The Alamo

by Barek Halfhand

Smack dab in the heart of downtown San Antonio stands an archaic structure has come to serve as the symbol of Texas pride… the name “Alamo” alone represents an entire lexicon of history, lore, romance and war …on one particularly warm Sunday morning I made my way to south on Texas I…

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The St Paul Hotel (St Paul MN) and the Orpheum Theater (Omaha NE)

By Barek Halfhand

The summer of 2012 has thus far been the hottest in the Midwest in recorded history and lowest levels rainfall precipitation measured since the mid 30’s, the likes of which were so bad that it prolonged and exacerbated and already deeply depressed economy…the relentless heat and lack of moisture has decimated crops and vegetation in such a large geographic region that the lack of food production…

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“3 miles away: At Katherine Legge Memorial Park, the main building (not the lodge) used to be a woman's dorm. Supposedly if you are there alone at night on the first floor, you can hear footsteps on the second floor...”

Source:…

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Road Trip 2012 Part 2

Here is an update that includes a new site just outside Detroit MI that is rumored to be experiencing supernatural activity as well as some (edited) photos from my Oklahoma/Old RT 66 back-roads excursion...

Are they watching from the trees?...

Here are the (compressed to 1MB) photos...some have been slightly sharpened or color enhanced (5/2012) 48 total...…

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Road Trip 2012

by Barek Halfhand

I learned of “The Murder Homestead” by way of referral and it struck me as both pretentious while at the same time provocative but regardless I couldn’t resist going there once an emailed photo landed in my inbox…

I’m not entirely sure of precisely what contributory factors may be responsible actuating the maniacal spirit that dwells within the walls of that small, abandoned ranch style home on the hill…perhaps it has something to do with…

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The old gothic architecture of the building with the neon red “CONGRESS HOTEL” sign glowing at it’s anterior has been a prominent fixture of the Chicago nighted skyline for over a century...it is still clearly visible from Lake Shore Drive against the modern backdrop of contemporary skyscrapers towering overheard...

Upon conducting research for my last article;…

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Ghosts of the Haymarket Riot

by Barek Halfhand

The Carter Harrison (Sr.) administration saw it’s share of turmoil during his stint as Chicago mayor...The nation’s first prolific serial killer; H.H. Holmes prowled the periphery of the 1893 Columbian Exposition (White City) to prey upon tourists, urban transplants and transients...ironically Mayor Harrison would be murdered by a political anarchist in the foyer of his Ashland Avenue mansion mere days before he was…

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Haunted Archer Avenue: Fairmount Hills

by Barek Halfhand





*From 5-09:



The Archer Avenue gates to Fairmont Hills lie between St James Church and The Willow Brook Ballroom along the farthest, forest draped reaches of that famous stretch of Chicago land roadway. There was no predetermined destination when stumbled into my jeep slopping coffee on my lap at 5 am one morning, but knowing that there was a good chance of finding an open pre dawn gate at either St James… Continue

The Old Joliet Prison

by Barek Halfhand





It’s been over a decade since I worked at the Joliet Correctional Center and just returning to the empty main lot reminded me of the dread, insecurity and very real sense of mortal vulnerability that only… Continue

An Old Downtown Cemetery (updates included)

By Barek Halfhand







Far west suburban Downers Grove is one of many of the main street revitalization projects designed to help reinvigorated the existing classic storefront shops that languished economically in the early 90's with the inception of the Wal Mart superstore model by way of the addition of specialty shops, concept bar & grills, and of course “Starbucks... The…

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