According to legend, the main gates of Resurrection Catholic Cemetery for a while bore the physical mark of it's most famous resident. In 1976, a passerby called Justice police one night to report a woman locked inside the gates. An officer responded to find no woman. However, he did find that two bars of the main gate had been bent outward -- like someone had been trying to get out -- and bore scorched human handprints that were embedded into the metal. Word quickly spread that it was Resurrection Mary's attempt to leave the cemetery. While those gates immediately attracted throngs of curiosity seekers, the twisted bars have since been replaced and re-painted by the cemetery.
"I remember you could wrap your hands around [the bars] and feel the hand impressions in the metal," says Crowe. "In an attempt to destroy the proof, the cemetery inspired more curiosity."
Most who come in search of Resurrection Mary come at night. Naturally, Halloween is the most popular time, with thrill seekers driving up and down Archer Avenue. Some even dress up as Mary herself, hoping to spook those easily scared -- or just easily amused. For obvious reasons, cemetery staff and Justice police beef up security around this time.
Richard Crowe warns those seeking Mary not to hold their breath, as she usually appears to those who aren't expecting her. In fact, he has yet to see her. But to increase your chances, he suggests coming to Justice during a full moon -- or when weather turns rainy or snowy.
"She has been encountered walking in the rain or in the snow," he says. "But she remains perfectly dry. Her hair and dress are untouched by rain or snowflakes."
Today, driving down Archer Avenue after midnight can be an eerie and foreboding experience. And for those who know the legend of Resurrection Mary, it can be downright scary. The scattering of small shops that line the street sits silent. On a clear night, the moonlight dances across the white headstones at Resurrection Cemetery. The scene can make for a heart-thumping drive -- especially if you add fog to the mix.
Sure, those who come in search of Resurrection Mary may not find her. But they will find themselves in constant anticipation -- or fear -- of the famous female hitchhiker in the white dress.
WHERE:
Resurrection Catholic Cemetery
7201 Archer Ave.
Justice, Illinois 60458
Cemetery Visiting Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (May to August)
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (September to April)
