Do you know the chilling legend of the Forsyth ghost? Forsyth Public Library's very own historical archivist Tina Horve has shared the spooky story below:
Forsyth's ghost story begins on January 25, 1871, when an unidentified woman—“scarce more than twenty,” as later retellings put it—was killed at a culvert just north of town by a passing Illinois Central train. In the versions printed years later, she uttered a vow with her dying breath, that after twenty years, she would return to haunt the trainmen of that road.
On the night of January 25, 1891 (exactly 20 years to the day), the Diamond Special train approached the culvert at speed. The engineer later swore he saw a woman, clothed only in a corset and underskirt, hair flying in the wind, eyes “like balls of fire,” swinging a crimson lantern in an urgent arc. He threw the air brakes and stopped so abruptly that passengers were tossed from their seats. When trainmen and curious riders rushed forward, the figure vanished. Groans were said to rise from beneath the culvert; a search found nothing.
Word spread. Detectives kept vigil; the apparition returned—always at a distance, always dissolving before anyone could lay a hand on her. Crowds gathered nightly along the right-of-way. So many fences were broken that the railroad took legal aim at the local press for inflaming the spectacle.
In time, the spell broke. In 1922, a man confessed the “Forsyth ghost” had just been an adolescent prank.
A confessed prankster may have claimed the Forsyth Ghost was nothing but teenage trickery—but then again, it’s easy to talk brave in daylight.
If you’re out late this Halloween and the wind from the north catches your ear just right, don’t be too quick to laugh.
It might not be the breeze at all.
Forsyth's ghost story begins on January 25, 1871, when an unidentified woman—“scarce more than twenty,” as later retellings put it—was killed at a culvert just north of town by a passing Illinois Central train. In the versions printed years later, she uttered a vow with her dying breath, that after twenty years, she would return to haunt the trainmen of that road.
On the night of January 25, 1891 (exactly 20 years to the day), the Diamond Special train approached the culvert at speed. The engineer later swore he saw a woman, clothed only in a corset and underskirt, hair flying in the wind, eyes “like balls of fire,” swinging a crimson lantern in an urgent arc. He threw the air brakes and stopped so abruptly that passengers were tossed from their seats. When trainmen and curious riders rushed forward, the figure vanished. Groans were said to rise from beneath the culvert; a search found nothing.
Word spread. Detectives kept vigil; the apparition returned—always at a distance, always dissolving before anyone could lay a hand on her. Crowds gathered nightly along the right-of-way. So many fences were broken that the railroad took legal aim at the local press for inflaming the spectacle.
In time, the spell broke. In 1922, a man confessed the “Forsyth ghost” had just been an adolescent prank.
A confessed prankster may have claimed the Forsyth Ghost was nothing but teenage trickery—but then again, it’s easy to talk brave in daylight.
If you’re out late this Halloween and the wind from the north catches your ear just right, don’t be too quick to laugh.
It might not be the breeze at all.
Happy Halloween! These are just some of the adorable kiddos that visited the library last Saturday for our annual Nightmare of Elwood Street Halloween event. Congratulations to our costume contest winners - Toothless, Capybara and Bingo!
Mobile DMV
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
Teen Make Your Own Mini Anxiety Bookshelf Drop-in
Friday, November 7 - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Ages 13 and up
Shake away your anxiety with your own Mini Anxiety Bookshelf. The idea is that when feeling anxious, you can organize a collection of miniature books on a tiny shelf, engaging in the focused task to escape worries. If feeling stressed or frustrated, you can also shake the shelf to release tension, creating a repetitive, soothing experience.
Friday, November 7 - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Ages 13 and up
Shake away your anxiety with your own Mini Anxiety Bookshelf. The idea is that when feeling anxious, you can organize a collection of miniature books on a tiny shelf, engaging in the focused task to escape worries. If feeling stressed or frustrated, you can also shake the shelf to release tension, creating a repetitive, soothing experience.
From Pages to Popcorn Tween Book Club
Tuesday, November 4 - 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.
Do you enjoy reading books that have been adapted to television shows or movies? If so, join our tweens book club, From Pages to Popcorn!
Every six weeks we’ll read a different book. We then meet to discuss the book, watch a bit of the television or movie adaptation, and talk about the differences, similarities, favorites and not-so-favorites. Our book for this session is The Wild Robot.
For questions about the club, please call Vanessa, Youth Services Librarian, at 217-877-8174
Tuesday, November 4 - 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.
Do you enjoy reading books that have been adapted to television shows or movies? If so, join our tweens book club, From Pages to Popcorn!
