by RachelK

Created on: October 23, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

The Strange Home of George Stickney

If you have ever visited Bull Valley, Illinois you may have noticed a strange looking structure with a unique design. That building is the former residence of spiritualist George Stickney. From the outside the structure is fairly normal looking, but on the inside it is another story.

George had the home built in 1836 for him and his wife Sylvia. At his request the home was to be built with rounded corners. George Stickney followed a form of spiritualism that held to the belief that evil spirits could be attracted to corners or get trapped in them. George and Sylvia held many seances in the home.

According to one legend the home ended up with one corner of a room that had a 90-degree measurement. Oddly enough, George met his demise in the home and reportedly was found dead in one of the corners with a terrified look on his face. He died of apparant heart failure. Sylvia Stickney continued to live in the house and gained fame as a spiritual medium. She held large seances in the home in the upstairs ballroom.

After his death rumors of the supernatural began to surface about the home. Some of the tales include creepy stories from people who have been in the mansion and have reported seeing figures moving about and hearing footsteps. One of the former owners of the house Rodrick Smith also claims to have heard strange noises in the home. He also reported that his dogs never felt comfortable there.

In 1985 the mansion became a police precinct to the Village of Bull Valley. Police Chief Norbert Sauers is reported as having heard footsteps in the building, strange noises, lights turning on and off, door knobs turning, and hearing toilets flush when alone in the house. Another police officer claims to have come face to face with an apparition. The official word from the authorities though, is that the house is not nor has it ever been haunted. Hmmm I wonder which it is?

The very strange home was put on the National Historic Register in 1979. Is the mansion really haunted? Many of the residents of the town believe so, as well as many people who have either lived in or visited the home. One thing is for certain the odd structure, creepy seances and history of the building sure makes for a good ghost story!

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