A shadowy mass down an old stairwell, a photo of what appears a ghostly silhouette of a woman in white and disembodied voices from seemingly beyond the grave are just some of the occurrences Jason Sherman and his team of paranormal investigators say they’ve allegedly witnessed at the Old Joliet Prison.

“As you walk down the cell block you would hear whistling, humming and what sounds like inmates rattling their cells,” Sherman said.

Of course, that cannot be because the site has been abandoned since 2002.

This Halloween season Sherman is leading paranormal tours and “ghost” hunts at the 160-year-old prison open to the public for a modest fee through a company called Chicago Hauntings owned by famed Chicago area ghost hunter Ursula Bielski.

Officials and volunteers with the Joliet Area Historical Museum started offering tours at the old prison in August and had entertained the idea of offering themed ghost tours this season.

“Joliet Prison is one of those . . . places like the Cook County Hospital, the Amityville Horror house or the In Cold Blood house,” Bielski said. “Everyone has wanted this.”

Ursula Bielski Ursula Bielski inside the Old Joliet Prison courtesy of Chicago Hauntings. Ursula Bielski inside the Old Joliet Prison courtesy of Chicago Hauntings. (Ursula Bielski)

Her company also operates paranormal bus tours throughout the Chicago area, including in the south suburbs at legendary haunted locations, such as Bachelor’s Grove in Midlothian and Resurrection Cemetery in Justice.

To get the job, Bielski said she had to submit a lengthy proposal to be approved by the city of Joliet and museum director Greg Peerbolte.

“I wrote to Greg immediately and said, ‘I'm your guy. No one but us can do this,’” Bielski said.

Unfortunately, in the midst of the business arrangement her mother had passed away at age 90.

Bielski had been caring for her several years and was struck with grief.

“But I told myself, ‘I have to do this. I have to just figure it out,’” she said.

And the opportunity has proven lucrative.

With tickets at $37 tours are nearly sold out through Nov. 11.

Paranormal tours, which last 90 minutes, are limited to 25 people and two tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and one on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Ghost tours, which last three hours and cost $120 a ticket, also are offered Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

A significant portion of the proceeds is donated to the nonprofit museum for the continued rehabilitation of the prison.

Tours are guided by Sherman and other paranormal investigators from groups, such as Shadow Hunters, Midnight Paranormal Society and Chicago Ghost Hunters.

“It’s a dream come true,” Sherman said of the gig.

A medium, or one who claims to sense or talk to spirits, also accompanies the tours.

Bielski said medium Colleen Nadas from Dwight and she have talked for some time about doing paranormal tours or investigations in Joliet.

Tour guides also talk about the history of the prison. The site consists of several buildings surrounded by a 25-foot limestone wall.

Frank Vaisviilas is a freelancer for the Daily Southtown.