There have been no deaths associated with the Library and City Office Building, but before it was torn down doors were known to open and close, lights turned on and off on their own, and employees received phone calls telling them exactly where they were and what they were doing. The calls couldn’t be traced and occurred even when the phone line was unplugged.

Several ghosts have been sited at the Old Library. A full body apparition of a little girl has been seen where the children's section used to be. An old woman who used to own the place has also been sited. She waited and waited for her son to return from the war, and she died a few days after she learned that he was killed in action. She walks around the yard and by the old well wearing a white nightgown and white slippers. There are cold spots in the library where her chair once was.

The McHenry East High School was designed by a man who also designed prisons, and it is said that over 50 spirits of jail breakers who never got caught roam the school. One spirit has been seen in the library, and the metal detectors in the library go off every year for no reason.

In 1956 students made fun of the school librarian, egged her car, etc. On April 12, three students went to the library after school, and the librarian killed all three students and then herself. Sometimes screaming has been reported in the library after school.