When the local townsfolk think of haunted houses they automatically think of the old McPike Mansion. Several books and national television shows have featured it because of the strange encounters and unexplained phenomena in the house and in the cemetery in back of the house. The 16 room Victorian style mansion was built in 1869 by architect Louis Phiffenberger and now sits on the National List of Historic Places. It also sits on another list as one of the most haunted houses in the Midwest.
The house was built for Mister Henry Guest McPike who's family can be traced back to Scotland. Several of his family members fought in the revolutionary war; Captain Mose Guest McPike and Captain James McPike were with George Washington at Valley Forge. Captain James McPike traveled west to Kentucky in 1795, bringing with him his two sons, John and Richard. Henry was the son of John and came to this area as a very young man in 1847. He soon became involved with several projects such as being a real estate agent, insurance executive, box manufacturer, and president of the oldest horticulture society in Illinois.
Later he developed an interest in politics. His father had been the editor of a Whig (later becoming the Republican party) newspaper and was an early supporter of the abolition of slavery. During the civil war he was asked to take a management position in the war department. After this he began taking a more active role in the city council and held a stint as the mayor between 1887 and 1881.
McPike owned 15 acres at the highest point of the city called "Mt. Lookout". The mansion had 16 rooms and a vaulted wine cellar and was one of the most prestigious homes in the area with several marble fireplaces and elaborate woodwork. McPike had an interest in horticulture and the grounds were planted with many shrubs, flowers and even had an orchard. He invented the McPIke grape which became widely known throughout the land for it's delicious award winning wine.
The McPike family owned the house until 1936 when a Mister Laichinger bought it and lived there until his death. Some believe his spirit is still there in the house he loved. He had also rented several rooms out to tenants. Another well documented ghost is that of a previous housekeeper named Sarah. The house has sat empty since 1950 and the years have not been kind to the house. Vandals carted off items and windows had been broken out. Time and neglect have taken it's toll on the once grand mansion.
In 1994 Sharyn and George Ludke purchased the mansion with the intent of rehabbing it and turning it into a bed and breakfast. However, the project was much more expensive than they had anticipated with a new roof alone costing as much as $50,000. To help defray the cost of returning the mansion to it's once beautiful state they began holding tours.
McPike was also an avid Horticulturist, so the mansion is 15 acre estate was endowed with rare trees, shrubs, and a very extensive vineyard. In fact, the �McPike� grape became well known across the country and produced award winning wines. In back of the masion, in the woods, two of his children would died young, are buried. Katie & Robert Samuel. Their tombstone markers are now broken and unreadable.
Atop Mount Lookout Park, the highest point in Alton, stands the McPike House. It has not been occupied since the 1950's.
Some claim the haunts date back to the property before the mansion was even built with detections of Native American ghosts and a residue from a possible Underground Railroad stop.

McPike Mansion & Cemetery
2018 ALBY STREET
ALTON, ILLINOIS 62002
http://www.mcpikemansion.com