Goose Island Walker

An older man used to run a bakery just across the river from Goose Island by Cherry Avenue bridge. As he showed up early each morning to prepare, a crew of truck drivers were finishing their shifts nearby. These men frequently came by the bakery to purchase day old breads at a discount. They talked with the baker and told him about a strange figure they’d seen walking around the area.

This figure appeared like a man though he was only ever seen from the back. The figure wore a large dark and dirty coat and heavy, dirty work boots. The truck drivers at first thought this figure was someone who could use some help. They tried to get his attention to give him some money. The figure appeared to not hear them at all. It shuffled across the street and straight through a cement divider leading down to the river. Since that incident they had seen the figure around. Always in the same outfit and always from behind. It would disappear through walls and the corners of buildings.

The baker told his family at home about the ghost. While he did not believe it, his young son was very interested and wanted to see the ghost himself. The baker finally gave in and brought his son to work with him. The child seated himself by the back door, watching out the window there to try and see the ghost. After a while of nothing, he finally saw a man walking down the street. He had a dark coat and dirty boots on.

The child was so excited, he opened the door as quietly as he could and followed after the strange man. As he walked, the child breathed heavily into the night air, leaving cool wisps of steam disappearing quickly. His steps echoed on the sidewalk. In the distance, there was traffic and the soft sound of the river nearby. The child followed the figure as it shuffled along and then the child realized what he could not hear. The figure’s steps, despite his heavy boots, made no sound when they hit the sidewalk.

Surprised, the child stopped walking and strained his ears. When he looked up again, the figure he was following was gone.

 

A History of Disappearance

Goose Island as we know it today is not the original site. The landmass that was once Goose Island was dredged away during the straightening of the river as well as eroded over time due to the natural flow of the river.

The original land mass location is disputed but was likely near the north side river confluence by the North and South river branches. The land was home to migratory birds leading to its name. Before erosion and dredging, the land was also home to people who created makeshift housing on the banks, notably Irish immigrants later joined by German and Polish immigrants.

People’s Gas purchased the land in the late 1800s and the residents and wildlife were displaced.