The author of a road guide to haunted Illinois sites will be speaking at the Ashland and Pleasant Plains public libraries Tuesday about local and statewide spooks.

“I will be talking about plenty of places near (Springfield),” said Chad Lewis, co-author of “The Illinois Road Guide to Haunted Locations,” in an e-mail. Lewis also leads a Eau Claire, Wis.-based group, Unexplained Research, whose website is www.unexplainedresearch.com.

Lewis said he plans to talk about one of his favorite area haunts, the “turning angel” at Calvary Cemetery (the head of the statue supposedly turns on occasion). Lewis also will discuss Abraham Lincoln’s home, where the ghost of a cleaning lady allegedly still lingers.

Lewis, who also will talk about sites in Elkhart and Decatur, said he fills his presentations with eyewitness accounts, photos, lore and directions.

If some of his topics tend to sound more like urban legends, such as the somewhat silly “devil baby” tale of Jane Addams’ Hull House in Chicago, it’s intentional.

“I approach the presentation as a fun romp through (Illinois), which contains odd history, roadside attractions and, of course, the most haunted places,” Lewis said. “For me, it is part paranormal and part adventure.

“I hope the audience doesn’t take my word these places (are) haunted,” he said. “I hope they go explore for themselves.

“I always state that when you explore your own backyard, hopefully you have a paranormal experience. However, no matter what happens on your adventure, you will see places you’ve never seen, you will meet some odd people, and, hopefully along the way, you might just discover that you are a little stranger that you gave yourself credit for.”

Pete Sherman can be reached at 788-1539.

Want to go?

Chad Lewis, co-author of “The Illinois Road Guide to Haunted Locations,” will be speaking at the Ashland Public Library, 125 W. Editor St., at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, and at the Pleasant Plains Public Library, 555 Buckeye Road, at 1 p.m. Tuesday.