September 12, 2025 • 11 mins
Step inside the eerie halls of the Stickney Mansion in Bull Valley, Illinois — a home designed with strange architectural choices meant to keep away spirits… yet somehow became a magnet for paranormal activity. From ghostly encounters to its infamous spiral staircase, the Stickney Mansion has drawn investigators and thrill-seekers alike, each leaving with chilling stories of their own.
Join me as we uncover the mysteries, hauntings, and dark folklore tied to this historic estate and explore why it remains one of Illinois’ most haunted homes.
If you love tales of the supernatural, haunted places, and eerie history, you won’t want to miss this episode of Rogue Darkness.
Featuring promo for Three Ravens Podcast! Be sure to check them out! https://open.spotify.com/show/...
#StickneyMansion #HauntedIllinois #HauntedHistory #GhostStories #HauntedPlaces #ParanormalPodcast #TrueHaunting #IllinoisHauntings #GhostHunters #DarkHistory #RogueDarknessPodcast #SpiritsAndShadows
Join me as we uncover the mysteries, hauntings, and dark folklore tied to this historic estate and explore why it remains one of Illinois’ most haunted homes.
If you love tales of the supernatural, haunted places, and eerie history, you won’t want to miss this episode of Rogue Darkness.
Featuring promo for Three Ravens Podcast! Be sure to check them out! https://open.spotify.com/show/...
#StickneyMansion #HauntedIllinois #HauntedHistory #GhostStories #HauntedPlaces #ParanormalPodcast #TrueHaunting #IllinoisHauntings #GhostHunters #DarkHistory #RogueDarknessPodcast #SpiritsAndShadows
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Dark Cast Network.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Welcome to the dark side of podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
They would doc Reifie Animals dark world of ritualistic child apes.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Is there a well organized plot and insidious design to
program the minds of our children towards the occult and witchcraft?
Speaker 5 (00:26):
Does it make you want to hate murder?
Speaker 4 (00:28):
Or does it make you want to do murder?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Let's explore the darkness of mankind one Crime at a Time.
Welcome back to Rogue Darkness, the podcast that uncovers how
the misinterpretations and misinformation surrounding witchcraft, the occult, and other
beliefs have led many to do unthinkable crimes. From ritualistic
killings and the demons that live in all of us,
(00:52):
to exploration of the macabre and delving deep into the unknown.
Let's explore the darkness of mankind one crime at a Time.
I'm your host of the Grim and Gruesome Raven. Imagine
stepping into a house where not a single corner exists,
(01:16):
walls that flow, a ballroom that curves, and a design
meant to let spirits roam freely, or so its creator believed.
This is the Stickney Mansion in Bull Valley, Illinois, a
home born of grief, spiritual obsession and architectural oddity. Residents
(01:37):
and officers whisper of footsteps and empty rooms and objects
moving on their own. But the most chilling truth may
be that the man who built this house died in it.
George and Sylvia Stickney constructed their mansion in eighteen sixty five.
Deeply immersed in the spiritualist movement, the couple lost seven
(01:59):
of their ten children, and grief drew them deeper into
seances and mediumship. According to reports, they chose such an
isolated place for the peace and quiet and for their
spiritualistic activities. They insisted that no ninety degree corners be
built because spirits have a tendency to get stuck in
ninety degree corners. Inside their mansion, the Stickneys frequently held seances,
(02:26):
believing their unique home could act as a gateway for
contacting the dead. Its design was not just eccentric, it
was spiritual architecture intended to welcome the very presences. Most
people beard The mansion is unsettling to walk through, curved walls,
arched doorways, an upstairs ballroom with no sharp angles. Atlas
(02:50):
Obscura described it as this softly rounded mansion was built
without corners, not to avoid evil spirits, but to make
them more comfortable. Local legend insists, however, that one mistake
was made a single ninety degree corner, and it was there,
the tale goes, that tragedy struck George Stickney himself passed
(03:14):
away inside the mansion. According to the legend, he was
discovered slumped in one of the few rooms said to
contain an actual corner. His face was reportedly frozen in terror,
as though he had witnessed something dreadful in his final moments.
This chilling irony that the man who designed his home
(03:35):
to be free of corners would ultimately die in one
has become one of the most unsettling pieces of the
mansion's lore. Historians note that no true ninety degree corners
exist within the mansion, and that George's death records are murky,
but the legend has grown stronger than the facts themselves.
