Published: February 20, 2009 11:13 pm      

Real Folklore

Rumors of hauntings and paranormal encounters may forever be connected with Effingham’s Ramsey Cemetery, also known as Casbar Cemetery, yet one investigator recently published an article trying to explain some of those rumors.

Michael Kleen, author of “Legends and Lore of Illinois,” featured Ramsey Cemetery as his February case file. Kleen, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, refers to his job title as a folk historian.

“That means that I examine the history of a place from the perspective of the people living there. To me, their stories are just as important as names and dates, but you can’t have one without the other,” Kleen said.

In “A Quick and Dirty Guide to Ramsey Cemetery,” Kleen explained some of the possible origins to the rumors. Two of the most popular stories linked with the cemetery are tales of a werewolf and a man in a black cloak with red glowing eyes. Kleen thinks the tale of the werewolf may be associated with the less desirable groups of people who used to take up residence in the woods and caves near Ramsey Cemetery.

“As I explain in the ‘Legends and Lore of Illinois,’ Effingham County had a reputation in the 1800s as being a rough and tumble area. A lot of times, individual thieves or gangs would make their homes in the backwoods and among these kinds of rock shelters,” Kleen said.

And what of the man with a black cloak and glowing red eyes?

“His appearance might have something to do with the occult activity that is rumored to take place in the cemetery at night, or he might dwell in a more earthly realm — in the mind of local visitors,” Kleen wrote in his article.

Kleen also has heard of another story surrounding Ramsey Cemetery that could possibly link the stories together. According to this tale, a warlock was supposedly hung from an old oak tree near the cemetery.

“I can’t remember where I first heard that story, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that a warlock was supposedly hung from that old tree. In Polish legends, there are warlocks, or male witches, who have the power to turn into a wolf. Perhaps the werewolf legend, the legend of the man in black with glowing eyes and the warlock story are all related in some way,” he said.

Kleen has visited Ramsey Cemetery three times, most recently in spring 2008. Though he finds the cemetery “fascinating,” he’s careful not to put a definitive label on whether the place is haunted.

“It could be haunted. People tell these stories all the time. I’ve been to dozens and dozens of these kinds of rural cemeteries. Every one has some kind of story associated with it. Usually, they are very vague. That’s what makes Ramsey Cemetery so interesting ... the variety and the specifics. But I’ve never seen a ghost there,” he said.

Kleen thinks people should worry less about trying to debunk rumors and enjoy the history of the place.

“I used to try and ‘investigate’ these areas using the kind of equipment you see on TV, but over the years I realized the history and the folklore surrounding these places is more real than the ghosts themselves.

“Don’t worry so much about what’s true or not true. Places like Ramsey Cemetery and its ‘caves’ make our lives interesting. They are shared by our communities and give us a sense of common identity. This is our land. These are our stories. One day, you might tell your children about the ‘werewolf of Ramsey Cemetery,’” he said.

Kleen’s article on Ramsey Cemetery can be found at www.trueillinoishaunts.

com. Information about Ramsey Cemetery will be included in a book Kleen is writing about ghost stories of Illinois for Schiffer Books that should be released sometime in 2010.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@effinghamdailynews.com.