New England has some of America’s most fascinating ghost stories and haunted places. Due to the age of many of its buildings there is no shortage of New England haunted places to explore.
Colby-Sawyer College, New Hampshire
For many years it has been said that Colgate Hall at Colby-Sawyer College is haunted. The school dates back to the 19th century and sits in a picturesque New England setting. The hall is said to be haunted by a tall man that wears a large dark hat and sometimes a long dark coat.
A number of other halls around the Colby-Sawyer campus are said to have ghosts. Colby Hall is the location of a cat that is often heard meowing or seen walking through walls. McKean Hall is said to be haunted by Gilbert Ross. The story of Gilbert Ross is that he was burned at the stake in the 18th century on the very spot were the hall now stands.
The Country Tavern, Nashua, New Hampshire
The Country Tavern is a charmed country restaurant that also happens to have a ghost. It is believed that the ghost is a woman by the name of Elizabeth Ford. Elizabeth is seen at a window and is known to make dishes move and saucers fly around the room. Elizabeth was murdered at this old house along with her baby, by her jealous husband. She is not a bad ghost, is thought to be friendly and enjoys playing pranks.
Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts
The Lizzie Borden House was the home of a young woman by that name. On August 4, 1892 her parents were found gruesomely murdered at their home. Lizzie, their youngest daughter was accused of the killings, but later found not guilty. The house is now a bed and breakfast, decorated as accurately as possible to represent how it looked at the time of the Borden murders. A number of the rooms in the house have experienced paranormal activity. The bedroom with the least ghostly activity is Lizzie’s sister Emma’s room. Guests in other rooms have heard knocking, felt the bed vibrate, heard a girl giggling, a woman crying, and felt changes in temperatures.
Nathan Hale Homestead, Connecticut
This house is located in Coventry, Connecticut and it was the home to one of Connecticut’s most historic figures. The house was built in 1776. Nathan Hale was one of America’s best known patriots. He was hanged when he was just 21 years old by the British for being a spy. It is thought that just before his execution he said “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”. The house is rumored to be haunted by a number of ghosts including Nathan’s brother, Joseph, a servant and the Reverend Deacon Hall. The house has been fully restored as closely as possible to how it was when the Hales lived there and can be visited.
Phelps Mansion, Stratford, Connecticut
There are many legends about the Phelps Mansion. The first reports of ghosts at this house began in 1850. It was the home of Reverend Eliakim Phelps and his family. After the Reverend and a friend attempted to contact spirits a poltergeist made its appearance by opening doors and throwing clothes around the room. At first it was thought that these were pranks played by other members of the household, but this was proven to be false. The hauntings got worse, with furniture being destroyed, people being pinched, cutlery bent and windows broken. After a few months the hauntings stopped, until the 1970s when they came back. By this time the house was an old people’s home.
Thayer Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Before it became part of Harvard, Thayer Hall was a textile mill. It is now haunted by a number of ghosts who appear to go through the wall where doors once were. The ghosts are dressed in Victorian clothes.
Joshua Ward House, Salem Massachusetts
This house was once home to the High Sheriff of the notorious Salem Witch Trials. His name was George Corwin. George Corwin’s house was located on this spot before the Joshua Ward House was built there. George Corwin was buried in the house’s basement, but is now located at Broad Street Cemetery. It is believed that George Corwin’s ghost haunts the house. There have also been sightings of a woman, but she has yet to be identified.
These are only a few of New England’s many haunted places. This region of the US is full of ghost stories, some of them are thought to be true and others just legend. If you are a ghost hunter than New England is a good place for you to explore.
