Spooky Rockford Creepy Tales In The Greater Forest City Area

This book, as the title suggests, focuses on tales meant to be at least a little scary and all set in the greater Rockford, Illinois area (stretching as far afield as the Southern Chicago area). It includes non-fiction, fictionalized non-fiction and fiction stories. Including contributions from Heath D. Alberts, Ernie Fuhr, Diane Hill, Gary Hill and Kathi Kresol, this collection also includes lots of photos.

The sequel to ""Spooky Rockford,"" this book dishes out more spooky stories in the Rockford, Illinois area. It includes non-fiction from Sheri Darnell, Diane Hill, Gary Hill and John Kleindienst along with one fiction story from Mike Korn. Two black and white photo galleries (Tinker Swiss Cottage and Rockford cemeteries) are also included. The stories included are: A Spirited New Year's Eve by Gary Hill Tinker Swiss Cottage: One of Rockford's (Haunted) Treasures by Diane Hill Robert Hall Tinker: A Brief Biography by Gary Hill Rockford's Elusive Ghost by Sheri Darnell Rockford's Scandinavian Cemetery: Is It Haunted? by Gary Hill Bachelor's Grove: An Addendum by Gary Hill Hope & Anchor English Pub: Are the Spirits Being Poured the Only Ones There? by Gary Hill The Coronado Theater: A Legendary Haunted Location by Gary Hill A Personal Experience by John Kleindienst Lucerne's Fondue and Spirits: Yes, The Name Has Two Meanings by Gary Hill Necropolis by Mike Korn

Follow local historian and “Ghost Lady” Kathi Kresol as she researches the spirits, curses, and curiosities from the Forest City’s shadowy past. Just beneath the glossy surface of Rockford’s rich heritage lies a dark history of tragedy, a troubled and turbulent past leaving scars that still resonate today. Geraldine Bourbon’s final struggle echoes throughout the farmhouse where her estranged husband pursued her with a pistol from room to room before gently laying her corpse on the bed. The sobs of society darling Carrie Spafford still keep vigil over the family plot of the cemetery where she sowed the heartbreak of her twilight years. From the vengeance of Chief Big Thunder to the Witch of McGregor Road, author Kathi Kresol shares the legends and lore of Rockford’s haunted history. Includes photos! “There are reasons why Kathi Kresol believes Rockford is so haunted. The tour guide said there are good ‘conductors’ for the supernatural in the city’s downtown area. These factors include being near a body of water, having limestone in the area and the area having a Native American influence.” —Beloit Daily News

We all have a surface self we present to the world, but our smiling faces often hide our pain that comes from unsuccessful attempts to find relief through harmful choices. How can we keep past wounds from damaging us? Learn to allow God to heal triggers, insecurities, and more so you can experience spiritual health and wholeness. Every driver knows the importance of avoiding potholes when navigating a route. Besides the uncomfortable bump, they can create permanent damage to vehicles and endanger entire roadway systems. The same is true of our lives. We all have potholes that have been formed by pain, trauma, or choices that we’ve made. Usually we find a quick fix, filling the hole with activities and even addictions disguised as culturally acceptable life choices. But before long, the hole is back—and often wider and deeper—waiting to catch us off-guard, which in the end creates even more permanent damage. In The Thing Beneath the Thing, pastor Steve Carter asks the simple question, “How is life working for you?” He knows that potholes exist and that the longer we live disconnected from answering this question, the more we will fill those holes with harmful choices. The solution? Allow God to fill them with His grace and love so that we can discover the beauty of peace and wholeness He has for us. The process lies in discovering our: Triggers: the setup that sets us off Hideouts: where we go to escape the pain of our story Insecurities: the false stories we create about ourselves Narratives: the false stories we create about others Grace: the place where we discover how to become whole, holy, and spiritually healthy Journey with a seasoned fellow traveler who has learned how to ask key questions that help us unlock the places where we’ve buried things. Then we can dig deep, invite healing, and learn new ways to operate so we can begin experiencing the life of freedom Jesus promised.

A little squirrel announces that he was once very, very, scared and finds out that he is not alone. Lots of little animals went through scary experiences, but they react in different ways. Turtle hides and gets a tummy ache, monkey clings, dog barks, and elephant doesn't like to talk about it. They need help, and they get help from grown-ups who help them feel safe and learn ways to cope with difficult feelings. This story was written to help children and grown-ups understand how stress can affect children and ways to help them.

Secret Rockford pulls back the curtain to reveal the hidden side of life in the Forest City. This anthology contains many snapshots of life in Rockford. Join us as we go behind the headlines to explore the people, places, and events that make our city unique. On these pages, you will find the unconventional, gritty, and sometimes shocking truth.