(03:55):
Woven deep into the fabric of the mansion's mythology, the
legend surrounding the Stickney Mansion paints a haunting picture George
claimed by the very spirits he sought to welcome. Trapped
in the corner he tried so hard to avoid the
factual record, however, contradicts this. Historians insist no such corner
(04:18):
was ever built, and the details of George's death are
not formally documented. Yet the tale persists, and in the
world of haunted places, sometimes legend is more powerful than fact.
Since nineteen eighty five, the Stickney Mansion has housed the
Bull Valley Police Department. Officers working inside the building have
(04:43):
shared chilling testimonies. Chief Norbert Sours.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Recalled village employees have heard numerous sounds that seem to
defy explanation. Footsteps in the second floor ballroom, voices toilets
flushing when they are alone, objects moving around on my desk,
lights turning off door knobs, turning a door opening, seemingly
by themselves, and voices from thin air. I once heard
(05:10):
a shout in my ear when no one was around me.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Chief Tracy Dickens described his own unsettling encounters.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I looked out to the parking lot, but no one's there.
The top drawer of a large file cabinet would pop
open when no one was in the building. Nothing had
ever happened to me until I started working there.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Another officer added that over sixteen years, he has seen
metal chairs move on their own, a female apparition, and
phantom knocks echo through the halls. Yet despite it all,
he admitted, I know this house. I don't have any
bad vibes here. Others, however, have not been so resilient.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Dickens confessed, I've had officers leave the department because of
this house.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The Stickney Mansion is a rare artifact of nineteenth century spiritualism.
For George and Sylvia, it was not just a home.
It was a seance chamber, a spiritual experiment, and ultimately
a place where grief and death left their mark. Mc
Henry County Living wrote that trespasser's report uneasy feelings of
(06:17):
being followed, of sudden cold spots, and of threatening voices
warning them to go away. The house has become both
a protected landmark and a source of ghostly fascination. Listed
on the National Register of Historic Places as both an
architectural curiosity and one of Illinois's most haunted sites, the
(06:39):
Stickney Mansion stands in Bull Valley as both a monument
to grief and a shrine to spiritual obsession. George built
a house for spirits, and whether by fact or legend,
he may have become one himself. If you ever pass by,
listen for the phantom footsteps, feel for the chill of
(07:01):
unseen presences, and remember, no matter how curve the walls,
the darkness always finds its way in. If you enjoyed
this episode, please consider subscribing to Rogue Darkness on your
favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring
(07:22):
you more stories of true crime and the paranormal. Definitely
let me know your thoughts on this case and if
you have any questions regarding it or any other cases
I've previously covered. You can always contact me at Rogue
darknesspod at gmail dot com. You can also always reach
out to me directly on my socials, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok,
and YouTube are all at Rogue Underscore Darkness. As always,
(07:46):
be sure to share the podcast with anyone who you
think would like it, and be sure to leave a rating,
a review over on Apple, iTunes, Spotify, Good Pods, or
anywhere else you can leave a review to let other
listeners know you enjoy the show, and if you want
some personalized shoutouts and other exclusives, definitely check out my
Patreon by visiting patreon dot com slash Rogue Darkness. You
(08:08):
can also check out my Bonfire shop if you want
to get your hands on some merch to support the
show even further. As always, all the links for everything
discussed in my episodes are down in the description.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Box of the episode.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
And with that said, that concludes this week's episode of
Rogue Darkness. The darkness is all around us and I
can confidently say that reality truly is more terrifying than fiction.
Until next time.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Where did legends come from?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Are they born out of the land and the stories
people tell about it? Why have they always been there
waiting to be discovered?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
What does it mean if we forget them?
Speaker 3 (08:54):
How do they remind us they're there?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Is it a bump in the nights?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Will they come in a dream?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
With stories passed from sets of lovers lips like kisses?
