The Hook

This legend centers around a couple parked on the “lover’s lane” road near Bachelor’s Grove, they are using the “lane” for its intended purpose when the radio announces a serial killer has escaped from a local mental hospital. The girl, upon hearing the announcement wants to leave, but the boyfriend argues that the hospital (in this case Tinley Mental) is miles away and they will be fine. Still, the girl protests and finally, the agitated boyfriend stomps on the accelerator and squeals out. After being dropped off at home, the girl gets out of the car, looks at the door handle and finds a bloody hook hanging from it.

In another version, the couple is stranded and the boyfriend goes for help. As she waits she hears a steady scraping across the roof. Schuck – schuck. A cop pulls up, knocks on the window and tells her to come with him. Whatever you do, the cop instructs, don’t turn around. She of course does turn around to see her boyfriend - gutted and hanging from the tree above the car, his hand scraping across the ceiling of the car. Schuck – schuck.

The story itself has been told in one form or another since the 1950’s. It has been a credited precursor to the slasher genre of Halloween and Friday the 13th in the 1980’s. And it may have been influenced by real-life “lover’s lane” killing spree in Texarkana, Texas in 1946, known as “The Season of the Phantom.” It is safe to say, however, that this is not a homegrown  Bachelor’s Grove tale.

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