there is just something about mount carroll that is hard to place....it has a "presence," something very kooky about this tiny town located about 2 1/2 hours drive from chicago.

maybe its the shock of seeing a town situated on hills and inclines in ILLINOIS, or accidentally stumbling upon a haunted mansion with a bloated pink one-eyed monster erupting out of the roof, having tea in a victorian library called the Mad Hatter whose patroness bounces around in a quadruple-oversized velvet top hat, or practically tripping over the lawn crowded with new tombstones on the main strip (reminding the townspeople of the transience of life on a daily basis?).  its a place i have to pass through a few times a year, which is made all the more animated by an obligatory stop at the raven's grin inn, whose patron-in-wierdness, jim warfield, was recently kind enough to draw me this map of his hometown.

i have several red markers already, but will be adding more after my next visit in march. feel free to stroll around this virtual world of mount carroll.