Haunting Alton:  McPike Mansion
by Marian Rein

    When it comes to haunted-looking buildings, McPike Mansion is at the top of my list. Located on Alby Street in Alton, Il., McPike is a jaw-dropping, impressive mansion, resting on six acres. As interesting as its architecture is its reputation as one of the most haunted houses in America.
    The mansion was built by Henry McPike from 1869 to 1871. Henry had a wide variety of interests and endeavors. In addition to serving as a mayor of Alton, he was well-known as a horticulturist who was the propagator of the McPike grape, and served as a charter member of the Horticultural Society. Henry McPike died in 1910.
    Over the years, McPike Mansion has had several owners, the most recent are Sharyn and George Luedke. According to Sharyn, in August, 1994, she attended an auction where she bid $42,000 for McPike Mansion — and she won! Before attending the auction, she had no intention of bidding on McPike, and therefore had no idea what it would cost to rehabilitate the vacant and seriously deteriorated mansion. In 1998, she had an architectural assessment performed on McPike which estimated $1.8 million to completely restore the mansion.
    Since then, the Luedkes have been able to accomplish structural stabilization, tuck pointing and add a new roof. The next step in the process is to install doors and windows. Once the outside work is complete, they will begin to restore the inside of the mansion. From the looks of it, they are in for a very long process.
    During our tour of the property, Sharyn allowed me to look inside the front door. Because the inside is badly deteriorated, it’s unsafe to enter McPike. However, we did have an enlightening visit to its cellar!
    Before I arrived at McPike, I had read many articles about the supernatural aspects of the home, so it was with some apprehension that I passed through the basement door into what is called the wine cellar.
    Accompanied by Sharyn as well as my aunt, Joanne Martin of Chesterfield, I stepped inside the cellar when something zoomed past me, low to the ground. I asked if anyone saw it, but no one did. It left me feeling unsteady, almost disoriented. After regaining my composure and deciding that I was perhaps mistaken by what seemed to be a small animal racing past us, we stepped through a large doorway into the wine cellar.
    Sharyn began to tell us stories of ghosts and unexplained events. I asked her if she believes that Henry McPike haunts the mansion. She said that she is sure that Henry is still there. Is she fearful? “I’m basically a chicken,” Sharyn said. “Throughout the years, I’ve been uncomfortable, but I can’t say scared. I actually feel protected by the spirits.”
    Not everyone who has visited the mansion feels protected. The reports by visitors range from strange occurrences to down-right frightening events.
    Many of the reported supernatural occurrences are strange events such as radios being unplugged overnight, doors closing, etc.    But on the scary side, “One guy [working at the mansion] was almost knocked off scaffolding,” Sharyn said. “One time, years ago, a group of boys came to see McPike. We came down to the cellar and formed a circle. Just then, we hear the metal doors [leading to the room] slam shut. In my bravest voice, I said, ‘Spirits, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t be so loud.’ Inside, I was thinking, ‘I’m out of here.’”
    As Joanne, Sharyn and I sat in the wine cellar, Sharyn turned off the light. As we sat in complete darkness, I felt a presence next to my back. It remained there for several seconds. The most interesting event in the cellar was when Joanne was holding dowsing rods. The one in her right hand (farthest from Sharyn and me) was relatively motionless, but the one in her left hand began swinging wildly, and even hit her face several times. Was it caused by a ghost, or perhaps energy resonating from the limestone under the house?
    Many of the stories I’ve read and heard about McPike Mansion are scary and caused me concern about visiting it. While I experienced some strange events, I did not sense anything that seemed harmful or frightening, though I don’t feel the urge to spend time there alone.
    The Luedkes have a long way to go as they restore McPike. Despite its poor condition, it is still an impressive structure, well worth visiting. If you would like your own tour of McPike Mansion, call the Luedkes at (618) 830-2179.