Do I'm eleanor I'm Martin? And we are a real
life married couple and the creators and hosts of Three Ravens,
an independent myth and folklore podcast all about folklore, folk
ways and the power of stories.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
For a little over two years, we've been releasing weekly
episodes about England's thirty nine historic counties, exploring the history, folklore,
traditional foods and customs of each area, and chatting about
their ghosts and mermaids, mythical monsters, half forgotten heroes, bloody legends,
and much much more.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
Along the way, we've released whole thirteen episode bonus series
about cryptids and mythical creatures, interviews with authors, storytellers, and
local experts from each county, Heritage crafts dying out as
society changes, the history of magical practices, folk songs, folkloric
true crimes, and the most famous witches and wizards ever
(09:56):
to have lived.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
We've retold over a hundred stories for Three Ravens. Most
episodes are stand alone, but if you want to adventure
with us, we have over three hundred and fifty in
the back catalog for you to listen to right now
wherever you get your podcasts, and even more through our Patreon.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Right now, we are preparing to launch our seventh series,
which will be all about the myths and legends of
the thirteen historic counties of Wales. Before next year we
turn our focus to the thirteen original states of the
American Union.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Our first book was also just published in hardback Three
Ravens Folktales, and we're touring all over the UK, so
come and see us live if you can.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
You can learn all about us on our website, Three
ravenspodcast dot com or just search Three Ravens podcast on
your chosen podcast app.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Ranked as one of the top fifty all time English podcasts,
the number five top witchy podcast, and the number six
all time top short story podcast on the whole Internet
according to Good Pods. Come gather around the Three Ravens
campfire and listen
Speaker 5 (10:58):
In and remember, don't whistle till you are out of
the woodsm
Dark Cast Network.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Welcome to the dark side of podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
They would doc Reifie Animals dark world of ritualistic child apes.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Is there a well organized plot and insidious design to
program the minds of our children towards the occult and witchcraft?
Speaker 5 (00:26):
Does it make you want to hate murder?
Speaker 4 (00:28):
Or does it make you want to do murder?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Let's explore the darkness of mankind one Crime at a Time.
Welcome back to Rogue Darkness, the podcast that uncovers how
the misinterpretations and misinformation surrounding witchcraft, the occult, and other
beliefs have led many to do unthinkable crimes. From ritualistic
killings and the demons that live in all of us,
(00:52):
to exploration of the macabre and delving deep into the unknown.
Let's explore the darkness of mankind one crime at a Time.
I'm your host of the Grim and Gruesome Raven. Imagine
stepping into a house where not a single corner exists,
(01:16):
walls that flow, a ballroom that curves, and a design
meant to let spirits roam freely, or so its creator believed.
This is the Stickney Mansion in Bull Valley, Illinois, a
home born of grief, spiritual obsession and architectural oddity. Residents
(01:37):
and officers whisper of footsteps and empty rooms and objects
moving on their own. But the most chilling truth may
be that the man who built this house died in it.
George and Sylvia Stickney constructed their mansion in eighteen sixty five.
Deeply immersed in the spiritualist movement, the couple lost seven
(01:59):
of their ten children, and grief drew them deeper into
seances and mediumship. According to reports, they chose such an
isolated place for the peace and quiet and for their
spiritualistic activities. They insisted that no ninety degree corners be
built because spirits have a tendency to get stuck in
ninety degree corners. Inside their mansion, the Stickneys frequently held seances,
(02:26):
believing their unique home could act as a gateway for
contacting the dead. Its design was not just eccentric, it
was spiritual architecture intended to welcome the very presences. Most
people beard The mansion is unsettling to walk through, curved walls,
arched doorways, an upstairs ballroom with no sharp angles. Atlas
(02:50):
Obscura described it as this softly rounded mansion was built
without corners, not to avoid evil spirits, but to make
them more comfortable. Local legend insists, however, that one mistake
was made a single ninety degree corner, and it was there,
the tale goes, that tragedy struck George Stickney himself passed
(03:14):
away inside the mansion. According to the legend, he was
discovered slumped in one of the few rooms said to
contain an actual corner. His face was reportedly frozen in terror,
as though he had witnessed something dreadful in his final moments.
This chilling irony that the man who designed his home
(03:35):
to be free of corners would ultimately die in one
has become one of the most unsettling pieces of the
mansion's lore. Historians note that no true ninety degree corners
exist within the mansion, and that George's death records are murky,
but the legend has grown stronger than the facts themselves.
(03:55):
Woven deep into the fabric of the mansion's mythology, the
legend surrounding the Stickney Mansion paints a haunting picture George
claimed by the very spirits he sought to welcome. Trapped
in the corner he tried so hard to avoid the
factual record, however, contradicts this. Historians insist no such corner
(04:18):
was ever built, and the details of George's death are
not formally documented. Yet the tale persists, and in the
world of haunted places, sometimes legend is more powerful than fact.
Since nineteen eighty five, the Stickney Mansion has housed the
Bull Valley Police Department. Officers working inside the building have
(04:43):
shared chilling testimonies. Chief Norbert Sours.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Recalled village employees have heard numerous sounds that seem to
defy explanation. Footsteps in the second floor ballroom, voices toilets
flushing when they are alone, objects moving around on my desk,
lights turning off door knobs, turning a door opening, seemingly
by themselves, and voices from thin air. I once heard
(05:10):
a shout in my ear when no one was around me.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Chief Tracy Dickens described his own unsettling encounters.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I looked out to the parking lot, but no one's there.
