Atlantis- Myth or Legend?
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When someone mentions Atlantis, tongues start to wag and ideas begin to form. True enough is that almost every region on the Western Hemisphere has laid claim to their part of the world or country being the "True Atlantis." Many believe Atlantis to be a mere fairy tale at it's best while others will run off at the mere mention of the name in the hopes of finding the lost city. But did this lost city ever really exist?
If you read Plato's account, there were two Atlantises, one called "Lemurian Atlantis".
Lemuria was the vast prairie which the Greeks called the Elysian Fields.  Egyptians named it The Field of Reeds or "Ancestral Land" and the Celts called it Avalon, or better known as "Island of Glass."  There are many many theories regarding the Lost Continent of Atlantis, it has been said to be lost somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle, off the shores of Rome and even somewhere within the depths of the Pacific Ocean. The truth is no one can be sure if Atlantis actually existed and if it did, was a place that still exists hidden today? Perhaps one day we will learn the truth. Some scholars have given accounts that "Eden" of the Holy Bible was Atlantis. Whatever the truth, Atlantis continues to baffle, intrigue and amaze those who have been infatuated with it's existence from day one.

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium (or Sanitarium) is a closed sanatorium located in southwestern Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky. It opened in 1910 as a two-story hospital to accommodate 40 to 50 tuberculosis patients. In the early 1900s, Jefferson County was ravaged by an outbreak of tuberculosis (the "White Plague") which prompted the construction of a new hospital. The hospital closed in 1962, due to the antibiotic drug streptomycin that lowered the need for such a hospital.
In the early 20th century, Jefferson County was severely stricken with an outbreak of tuberculosis. There were many tuberculosis cases in Louisville at the time because of all the swampland, which was perfect for the tuberculosis bacteria. To try to contain the disease, a two-story wooden sanatorium was opened which consisted of an administrative/main building and two open air pavilions, each housing 20 patients, for the treatment of "early cases".
"In the early part of 1911, the city of Louisville began to make preparations to build a new Louisville City Hospital, and the hospital commissioners decided in their plans that there would be no provision made in the new City Hospital for the admission of pulmonary tuberculosis, and the Board of Tuberculosis Hospital was given $25,000 to erect a hospital for the care of advanced cases of pulmonary tuberculosis".
A tunnel was constructed at the same time as the main building beginning on the first floor and traveling 500 feet (150 m) to the bottom of the hill. One side had steps to allow workers to enter and exit the hospital without having to walk a dangerous, steep hill. The other side had a set of rails and a cart powered by a motorized cable system so that supplies could easily be transported to the top. Air ducts leading from the roof of the tunnel to above ground level were incorporated every hundred feet to let in light and fresh air. Treatment mainly consisted of heat lamps, fresh air, high spirits, and reassurances of an eventual full recovery as antibiotics had yet to be discovered in the early days of the sanatorium. Once tuberculosis hit its peak, deaths were occurring about one every other day. The sight of the dead being taken away in view of patients was not good for morale which plummeted, causing them to lose hope or the will to live and become depressed, which only contributed more to the death rate. With deaths occurring at such a high rate, the tunnel took on another use, and when patients died, the bodies were placed on the cart and lowered to the bottom where a hearse would be waiting to be take them away discreetly, out of patient view, saving morale.The doctors also thought this would combat the disease and keep it from spreading.

Bartonville Hospital
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Bartonville State Hospital was a nice place to visit and quite a few souls decided to stay. I say this because of the progressive medicine that Dr. Zeller was known for, and quite simply human kindness, which was something that you normally did not find in an insane asylum in the beginning of the 1900’s.

Construction began in 1885, and resulted in a large, foreboding castle –like building. Unfortunately, or fortunately, this original building was later torn down in 1897, having never been used because of structural flaws. It appears that this original building had been built on top of an abandoned coal mine and suffered much when the shafts began decaying and collapsing.

