The Old Slave House

Illinois · United States · House

Slavery was illegal in Illinois. The owner of this house at Equality held people in the attic anyway and sold them south. The property is private and.

Begin with the practical warning, because it matters. The house was once open as an attraction for both history enthusiasts and ghost hunters. It was sold in 1994. The current owners do not give tours, do not want visitors, and will call the police on anyone on the property.

The history is what makes the site significant. Slavery was illegal in Illinois. The owner of this house held enslaved people anyway, in small rooms in the attic, and sold them south into states where it was not. The men he held for breeding are named in the local accounts, the best known among them called Big Jim.

This is not folklore. Reverse kidnapping and illegal enslavement in southern Illinois is documented history, and this house is among the clearest surviving pieces of physical evidence for it. The attic rooms are still there.

What visitors reported during the years the house was open was concentrated entirely in those rooms.

The house is private property and closed. It is listed here for the record and because the history should not be allowed to disappear with the tours.

FAQ

Where is The Old Slave House located?

The Old Slave House is in Illinois, United States.

More haunted places in Illinois

Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.