Ashmore Estates

The facility that became Ashmore Estates sits on farmland outside Ashmore, a small community in Coles County, Illinois, after closing permanently in April 1986.

Coles County established its first poor farm in 1857, moving to a new 260-acre site in Ashmore Township in 1870. By 1911 state inspectors condemned the original building for vermin-infested walls, rough floors, and inadequate ventilation. A replacement structure was authorized after the 1911 condemnation and completed in 1916.

In February 1959 the county sold the building to Ashmore Estates, Inc., which opened it as a private psychiatric hospital. After closing briefly due to debt in 1964, it reopened accepting patients transferred from state mental institutions. New owners in 1976 invested more than $200,000 in modernization. The facility closed permanently in April 1986.

The building sat abandoned until August 2006, when new owners began renovating and offered flashlight tours that drew locals and paranormal investigators. In January 2013 a storm with 80-to-100 mph winds destroyed the roof and support gables. The Kelleys sold it at auction in April 2013 for $12,700 to Robert Burton and Ella Richards, who sold it in May 2014 to Robbin and Norma Terry.

Flashlight tours drew locals and self-styled paranormal investigators to the building. Michele Watson-Baker, who served as the site’s historian, recounted hearing a voice say “Well, hi there!” after she had locked herself inside when no one else was present. On another occasion she saw a shadow figure with visible eyes turn toward investigators. Hannah Watson-Reano recalled watching her sister’s shirt being tugged as though by a small child.

Two named entities dominate Ashmore’s paranormal lore. Elva Skinner was a young girl, between 5 and 7 depending on the source, who died in 1880 when her dress caught fire at the original poor farm building. Haunted US says visitors can expect Elva to hold their hands or tug on their shirts to get their attention. In 2004 folklorist Michael Kleen published Tales of Coles County, Illinois, a collection of short historical fiction, and one of its stories had residents during the Great Depression seeing the ghost of a girl who died in the first almshouse. The other figure, called “Joe” or “Joe Bloxom,” is said to be a former resident struck by a train, and his apparition is reported in the basement. Haunt Bound says both stories work less as verified history than as characters investigators inherited from earlier visitors.

Brian Murray of Riverbend Paranormal called the property “a warm haunt”.

Ashmore Estates was featured on Ghost Adventures (September 2011), Ghost Hunters (February 2013), and Destination Fear (December 2022).

The Terrys replaced the roof, installed bathrooms, a shower, and a kitchenette with the help of volunteers. The Terrys preserve the building as a historic structure and site for paranormal investigation and host year-round investigation groups through private bookings and public events.