Resurrection Mary: Urban Legend or True Entity?

I have an avid interest in ghost stories and paranormal activity and since it is getting closer and closer to Halloween, I thought I would write a hub about the famous Chicago area ghost, Resurrection Mary. For those of you who have heard about Resurrection Mary, this hub will serve as a refresher for you. On the other hand, if you have never heard the story, please keep reading. I think you will find this hub very interesting!

In 1934, a young blue-eyed woman with golden hair named Mary went to the O. Henry Ballroom which is now the Willowbrook Ballroom to dance. She wore a white dress and black patent leather shoes.

 According to legend, she died in a car accident caused by a hit and run driver after she left the dance hall in 1934. The reason she left the ballroom was due to an argument that had erupted between her and her boyfriend and she decided that walking home in the cold was better than staying at the ballroom with her date.

It is believed by many people that the phantom named Resurrection Mary is buried in Resurrection Cemetery at 7200 S. Archer Road. The cemetery has records that indicate a young Polish woman around Mary’s age and description is indeed buried somewhere inside the cemetery gates.

The very first encounters with the ghostly figure known as Mary happened a few years after her death in 1939. People have reported seeing her jump onto cars, running boards or hitching a ride with unsuspecting motorists. The descriptions of all the witnesses are identical to how Mary appeared when she was alive.

In fact, one gentleman ended up meeting Mary and danced with her throughout the night at the Willowbrook ballroom. Her skin was cold to the touch, but the man did not think anything of this. At the end of the evening he stated that he offered Mary a ride home and she accepted. It is reported that she was very distant and did not talk very much during the car ride.

Within a few minutes of being inside the man’s car, she asked to be let out on Archer Street, near the cemetery. She ran from the car and disappeared before reaching the gates of Resurrection Cemetery. As you may have already guessed, the man was very surprised and bewildered at her disappearing act.

In the 1970s, the cemetery took on a renovation project and sighting of this phantom increased. In general, ghostly activity will increase when places are being torn up and worked on. This is simply because the entities are being disturbed from their resting places.

In another sighting, a man claims to have witnessed a girl peering out of the cemetery gates and thought she was locked inside. He called the Justice Police Department to investigate; the officer that was investigating this call shined his spotlight into the burial grounds and called to her over his loudspeaker.

The girl was nowhere to be found. The officer did notice however that the bars of the cemetery gates had been bent and states that he saw handprints. A closer look of the bars shows that they seem to have been seared.

Metallurgical experts were called in but could not explain how the bars were bents. The cemetery officials denied this account, saying a truck backed into the gates and they had the bars removed.

There have been many reports of witnesses claiming to see Mary walking along the road, but as soon as the authorities arrive to check out the claim, she has disappeared. People have also stated that Mary has been seen smack dab in the middle of the road. In fact, many drivers have slammed on their breaks to avoid hitting the girl, but she vanishes every time.

Is Resurrection Mary simply folklore that has turned into a legend? I personally feel that this is a true account of a ghostly entity that has not found her final resting place and that is the reason for the consistent sightings. There are way too many reports by different people to think any differently.

In fact, the majority of the accounts indicate that a beautiful young woman is spotted on an isolated road, late at night. The driver is most often a lone male that will stop and ask her if she needs help. She indicates that she must go home and he gives her a ride. She appears to be cold and he gives her his jacket or sweater to try and warm her up.

 When they reach her home, she vanishes along with his garment. The next day, the man knocks at the door of her home and is told that she was killed in an accident years before and appears on the anniversary of her death. He is shown a picture and recognizes her!

The man is puzzled so he wants to make sure that he was not told a story and decides to go to her grave. This is where he finds the garment he lent her the night before to keep her warm, neatly folded on top of the gravestone.

I believe this ghost story is true because there are many witnesses, and many police reports on sighting of Mary. What do you believe? Do you think Resurrection Mary is an urban legend that has gained popularity over the years or do you think that she still walks along Archer Avenue searching for her final resting place?

Keep in mind, there have been several reports from reliable witnesses and unlike many others, she has left behind physical evidence of her own existence.