Tales of Coles County, Illinois

Review
"One Eastern student took several events from the darker side of Charleston's history and creatively blended them into a fictional story in his book entitled, 'Tales of Coles County, Illinois'... The concept of the book is a great one. It makes the history of Coles County a more interesting read, and tricks people into reading history without feeling like they're going through a history book."- Daily Eastern NewsOctober 28, 2005
"Long before TV stations like SyFy and the Travel Channel took an interest in the area, Michael Kleen was researching and writing about remarkable episodes from the county's past. With a blend of fact and fiction, Tales of Coles County is a unique look at the history and places that make Coles County such an interesting place to visit."- JG-TCAugust 12, 2013
The sixth and final edition of Tales of Coles County, Illinois combines the original Tales of Coles County, the Legends and Lore of Coles County, and a new third section on the hidden history of Coles County with updated pictures, additional legends, and new stories.
First published in 2004, Tales takes an entertaining look at local history through vivid historical fiction. When four EIU students are stranded during a violent storm, they seek shelter with an strange elderly couple. The four will never look at Coles County the same way. With each story, they learn more about the place they've come to call home.
Legends and Lore reveals over a dozen hidden stories from the from the area's past and present, including ghost stories, folk tales, and other lore. When did a poltergeist terrorize one rural family in Pleasant Grove Township? What is the real story behind the "Mad Gasser of Mattoon"? Why do they call one stretch of road "Dead Man's Curve"? The answers to these questions and more can be found in this definitive volume.
Part three, Hidden History, examines events some believe are better left unremembered. What is the history of Coles County's ghost towns? What were some of its most infamous murders? What happened in the Tornado of 1917? Never-before published information about Mattoon's battle with Prohibition and even a chapter on the 1920s KKK is inside.