Property With a History
For more information, email HandsOnParanormal@gmail.com or use the text box.
🕯️ A Historically Sacred Space for Learning, Exploration & Spiritual Inquiry: Chicagoland Mortuary/Church
Built in 1916 as a mortuary in response to the tragic Eastland Disaster, this historic building has carried more than a century of human stories, grief, healing, and spiritual presence. Its walls hold the memory of families searching for loved ones, prayers whispered in sorrow, and the quiet resilience of a community shaped by loss. Over time, these layers of emotion have made the building widely regarded as one of the most spiritually active and historically significant locations in the Midwest.
In 1975, the property was purchased and lovingly repurposed as a place of spiritual service, community gathering, and continued reverence for the unseen world. Today, it stands as a living reminder that the veil between worlds is thin, and that the human spirit continues long after physical life.
🌟 Hands On Paranormal
Spiritually Grounded, Educational, and Respectfully Independent
We offer programs such as:
- Paranormal Tours
- Spirit‑focused technology demonstrations
- Séances and guided spirit circles
- Workshops and historical explorations
These experiences are designed to be educational, respectful, and spiritually conscious, honoring the history of the building and the lives connected to it.
the Chicagoland Mortuary/church
Hrejsa's Mortuary in the 1950's
🌙 After‑Hours Encounters With History & Spirit
Where the Past Still Watches Over the Present
A photograph from the early 1950s shows the mortuary much as it stood in its working days, a quiet reminder of the lives, stories, and transitions that passed through its doors. Over the decades, countless visitors and caretakers have reported gentle ghost sightings, subtle movements, and moments of presence that seem to bridge the seen and unseen worlds.
Today, our after‑hours programs continue that connection through paranormal tours, workshops, and séance‑style spirit circles that explore the building’s rich spiritual history. These experiences are designed to be educational, respectful, and spiritually grounded, offering participants a deeper understanding of the energies that linger here.
And truly, who could be a better guardian of a building like this than the spirits of the past who once walked its halls? After all, communicating with those who have passed is a core tenet of Spiritualism, honoring the belief that life continues beyond physical death and that Spirit remains active, aware, and willing to connect.
For more information, email HandsOnParanormal@gmail.com or use the text box.
🕯️ A Century of Spiritual History
The Story of Our Sacred Building
The church building was originally constructed in 1916. Its earliest purpose was tied to the aftermath of the Eastland Disaster, serving as a mortuary and place of care for grieving families. The energy of compassion, sorrow, and prayer from that era still lingers in the walls, contributing to the building’s reputation as one of the most spiritually active locations in the Midwest.
As the community grew, the building expanded with a major addition in the 1940s and a smaller addition in 1950, shaping the structure we know today. At some point in its history, the Herjsa family purchased the parcel where the current garage stands. The home that originally sat in front of the garage was later moved down the street and it still stands in Cicero, a quiet witness to the building’s long and layered past.
This combination of historical depth, human emotion, and architectural evolution has created a uniquely charged spiritual environment, one that continues to draw seekers, explorers, and students of the unseen world.
There's lot of history in this building
A Respectful, Educational Encounter With History
Because this building was created in response to the Eastland Disaster, its very foundation carries the emotional imprint of that tragedy. When one stands inside these walls, it is easy to imagine the echoes of grief—mothers searching for their babies, children whose futures were cut short, and the quiet sorrow that once filled this space. It is a place that remembers.
Only a few years later, the story of the building shifted again. As Cicero became known for its ties to organized crime, the mortuary on 25th Street became the final stop for several well‑known figures. The community has long spoken of the debts settled and the difficult histories connected to this location. These layers of human experience—loss, conflict, transition—remain part of the building’s spiritual atmosphere.
Today, we approach this history with respect, education, and spiritual awareness. Through:
- Spirit‑focused technology demonstrations
- Séance guided spirit circles
- Tours
…participants are invited to explore the building’s past in a way that is thoughtful, ethical, and grounded in spiritual understanding. These experiences are not designed to sensationalize the past, but to honor it, to listen, and to learn.
The intention is simple: To create a space where the past can be acknowledged, where Spirit can be approached with reverence, and where participants can deepen their understanding of the building’s unique history.
Eastland passenger list and more
A little more about the Eastland from the Historical society.
Click below and view the passenger list and learn more about the families of the Eastland