Pond in Bachelor's Grove Cemetery

Click to enlarge

Still pond Bachelor's Grove Cemetery

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery has long been the source of ghost stories, mob stories and urban legends. Bachelor's Grove Cemetery holds the remains of some of Chicagoland's early pioneers, but since the 1960's and 1970's, the graveyard has been desecrated. It was said that the only things you have to fear at this graveyard are the people who visit it at night.

Many legends say the Chicago mob used this pond to dump their murdered foes; others say most of the broken and vandalized gravestones lie at the bottom. Either way, it's a very serene place.

There are some private efforts to clean up Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, so there's hope that the desecration will end.

Hidden Stream

Stream running next to Bachelor's Grove Cemetery
Oak Forest, Illinois

Country Fence

Hand-split rail stacked fence
Lincoln's Birthplace State Park
Hodgenville, Kentucky

Battery Bigelow

Remains of Battery Bigelow

The remains of the three-inch gun battery known as Battery Bigelow can still be seen at Fort DeSoto Park near St. Petersburg, Florida.

http://www.fortdesoto.com/servlets/Page/batterybigelow

Hay Rolls

Hay Rolls; Mill Creek, Indiana

There's something about a freshly mowed field scattered with hay rolls that makes me want to stop and take a photo.

El Dorado Restaurant

Remember this place? The El Dorado restaurant in Crestwood, IL has been gone for quite a few years, but the sign still stands on 143rd and Cicero.

The El Dorado was a typical south-side suburban Chicago restaurant, serving a fairly large menu with breakfast anytime. I think the same three Greek guys own (or at least control) every restaurant in the south suburbs because they're all so similar.

What made the El Dorado different was the feeling you got when you walked in the door - the feeling of being watched! I swear, everytime I walked into this place all of the customers stopped what they were doing, turned and stared as if to say, "who are you and why are you in my restaurant?" It didn't matter what time of day or night (and I've been there at 2 AM and 2 PM) you felt like you didn't belong. The staff were nice enough, it was the patrons who made you feel as if you were on exhibit. Maybe it was something to do with the high voltage lines that ran close to the building!

This place closed around 2002 and a new El Dorado opened up in Orland Park. The Orland Park place didn't give off the same vibes.

Anyone else feel like they were being watched at the old El Dorado?

Chris Running

Chris running around
"Panned photo, no artificial photoshop effects"

Carvings

Larger than life carvings; Field Museum, Chicago

Repeating Pattern

Ceiling - Field Museum, Chicago

I'm Looking Over a ...

Four-Leaf Clover.


Mike found a 4-leaf clover in the backyard. Looks like he'll have good luck for some time to come. According to this article, 4-leaf clovers are one in 10,000.

I'm still trying to figure out how Mike found the unique clover, and how he knew it was special to find one with four leaves.

Lilypad

Beat-up lilypad--perfect flower
Fish Lake, Indiana

Interesting Little Cottage

Fantasy shed, Fish Lake, Indiana

In Need of Paint

Old car by a barn
Somewhere between Walkerton and Stillwell, Indiana

Rural Indiana

Hay rolls in field
Hwy. 104, near Stillwell, Indiana

Sue, the T-Rex

The world famous T-Rex at Chicago's Field Museum

Antique Tractors

Red Tractors; LaPorte County Fair, LaPorte, Indiana

Stoking the Fire

Stoking the Fire, LaPorte County Fair Pioneer Village

Tall Ships on Parade (part 4)

This is the last group of photos from the Tallships Chicago event, (I have about 50 more pictures, so I may post one or two in the future).


A replica of Christopher Columbus' Nina


Nova Scotian Barque Picton Castle, 180 feet long

Tall Ships on Parade (part 3)

The Pride of Baltimore II


Tallship "Windy" sails through the Outer Harbor
Chicago's Navy Pier on the right, and the Chicago Harbor Light can be seenin the distance just to the left of the ship

Interlocking Tower, Walkerton, Indiana

Black and White conversion of interlocking tower, Walkerton, Indiana
I haven't exactly turned into a full-fledged "Gricer" or railroad fan, but I have always enjoyed the railroad, especially the old structures that often accompanied railroad yards. I've missed several opportunities to photograph old train stations, steam era crossbucks and other items, so I'm making sure I don't miss this interlocking tower in the CSX rail yard in Walkerton, Indiana.
According to a post at trainorders.com, the two lines that cross there are the CSX (B&O) main To Chicago, and the seldom used NS (ex NKP Michigan City Branch).

Train moving past interlocking tower; Walkerton, Indiana


Wooden crossbuck; off rt. 104, St. Joseph County, Indiana