Willow Springs Pub and Restaurant Hosts Gangster Ghosts

WIllow Springs, Ill. - Archer Road stretches from Chinatown, all the way to Lockport.

Along the way, you'll hear hair-raising stories of spirits haunting homes, bars and cemeteries.

One especially haunted spot was a hang out for gangsters in the early 20th century.

It was the roaring twenties, prohibition was in effect and O'Henry's Roadhouse on Archer Road in Willow Springs was a speak easy and brothel owned by Frank Capone, brother of gangster Al Capone.

If you crossed the mob you'd likely be taken to the basement never to be seen again.

The Irish Legend Pub and Restaurant occupies the building today, but the real residents are its gangster ghosts. Veteran paranormal expert Dale Kaczmarek said all four floors are haunted, but the basement is special.

"We believe people may have been bludgeoned to death down here in the basement during the Capone era and they may be buried here in the basement," Kaczmarek said.

Ironically, the floor is painted blood red and there are escape tunnels that lead to the woods, the cemetery and what was the casino across the street.

Legend has it the madam of the house was caught two timing with a gangster and a bartender. The jealous gangster flew into a rage beating the madam senseless and tripping the bartender on the basement stairs, snapping his neck.

"People have seen the apparition of the gangster quickly running up the stairs,” Kaczmarek said.

There have been reports of unseen hands pushing people as they walk down the stairs and fast footsteps can be heard.

Suddenly FOX Chicago’s camera began acting up. The sound levels are switching by themselves and a light stand falls over with no one nearby and nothing touching it.

Dale said this is common with paranormal activity. Many times you can't see or hear ghosts until you listen to a recording or watch them on film. One spirit even spoke to him in this very basement.

"In 2005 we did an EVP session, electronic voice phenomenon,” Kaczmarek said. “We actually asked the question is anybody here and what we thought we heard was a voice saying, ‘I'm under the floor.’"

Upstairs on the first floor pub, patrons have mingled with countless apparitions.

This is where a gangster named Joe was killed in a violent shootout. Bullet holes still visible in the women's bathroom door.

Pub manager Vendi Kennedy has seen him regularly. The first time was in a picture with her.

"We enlarged it and it was like a little mustache and eyes and a mouth showing,” Kennedy said. “Foggy, but you can see it's a face.”

The long second floor hallway is lined with bedroom doors for the brothel. In one room a dark spot outlines where a dead body was stored. There is even a secret stairway which leads to the basement.

It’s on the second floor of the house that many people have said they've washed their hands only to look up and see the bloodied face of the madam above them.

Finally, we reach the attic where both the madam and gangster Joe have been seen repeatedly Vendi said they're not malicious spirits but they are vocal.

"When we close you can hear voices,” Kennedy said, “sometimes screaming like a female voice."

So, if you happen to be driving by late at night on Archer Road and see something or someone standing in the attic don't worry it's just the madam keeping an eye on her house.