Most Haunted Places in America Greenwood Cemetery

You will find the Greenwood cemetery towards the southern end of Decatur, Illinois. They can verify burials back to 1840 but no one really knows how long this area has been used as a burial ground. Some indications are that Native Americans used part of the current cemetery as sacred burial grounds. There is possible evidence of that in unmarked graves towards the southern tip of the grounds. One thing is for sure however and that is that Greenwood Cemetery is one of the most haunted places in America.

Though not clear as to when the cemetery was first being used, it was clear by 1920 that it was falling into a state of disrepair. There was a little revival in the early 30’s which brought some improvement to the sacred grounds but by the late 30’s money was again in short supply and by the 1950’s Greenwood cemetery laid in ruins. It was around this time that the ghost stories started being told. There was a flood during this time frame that moved some of the graves. The bodies were relocated to another part of the cemetery and reburied. There have been strange balls of light hovering over the original area of the graves.

There are many stories of paranormal activity at Greenwood cemetery. Probably the most talked about is the appearance of the apparition known as the Greenwood Bride. In the 1930’s there was a young couple who was getting ready to elope. The young man was a bootlegger and was suppose to meet his girlfriend that night after his last drop off. He was killed that night by rival business and thrown into the river. He was later buried somewhere in the cemetery.

Upon finding out about the death of her boyfriend, the girl took her own life the following day in the same river. Though her parents never approved of the wedding, they found the bridal gown and thought it to be an appropriate dress for their daughter to be buried in. There have been several eyewitness accounts of seeing a young girl in a bridal dress walking around looking at headstones. She is said to be always crying. Is this the young lady still looking for her fiancé?

Several visitors and staff members alike have reported seeing apparitions mourning over grave sites. Former yard workers have even reported coming across total funeral parties and when they have ceased work to respect the mourners have returned to find no one around, the total funeral party has disappeared.

A top of small hill lead up to by a small set of cement steps are 4 headstones of the Barrackman family. Not much is known of this family other than their burial plots but several eyewitnesses have claimed to see the apparition of a women sitting on the steps and though she makes no sound she appears to be crying. What is more unusual about this paranormal activity is that this only seems to happen at sunset, never in the daylight and never at night.

The Greenwood Cemetery is not open after dark anymore due to those that wish to destroy and disrespect the graveyard and its members. You can as of this writing get permission to investigate at night though and see for yourself all the paranormal events that claimed to be seen.

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