Every six weeks we’ll read a different book. We then meet to discuss the book, watch a bit of the television or movie adaptation, and talk about the differences, similarities, favorites and not-so-favorites. Our book for this session is The Wild Robot.
For questions about the club, please call Vanessa, Youth Services Librarian, at 217-877-8174
2025 Library Crawl Ends Tomorrow - Fri., Oct. 31
Forsyth Residents: Bring in your finished Passport by 5:00 p.m. to be entered into the 2025 Drawing!
The winner will be chosen during the week of November 3.
Forsyth Residents: Bring in your finished Passport by 5:00 p.m. to be entered into the 2025 Drawing!
The winner will be chosen during the week of November 3.
Evening Story Time with Miss Vanessa
Tuesday, November 4 - 5:45 p.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Please note that Evening Story Time has a new start time of 5:45 p.m.
It's going to be a sweet time as it's National Candy Day!
Tuesday, November 4 - 5:45 p.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Please note that Evening Story Time has a new start time of 5:45 p.m.
It's going to be a sweet time as it's National Candy Day!
End of Life Planning Workshop
Thursday, November 6 - 10:30 a.m.
Registration Required
Join the Forsyth Library and Tom Cantwell, cofounder and CEO of Central Cremation Center, for an informative workshop on End of Life Planning. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn ways to get your affairs in order and gain peace of mind.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com
Thursday, November 6 - 10:30 a.m.
Registration Required
Join the Forsyth Library and Tom Cantwell, cofounder and CEO of Central Cremation Center, for an informative workshop on End of Life Planning. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn ways to get your affairs in order and gain peace of mind.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com
Bingo! at the Library
Tuesday, November 4 - Ages 16+
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Registration Required
Join our Final Bingo for the fall and for 2025. Games, prizes, tasty snacks and fun with friends - you can’t ask for more. We look forward to seeing you there!
Register by calling the library at 217-877-8174 or at eventbrite.com
Tuesday, November 4 - Ages 16+
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Registration Required
Join our Final Bingo for the fall and for 2025. Games, prizes, tasty snacks and fun with friends - you can’t ask for more. We look forward to seeing you there!
Register by calling the library at 217-877-8174 or at eventbrite.com
Adult Winter Doormat Program
Monday, November 3 - 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Registration Required
Back by popular demand, FPL is offering another Adult Winter Doormat Program for those who missed the first one! Register by calling Pam at the library at 217-877-8174.
Monday, November 3 - 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Registration Required
Back by popular demand, FPL is offering another Adult Winter Doormat Program for those who missed the first one! Register by calling Pam at the library at 217-877-8174.
Day of the Dead Mask Drop-in
Saturday, November 1
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Make your own colorful & decorative Day of the Dead mask - known as Sugar Skulls - from a milk jug! Go traditional or create a unique design.
Saturday, November 1
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Make your own colorful & decorative Day of the Dead mask - known as Sugar Skulls - from a milk jug! Go traditional or create a unique design.
Story Time with Miss Vanessa
Friday, October 31 - 10:00 a.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Wear your costumes to Story Time, if you wish.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 31 - 10:00 a.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Wear your costumes to Story Time, if you wish.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween!
Mobile DMV
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
Is this cooler weather putting you in the holiday spirit already? Keep up with Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas with Hoopla BingePass! Stream new holiday movies and TV shows or cozy up with previous favorites and get into the holiday spirit - all for FREE with your Forsyth Public Library card. Try it out today at https://www.hoopladigital.com/bingepass/15935096
***Teens - Come See Us Tonight***
Teen Mini Glow Jar Program 12+
Thursday, October 23
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Teens, make a simple but stylish Halloween glow jar and add a little eerie ambient lighting to your room.
Teen Mini Glow Jar Program 12+
Thursday, October 23
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Teens, make a simple but stylish Halloween glow jar and add a little eerie ambient lighting to your room.
Evening Story Time with Miss Vanessa
Tuesday, October 28 - 5:30 p.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
October 28 is Stuffed Animal Lovers Day!
Tuesday, October 28 - 5:30 p.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
October 28 is Stuffed Animal Lovers Day!
***TONIGHT!*** Kids’ Edible Haunted House Drop-in
Tuesday, October 21
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Make your own edible Haunted House using chocolate graham crackers, icing and lots of candy treats.
Bring your sweet tooth and have a gruesomely good time!
Tuesday, October 21
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Make your own edible Haunted House using chocolate graham crackers, icing and lots of candy treats.
Bring your sweet tooth and have a gruesomely good time!
Story Time with Miss Vanessa
Friday, October 24 - 10:00 a.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Today is National Bologna Day!
Friday, October 24 - 10:00 a.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Today is National Bologna Day!
What's happening this week at FPL:
