Haunted Aurora (IL)

Haunted America

by Diane A. Ladley

Aurora was the first Illinois city to have electric streetlights, but a dark history has resisted illumination as stubbornly as the chilly corner of the old roundhouse repels the summer heat. Learn why Aurora counts "City of Cemeteries" among its nicknames as Diane Ladley, "America's Ghost Storyteller," describes the nineteenth-century doctor suspected of trading bodies between his cancer center and a neighboring graveyard. Other eerie legends and strange stories revealed in this book include the marauding brave brought to justice in the Devil's Cave by his own tribe, the sweet legacy of NFL great Walter Payton and the elephants that saved a circus from a tornado.

Genres: Paranormal

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[jimtown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunted Aurora is not just a book of haunted sites. The author, Diane Ladley takes it to the next level by really researching the history of the area and places that are purported to be haunted. I was especially impressed with all the information on the Round House. After the halfway point, the documentation lessened with each story but still interesting and interspersed with photos old and new. There were also some interesting sounding links interspersed and some advice on how to rid your home of spirits if need be. I myself, enjoyed the historical information the most.

Here's an excerpt I gleaned from one of the chapters: "The year is 1930.The world's tallest building, the Empire State Building, opens in New York City. Unemployment hits 16.3 percent as effects of the 1929 stock market crash worsens. ...William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are born on March 22 and 26 and become Captain Kirk and Spock thirty-five years later. A small community in Nevada decides to legalize gambling, and Las Vegas thrives in the Depression. ...And on September 3, Secrets of a Secretary, a movie made with the new "talking picture" technology starrying Claudette Colbert, was playing at the newly opened Paramount Theatre movie palace on 23 East Galena boulevard." I love how she sets the stage for the time period here. The words are as luxurious and glamorous as the Paramount movie palace itself.

[Kris Lodwig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was fascinating to read about local haunted places like the Roundhouse and the Paramount Theatre. I was talking to a coworker who said she worked at the paramount for three years and can vouch for the theatre being haunted. Ghost stories and history of Aurora. Quick read but a lot of info.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunted Aurora is part ghost story, part history. Many of the stories are told in the fashion of a friend saying, "You're never going to believe what happened to me." I feel like I now know my city a little better.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting!

Great history! Entertaining ghostly stories! I very much enjoy reading about the history and hauntings of different places in the States and world wide. My favorite historical hauntings and history is the Civil War era and before. This book was very informative.

[Nancy Wohlrab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Especially enjoyed all the details about the history of Aurora included for each haunted location and the city too

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun spoken read about the town we live in! Definitely enjoyed it

[Pamela Newsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonder!!

Great stories! The ghosts stories of.the haunted places of Aurora, Illinois. I looking forward to the other books.of the Haunted America collection