Hickory Hill Plantation - Illinois’ The Old Slave House

Hickory Hill Plantation in Equality, Illinois - Also known as the Crenshaw House or the Old Slave House is a mansion that was built in 1838 by John Crenshaw (November 19, 1797 – December 4, 1871) and his brother Abraham. Crenshaw owned vast salt mines and used his slaves to haul and boil the brackish water of Southern Illinois for salt. He owned over 740 slaves and was a known member of the “reversal underground railroad”, meaning he kidnapped free slaves and sold them or used them in his salt mines. It is also said that the house once had a tunnel that connected the basement to the Saline River, where slaves could be loaded and unloaded at night. He was charged with kidnapping and slave trafficking on several occasions. He kept a number of slaves in barred, cramped cells in the third floor attic of the mansion. There were reports that the mansion was haunted as early as 1851 with reports of people hearing strange sounds, mysterious voices, and moaning coming from the attic.

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