The Ghosts of Ashmore Estates: Echoes from the Forgotten



Rising out of the rural fields of Ashmore, Illinois, Ashmore Estates stands as a chilling monument to decades of hardship, despair, and survival. Once a place of refuge for the poor, the mentally ill, and the forgotten, it has since gained a powerful reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the Midwest.

Today, ghost hunters, historians, and thrill-seekers alike are drawn to Ashmore Estates, hoping to catch a glimpse or even an encounter with the spirits that may still linger inside its crumbling walls.

A Dark and Difficult History

The story of Ashmore Estates begins in 1916, but its land was tied to hardship long before that. Originally, it was part of the Coles County Poor Farm in the late 1800s, a facility where society’s outcasts could work and live, often under harsh and isolated conditions. By the early 20th century, the county replaced the farm with a more modern almshouse, the building that would become Ashmore Estates. Eventually, it evolved into a psychiatric hospital in the 1950s, operating under grim and often inhumane circumstances before closing its doors in 1986.

Decades of poverty, mental illness, and death created a deep reservoir of emotional energy within its walls and many believe it has never dissipated.

Ghostly Encounters

Ashmore Estates is renowned for its intense paranormal activity. Reports include:

• Apparitions: Visitors and investigators have reported seeing shadowy figures darting across hallways, peeking out from rooms, and even standing silently at windows.
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• Disembodied Voices: EVP sessions often capture voices crying out, whispering, or even screaming—pleas for help, or simply lonely echoes from a time long gone.
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• Physical Contact: Some visitors have felt invisible hands tugging at their clothes, poking their backs, or even shoving them.
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• Objects Moving: Items have been seen sliding across tables or being thrown by unseen forces, especially in the old patient rooms.

The spirits encountered here are often described as confused or distressed echoes of the people who suffered when society turned its back on them.

Notable Spirits

Several specific spirits are thought to haunt Ashmore Estates:

• Elva Skinner: According to local legend, a young girl named Elva Skinner perished in a fire at the poor farm, and her spirit is said to roam the building, occasionally heard laughing or crying.
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• The Man in the Boiler Room: A dark, shadowy figure has been reported lurking near the old boiler room—an area many investigators describe as particularly heavy and oppressive.
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• Residual Energy of Former Patients: Investigators often pick up names, dates, and fragments of memories during spirit communication sessions, hinting at the many lost souls who once lived—and died—here.

Paranormal Investigations

Ashmore Estates has become a paranormal hotspot, featured on shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters. Paranormal teams from across the country have documented chilling encounters, including full-body apparitions, aggressive spirit interactions, and compelling audio and video evidence. Despite numerous renovations and new ownership striving to preserve the site, the paranormal activity has not diminished, in fact, many say it’s only grown stronger, as if the building itself demands to be remembered.

A Place That Won’t Be Forgotten

Ashmore Estates stands today not just as a relic of the past, but as a living testament to human endurance and the spirits of those who were once left behind. Every creaking floorboard, every cold gust of unseen wind, and every whispered voice is a reminder that within these walls, the forgotten still have a voice. For those who dare to step inside, Ashmore Estates offers an experience that’s unforgettable and, for many, utterly unexplainable.