The hospital was then re-built and opened to the public in 1902. Gone was the foreboding castle and in its place was a more modern structure. In addition to the main building there were at least 33 cottages used for the housing of patients. Also there were no bar on the windows or restraints. This type of treatment for mental patients was practically unheard of that time.

In addition to the progressive treatment of patients, Dr. Zeller also instituted on site cemeteries for patients were unclaimed at the time of their death. In the end there were four cemeteries located behind the main building. It was in the oldest cemetery that the first documented haunting occurred. As a matter of fact, Dr. Zeller himself documented it.

Dr Zeller created a burial corps, composed of staff members and a few patients. It was one these patients that our tale is about. His name was simply Bookbinder, and whenever the corps buried someone he would mourn for that person, even if he didn’t know them. He would go to an old Elm tree, that had been in the midst of the graveyard for many years, and mourns the passing of the fellow patient, sobbing loudly.

Time passed and the Bookbinder eventually did too. Because he was so well liked by the staff and his fellow patients a large funeral was held. With close to four hundred witnesses in attendance, as they lowered the coffin into the open grave, a low moaning was heard. Many turned in the direction of the old Elm tree; there stood Bookbinder, mourning as he had also done. Astonished, Dr.Zeller, immediately had the coffin opened in front of those who had not run in fear. Inside, of course was the corpse of Bookbinder. Those who were still watching the tree observed as the apparition disappeared. Shortly thereafter, the old Elm tree began to try. Eventually it was decided to remove the tree, but as the axe was swung a low moan was heard. It was then decided to burn the remains of the tree, but once again the Bookbinder had his say. For as soon as the flames were set, the crying began. The flames were quickly extinguished. The old dead elm still stands in this graveyard.

In 1972 the asylum closed its doors for good a remained empty until 1980. At that time the prosperity was sold and the buildings were demolished. While the institution was empty it became a lure for vandals and ghost hunters alike.

In addition to Dr. Zeller’s documentation of the haunting, one can also look into the information provided by Rob Conover. Rob is a former Marine as well as a private investigator. He was actually able to videotape an apparition living within the walls of the old sanitarium.

One thing to consider in this case of haunting is that we are dealing with mental patients, People who were unstable to begin with. One has to ask the question, how much did these people understand about themselves and the world around them. One has to figure that in death they are just as confused as when they were living. There is no realism to begin with, so it stands to reason that in death they are still looking for the safe haven that they found in Dr. Zellers care.

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Bachelor's Grove Cemetary

There are more ghost stories and eerie legends told about this small, abandoned cemetery than any other place in the Chicago area. It is located on the edge of the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve, near the suburb of Midlothian, Illinois. This ramshackle burial ground is said to be infested with ghosts and more than 100 different reports of strange phenomena have been collected about the place... including actual apparitions, unexplained sights and sounds, and even glowing balls of light. There have been no burials here for years and as a place of rest for the departed, it has been largely forgotten. But ask any ghost chaser where to go to find a hauntings and chances are, this cemetery will be very high on the list!

The haunted history of the place began in 1844 when the area was set aside as a burial ground, first called "Everdon's". The cemetery saw its first burial that year and it was in steady use until 1965, when things began to drop off. It should be noted that the last actual burial here was in 1989, when the ashes of a local resident were interred on the grounds. However, before that time (and since) the place has been abandoned. In the middle 1800's, the cemetery became known as "Bachelor's Grove", although history is a bit cloudy as to how this name came about. 
Some have suggested that near the cemetery was a settlement of immigrants, mostly German, who had helped to build the Illinois-Michigan Canal. The settlers lived on small farms and most of the men were unmarried, so the place became known as Bachelor's Grove. Others dispute this and say the name came from a family who lived in the area named "Batchelder", although no real evidence exists to back up these claims.

