no more night trips allowed. A group of people who had a fondness for the place now come and work there on weekends to restore all the graves and keep the place clean.

But, I do have a memory of the place and what was there that night was not a normal thing. Because of the internet today, you can find information about the place, including the real dates of its history.