More than Treats? Kelly's Bakery Rumored to Be Haunted by Little Girl
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: October 31, 2012
BLOOMINGTON--It's business as usual at Kelly's Bakery downtown, where the workers main task is crafting delicious treats...and avoiding the basement.
"You can feel that person or presence behind you, like there's someone following you."
Sara Shifflet is a baker at Kelly's.
She won't explore the depths of the lower level, unless there's someone tagging along.
"When we first opened, we had so many people who wanted to get a tour of the basement. I mean all the time," said owner Kelly Mathy.
The building has been around since the 1800's.
According to records Dr. E.K. Crothers and his wife lived there and ran a practice.
But in 1859 tragedy struck.
The family's six year old daughter had been playing too close to the stove when her dress caught fire.
Unable to put out the flames, she perished.
Ironically, Mathy says some of her workers have encountered a little girl downstairs.
"She would often say that she would see like reflections in mirrors and that she heard sounds," said Mathy, referring to one of her past employees.
The Crothers family is buried at Bloomington's Evergreen Cemetery.
The headstones of the father, mother, and two of their children are located in Section 11.
But not too far from their plots there's another set of headstones, the cemetery believes belong to the other Crother's children, specifically six year old daughter Angie.
While it's not certain if the stone is actually hers, it is next to A.C. Crothers, the family's confirmed son.
He, along with two brothers died of small pox.
While this family's history isn't a happy one, if Angie's soul is really haunting the walls of this now popular bakery, workers say at least she seems to be rather cheerful.
"She always heard a little girl singing," said Mathy.
The bakery has been targeted by several ghost hunters who've picked up extra energy in the building.
Another organization is set to explore the basement next month.
"You can feel that person or presence behind you, like there's someone following you."
Sara Shifflet is a baker at Kelly's.
She won't explore the depths of the lower level, unless there's someone tagging along.
"When we first opened, we had so many people who wanted to get a tour of the basement. I mean all the time," said owner Kelly Mathy.
The building has been around since the 1800's.
According to records Dr. E.K. Crothers and his wife lived there and ran a practice.
But in 1859 tragedy struck.
The family's six year old daughter had been playing too close to the stove when her dress caught fire.
Unable to put out the flames, she perished.
Ironically, Mathy says some of her workers have encountered a little girl downstairs.
"She would often say that she would see like reflections in mirrors and that she heard sounds," said Mathy, referring to one of her past employees.
The Crothers family is buried at Bloomington's Evergreen Cemetery.
The headstones of the father, mother, and two of their children are located in Section 11.
But not too far from their plots there's another set of headstones, the cemetery believes belong to the other Crother's children, specifically six year old daughter Angie.
While it's not certain if the stone is actually hers, it is next to A.C. Crothers, the family's confirmed son.
He, along with two brothers died of small pox.
While this family's history isn't a happy one, if Angie's soul is really haunting the walls of this now popular bakery, workers say at least she seems to be rather cheerful.
"She always heard a little girl singing," said Mathy.
The bakery has been targeted by several ghost hunters who've picked up extra energy in the building.
Another organization is set to explore the basement next month.