Trouble began for the cemetery in the 1960's, when the road leading back to the cemetery became a popular "lover's lane". At some point, it was also discovered by vandals, who left the cemetery itself is in terrible condition, desecrated and forgotten. This became so bad that the graveyard was officially closed in 1965. Since that time, especially in the 1970's, things have gotten even worse. It is believed that satanic and occultist groups perform ceremonies here, sometimes leaving the ghastly remains of their rituals behind. Vandals have left few of the graves still standing and many tombstones have been stolen, and sometimes returned to the grounds, giving rise to legends that the grave stones sometimes move
by themselves. There have been over 100 paranormal incidents reported here including ghost lights, inexplicable lights and voices, apparitions, strange photos, anomalous recordings and
even sightings of unbelievable creatures.

There is no question that vandals have not been kind to Bachelor's Grove, but then neither has time. The cemetery could once be reached by the Midlothian Turnpike, but the track to the cemetery was passed by with construction of 143rd Street. People soon forgot about the place and it would have faded into memory if not for the stories of the ghosts!

Access to the cemetery is gained by way of a narrow gravel trail. Along this old road, many visitors to the area have reported seeing a phantom farmhouse that seems to appear and disappear at random. The house is always described in the same way, as a white house with porch pillars, a swing and a soft light burning in the window, but it is never reported in the same place. As witnesses approach the house, it always disappears. A number of completely independent witnesses have reported the house, not realizing that it was unnatural (until it vanished) and all of them have pointed to different locations when they spotted it.
The house has been reported during both daylight hours and at night but historical files show no record of a house ever existing here!

Just past the fence surrounding the cemetery is a small lagoon that borders the nearby turnpike. The legends say this pond was once a favorite dumping ground for Chicago gangsters during the years of Prohibition. A number of bodies were said to have been found floating here in the past, so it isn't surprising that the pond is reported to be haunted. Strangely, one ghost linked to the lagoon, is said to be a two-headed creature that has been reported on several occasions.
The most famous ghost of the lagoon is an old farmer who was pulled into the water by his plow horse in the 1870's. The horse was drowned by the weight of the plow, taking the farmer with it. Two forest rangers spotted the farmer guiding the horse and plow more than 100 years later.

The cemetery itself has it's own ghosts, from the image of people dressed in monk's robes to the spirit of a glowing yellow man seen in 1984. Many of these ghosts have been captured on film, like the image of a woman seated on a tombstone that was taken with infrared film a few years ago. Could she be the most famous ghost of Bachelor's Grove? This spirit is known as the "White Lady" or the "Madonna of Bachelor's Grove". She is said to be the ghost of a woman buried in the cemetery next to her young son. She has been seen on nights of the full moon, wandering the cemetery with a baby in her arms.

The ghost lights of the cemetery, and the trail leading through the woods, are also well known to researchers. The strange lights on the trail are said to be red in color and move so fast that they leave a streak behind them in the air. The blue balls of light in the cemetery itself seem to have an intelligence, dancing just out of reach of those who pursue them.

Even the turnpike near Bachelor's Grove is said to be haunted. For a number of years, witnesses have reported phantom cars that disappear along this road. One couple even had an auto accident with a car that vanished before their eyes, leaving their own vehicle untouched . . .despite the sounds of bending metal and breaking glass." 

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The Shakespeare Tavern
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During a production of Henry IV Part I in 1993, the actor playing Falstaff suddenly came from the men’s dressing room, very shaken. He had seen a very young boy dressed in a velvet suit much like children wore in the 1800’s beside his dressing table.
Others have seen passing images and odd lights over the years.
Sometimes when the theater is pretty much deserted, voices will be heard, as if a group is meeting together.
There is a room in the top level of the building that sensitive people will not enter, because it is clammy and 
the energy feels  terrible in there. 

An old man has been spotted on a couple of occasions.
A female energy once warned of a fire, and sometimes upsets things in the women’s dressing room.
Occasionally a shadowy figure can be seen on the catwalk above the stage.