New England Ghost Stories

During the mid-1800's, a new religion began to sweep through America.  It was called the Spiritualist Movement.  And part of this Spiritualist Movement were the Eddy Brothers of Chittendon, VT.  The Eddys were descended from a long line of psychics. Six nights a week, the brothers would invite visitors to a séance in the Circle Room, where all sorts of strange things began to happen.  But was it all real?

Dover, Mass. is located about 15 miles southwest of Boston. It's also one of those towns where if you're looking for excitement, you have to head to a nearby city.  But in April of 1977, four teenagers spotted a creature the likes of which they had never seen before.  And has not been seen again to this day.

The word "Supernatural" doesn't always mean haunted.  It just refers to something that is apart from what is usual or normal, and that includes events of a religious nature such as stigmata. The first documented case of stigmata in the United States was Marie Rose Ferron, also known as “Little Rose.” Rose was born on May 24, 1902, in St. Germain de Grantham in Quebec, Canada.

The Saco River is a popular spot for camping, canoeing, kayaking and especially tubing.  But to do so does come at some risk.  The Saco River is known for its strong undertow, surprisingly deep gorges and rough rapids in some areas.  But there may be another reason to be careful: a curse.

The "legend" began in 1917 when Wisconsin native Louis "Gus" Roy, author of The Candle Book, and his mother moved to New Hampshire, looking to purchase a home with "history."  He soon learned of how Mary Wallace had been born at sea and how the ship had been beset by pirates.  He quickly purchased the colonial once owned by Ocean-Born Mary's son, Robert Wallace.  Mary had lived in a different house a mile away with her son William, but Roy didn't let a little thing like facts stop him.  He invented a fascinating story of Mary and her pirate benefactor, buried treasure, and a haunted house.

On Standish Street in Provincetown, Mass., there is a bed and breakfast called The Victoria House.  This gay-friendly guest house has 19th century charm, free wifi, air conditioning, and continental breakfast is served daily on the patio.  It is close to Commercial Street and its many restaurants, art galleries and kitchy shops.  Or visit the Pilgrim Monument and Museum, take a dune buggy ride, or soak up some sun (and take a dip in the freezing cold Atlantic) at Herring Cove beach, all of which are close by.  Oh, and it may also be haunted. 

Over the holidays, a friend and I somehow got on the subject of Bigfoot, which led me to wonder if there had been any sightings here in New England.  And it turns out, there have been plenty.

If you're looking for ghosts in Providence, RI, you really don't need to look any further than the Biltmore Hotel.  The Biltmore was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Oh, and it was named “America’s Most Haunted Hotel” in 2000 by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Late in the summer of 1658, legend has it that an ominous-looking ship sailed into Lynn Harbor. It was painted black and bore no markings or a flag. The locals expected a raid by pirates.  Instead, they watched as four of the pirates loaded a chest onto a small boat and rowed up the Saugus River. Eventually, British soldiers learned where the pirates were hiding and raided their camp.  Three of them were caught and hung, but a fourth, Thomas Veal, escaped into the forest, taking the hoard of silver with him.  Veal reportedly hid in the cave now known as Dungeon Rock.Then in 1852, Hiram Marble purchased the five acres of land around the cave after hearing the legends of the lost pirate treasure. Marble was part of the Spiritualist movement, believing he could communicate with the ghost of the pirate Thomas Veal and discover the location of the hidden treasure.   

One of the biggest mysteries in York is that of Mary Nasson.  Some sources claim that Mary was an old woman who was hung as a witch in the 1700's, and that her last name is Jason.  Legend claims that Mary's ghost has been seen strolling through the graveyard, the noose still around her neck.  Another story portrays her as an herbalist who helped her neighbors whenever they were sick.  So, was she a witch or a healer?