Chicago’s Vanishing Hitchhiker

Resurrection Mary is Chicago’s most famous ghost—a beautiful young blonde in a white dress who hitchhikes on Archer Avenue. When drivers give her a ride, she disappears at Resurrection Cemetery. Hundreds have reported encounters over 80+ years.

The Legend

Classic pattern:

• Young woman hitchhikes
• Beautiful, blonde
• White dress
• Gets in car
• Vanishes at cemetery

The Location

Archer Avenue:

• South Chicago suburbs
• Justice, Illinois
• Near cemetery
• Long road
• Multiple sightings

Resurrection Cemetery

Her destination:

• Catholic cemetery
• Justice, Illinois
• Where she vanishes
• Through gates
• Final stop

The Identity

Who was she?

• Various theories
• Mary Bregovy (1934)
• Anna Norkus (1927)
• Disputed identity
• Composite legend?

The Story

What’s believed:

• Died in car accident
• After dance
• 1930s
• Buried in cemetery
• Seeking ride home

Typical Encounter

What happens:

• Driver sees girl
• Picks her up
• She’s cold
• Silent mostly
• Directs to cemetery

The Vanishing

At the gates:

• Asks to stop
• Exits car
• Walks toward gates
• Disappears through them
• Driver alone

The Gate Incident

1976 event:

• Bars bent outward
• Burned impressions
• As if grabbed
• From inside
• Physical evidence

Witness Reports

Hundreds claim:

• Picking her up
• Dancing with her
• Seeing her on road
• Various encounters
• Consistent details

Ballroom Connection

O. Henry Ballroom:

• Now Willowbrook
• Where she dances
• Before hitching
• Returns from there
• Part of route

Physical Description

Always described:

• Young, beautiful
• Blonde hair
• Blue eyes
• White dress
• Party attire

The Cold

Distinctive feature:

• Ice cold touch
• Cold in car
• Deathly chill
• Recognition sign
• Consistent detail

Modern Sightings

Continue today:

• Fewer but ongoing
• Same description
• Same location
• Same behavior
• Active haunting

Investigation

Researchers have:

• Interviewed witnesses
• Examined cemetery records
• Searched for identity
• No consensus
• Mystery remains

Significance

80+ years of consistent phantom hitchhiker reports with physical evidence (bent gates) at Resurrection Cemetery.

Legacy

Resurrection Mary is America’s most famous vanishing hitchhiker—a ghost whose ride-seeking has been documented for nearly a century, yet whose identity remains unknown.