Ashmore Estates Ghost Hunt, Ashmore, IL

Ashmore Estates History

The Coles County Poor Farm was initially in the small town of Loxa, serving there from 1857 to 1869. Due to the county’s growing need, a new poor farm was commissioned in Ashmore in 1870, right next to the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad.

The first almshouse building on the property housed both the insane and the poor and conditions for inmates quickly became bleak. After years of terrible living standards, the facility was deemed unsafe and unsanitary and condemned by the State Board of Charities.

During the first buildings’ time as an almshouse, there was an untold number of deaths. In fact, many of the residents that entered its doors lost their lives. The bodies of these unfortunate souls are buried in the graveyard on the northern end of the property.

The new almshouse (Ashmore Estates) was built on the site in 1916, offering the most destitute a place of opportunity, to work the land of the county for bed and board. The almshouse operated for many years before the property was sold by the county in 1959. It later served as a private psychiatric facility, however, after just five years the facility had to close its doors in 1964 due to unmanageable debt.

The doors were open to those suffering from mental afflictions again in 1965, however, this time the patients were those from state mental institutions.

Soon the hospital became overcrowded, but the money wasn’t there to extend. It wasn’t until 1977 that finances were arranged for the building of a new wing, and construction began.

However, building work wasn’t completed until the 1980s, and by that time it was too late, due to lack of money and increasing regulations, the Illinois Health Facility Planning Board closed the establishment. By 1986 all the patients had been transferred to other mental institutions and Ashmore closed its doors.

Three years after its closure, there were attempts to reopen it as a mental health facility for teenage boys but there was a public backlash, leading Ashmore Village Board to deny the request.

A private owner took over the property and began work on remodeling the building into a home, though his plans were scuppered after repeated break-in attempts and vandalism.

In 2006 the building was purchased by Scott Kelley and his wife who set about restoring the building, reopening it for tours to fund the restoration work.

In 2013 a huge storm hit the area and Ashmore Estates suffered considerable damage. Later that year the building was put up for auction and purchased by Robert Burton & Ella Richards. In May 2014 it was sold again, this time to the current owners, Robbin & Norma Terry.

The Terrys put in considerable efforts in restoring the building, putting in a new roof, bathrooms, shower, kitchenette, and more. Now the building stands preserved as a historical building and a location for paranormal investigation.