The top drawer of a large file cabinet would pop
open when no one was in the building. Nothing had
ever happened to me until I started working there.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Another officer added that over sixteen years, he has seen
metal chairs move on their own, a female apparition, and
phantom knocks echo through the halls. Yet despite it all,
he admitted, I know this house. I don't have any
bad vibes here. Others, however, have not been so resilient.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Dickens confessed, I've had officers leave the department because of
this house.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The Stickney Mansion is a rare artifact of nineteenth century spiritualism.
For George and Sylvia, it was not just a home.
It was a seance chamber, a spiritual experiment, and ultimately
a place where grief and death left their mark. Mc
Henry County Living wrote that trespasser's report uneasy feelings of
(06:17):
being followed, of sudden cold spots, and of threatening voices
warning them to go away. The house has become both
a protected landmark and a source of ghostly fascination. Listed
on the National Register of Historic Places as both an
architectural curiosity and one of Illinois's most haunted sites, the
(06:39):
Stickney Mansion stands in Bull Valley as both a monument
to grief and a shrine to spiritual obsession. George built
a house for spirits, and whether by fact or legend,
he may have become one himself. If you ever pass by,
listen for the phantom footsteps, feel for the chill of
(07:01):
unseen presences, and remember, no matter how curve the walls,
the darkness always finds its way in. If you enjoyed
this episode, please consider subscribing to Rogue Darkness on your
favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring
(07:22):
you more stories of true crime and the paranormal. Definitely
let me know your thoughts on this case and if
you have any questions regarding it or any other cases
I've previously covered. You can always contact me at Rogue
darknesspod at gmail dot com. You can also always reach
out to me directly on my socials, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok,
and YouTube are all at Rogue Underscore Darkness. As always,
(07:46):
be sure to share the podcast with anyone who you
think would like it, and be sure to leave a rating,
a review over on Apple, iTunes, Spotify, Good Pods, or
anywhere else you can leave a review to let other
listeners know you enjoy the show, and if you want
some personalized shoutouts and other exclusives, definitely check out my
Patreon by visiting patreon dot com slash Rogue Darkness. You
(08:08):
can also check out my Bonfire shop if you want
to get your hands on some merch to support the
show even further. As always, all the links for everything
discussed in my episodes are down in the description.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Box of the episode.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
And with that said, that concludes this week's episode of
Rogue Darkness. The darkness is all around us and I
can confidently say that reality truly is more terrifying than fiction.
Until next time.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Where did legends come from?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Are they born out of the land and the stories
people tell about it? Why have they always been there
waiting to be discovered?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
What does it mean if we forget them?
Speaker 3 (08:54):
How do they remind us they're there?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Is it a bump in the nights?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Will they come in a dream?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
With stories passed from sets of lovers lips like kisses?
Do I'm eleanor I'm Martin? And we are a real
life married couple and the creators and hosts of Three Ravens,
an independent myth and folklore podcast all about folklore, folk
ways and the power of stories.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
For a little over two years, we've been releasing weekly
episodes about England's thirty nine historic counties, exploring the history, folklore,
traditional foods and customs of each area, and chatting about
their ghosts and mermaids, mythical monsters, half forgotten heroes, bloody legends,
and much much more.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
Along the way, we've released whole thirteen episode bonus series
about cryptids and mythical creatures, interviews with authors, storytellers, and
local experts from each county, Heritage crafts dying out as
society changes, the history of magical practices, folk songs, folkloric
true crimes, and the most famous witches and wizards ever
(09:56):
to have lived.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
We've retold over a hundred stories for Three Ravens. Most
episodes are stand alone, but if you want to adventure
with us, we have over three hundred and fifty in
the back catalog for you to listen to right now
wherever you get your podcasts, and even more through our Patreon.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Right now, we are preparing to launch our seventh series,
which will be all about the myths and legends of
the thirteen historic counties of Wales. Before next year we
turn our focus to the thirteen original states of the
American Union.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Our first book was also just published in hardback Three
Ravens Folktales, and we're touring all over the UK, so
come and see us live if you can.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
You can learn all about us on our website, Three
ravenspodcast dot com or just search Three Ravens podcast on
your chosen podcast app.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Ranked as one of the top fifty all time English podcasts,
the number five top witchy podcast, and the number six
all time top short story podcast on the whole Internet
according to Good Pods. Come gather around the Three Ravens
campfire and listen
Speaker 5 (10:58):
In and remember, don't whistle till you are out of
the woodsm
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