Haunting In Illinois: A Gravedigger’s Ghost And His Beloved Crying Tree
🌳 This is the chilling true story of a ghostly gravedigger and a cursed tree that shocked hundreds at an Illinois asylum. 😱 #Illinois #BartonvilleIL #HauntedIllinois
BARTONVILLE, IL – In the quiet town of Bartonville, Illinois, a peculiar legend has taken root at the Peoria State Hospital. The tale of Old Book, a purported ghost who haunts the cemetery and a particular tree on the hospital grounds, captured the imagination of many, including the asylum’s first director, George Zeller.
📜 The Enigmatic Life of Old Book
Old Book, a beloved patient at the hospital, served as a gravedigger during his time there. His real name remains a mystery, though some sources suggest he was called Manual Bookbinder or A. Bookbinder (1878 – 1910), with a grave marker numbered 713.
Mute and unable to communicate his given name, he earned the moniker “Bookbinder” due to his previous occupation at a printing house. Despite his disabilities, Old Book was cherished by the hospital staff.
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😢 The Weeping Gravedigger
According to legend, Old Book had a poignant ritual. After each burial service for a deceased patient, he would lean against an old elm tree in the cemetery and weep for the departed. This display of empathy and compassion endeared him to those around him, making his own eventual passing all the more sorrowful.
👻 A Ghostly Phenomenon
When Old Book himself passed away, his funeral was attended by hundreds of patients and staff members. As the casket was being lowered into the grave, the bearers discovered that it felt eerily empty.
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Suddenly, a crying sound emanated from the nearby Graveyard Elm, drawing the attention of everyone present, including Dr. Zeller. To their astonishment, they claimed to see Old Book standing by the tree!
The apparition was so convincing that Zeller ordered the casket to be opened to confirm Old Book’s presence. As the lid was lifted, the crying ceased, and Old Book’s corpse was found undisturbed.
🌿 The Curse of the Crying Tree
In the days following Old Book’s funeral, the Graveyard Elm began to wither and die. The grounds crew attempted to remove the tree, now known as the “Crying Tree,” but their efforts were thwarted by the unsettling weeping that seemed to emanate from within.
One brave soul even tried to cut down the tree with an axe, only to be met with terrible wailing, as if Old Book himself was being struck with each blow.
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⚡ Nature’s Intervention
Years later, a lightning storm finally succeeded where human efforts had failed. The Graveyard Elm was struck and subsequently removed from the potter’s field, bringing an end to the eerie chapter in the hospital’s history.
The tale of Old Book and the Crying Tree remains a fascinating piece of folklore, a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the human desire to find meaning in the mysterious.
While the truth behind the legend may never be fully understood, the impact of Old Book’s life and the strange events surrounding his death continue to captivate those who hear his story.
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🗣 What do you think of Old Book and his Crying Tree? Is this just a legend… or do you think it’s based in truth? We’d LOVE to hear from you in the comments section below. ⬇️
