Spider Gates: Is it a haunted place or a peaceful resting place? There is an old and small cemetery in Leicester, Massachusetts which has a reputation for being haunted. Others say it is simply the resting place for their loved ones. People report seeing and feeling strange things when they visit this supposedly haunted place, Spider Gates, in Leicester Massachusetts. There is no proof that Spider Gates cemetery is haunted, but the cemetery has become legendary. Its reputation, and the urban legends surrounding the Spider Gates cemetery have taken on a life, or afterlife of its own.
These urban legends have made Spider Gates cemetery in Leicester, Massachusetts a popular local attraction for ghost hunting.
Spider Gates is The Friends Cemetery
“Spider Gates” is the Friends Cemetery and a disclaimer. The Spider Gates cemetery as it is commonly known, is really called the Friends Cemetery. The Friends Cemetery is a private cemetery owned by The Worcester-Pleasant Street Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, a Quaker group. That’s right, Quakers. The cemetery is still being used by the local Quaker group.
Why is it Called Spider Gates?
The gates at the entrance of the cemetery look like wrought-iron spiders.
Others have referred to this supposedly haunted place in Leicester, Massachusetts, the Eight Gates of Hell. There is only one set of gates, not eight. Yet, the eight gates reference remains strong among those who love a good ghost story.
Haunted Place in Leicester, Massachusetts or Just Ghost Stories?
There are different ghost stories passed around by locals regarding “Spider Gates” cemetery. Like any good ghost stories, these tales involve mysterious sounds, sightings, and even rumors that it is the Eighth Gate to Hell.
Satanists and the Eight Gates to Hell
A popular legend about this haunted place in Leicester is that Satanists have permission to use it. This is a Quaker cemetery. Quakers are not Satanists. A local who contacted the group regarding the cemetery was told, “Satanists absolutely DO NOT have permission to use the site. We would consider any satanic type activity there to be totally inappropriate to the purpose of the cemetery. We would never give permission to any occult group to hold meetings there.” (Boudillion.com/SpiderGates/spider.html)
The rumors about Satanism at Spider Gates focus mainly on the supposed Altar in the cemetery. The altar is simply where the Friends Meeting House was originally built. The original building is gone but you can see where the foundation is. This type of phenomenon can be found in many places where an old building has been torn down and nothing has been re-built on the site. There is nothing haunted or satanic about a foundation.
Morbid Tales
Morbid tales surrounding this haunted place in Leicester, Massachusetts include one about a boy who hung himself. The boy supposedly hung himself from a tree in the 1980’s. Some say they have seen a boy playing there.
Another tale surrounding this haunted place is that a girl was mutilated and killed in cave near Spider Gates.
Tales like this lend credence to those who want to believe that Spider Gates is haunted. There are no local newspaper reports proving that these events actually occurred.
Runes and Stones
This haunted place in Leicester, Massachusetts is also said to have rune-carved stones.
Unexplainable Phenomenon
There are rumors that there is white ooze that comes up from the ground.
Visitors also claim to hear voices or strange noises including a roaring. This haunted place is near an airport.
Self- Perpetuating
Once a location like Spider Gates is called a haunted place, does the ghost tale just become self-perpetuating? Because of the ghost stories and urban legends, people go to Spider Gates to check it out. There have also been people who have gone to the Friends Cemetery at night to party, vandalize and disrespect the grounds.
You may also find an “odd” person there when you visit. Maybe that odd person will think you’re odd, too.
Are the tales that were meant to scare children and keep them away from the cemetery the stories that keep drawing people back there, generation after generation?
Visiting this Haunted Place in Leicester, Massachusetts
If you are interested in visiting historic cemeteries, or like to visit supposedly haunted places, then this may be the place for you to visit. If you go, though, you need to be aware of the following warnings.
According to the Worcester-Pleasant Street Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), “anyone may visit the cemetery during daylight hours.” (Worcester-Pleasant Street Friends Meeting email). Of course, anyone visiting “Spider Gates” cemetery or any other cemetery should be respectful that there are people’s family members buried there.
The Worcester-Pleasant Street Friends Meeting also suggests that before you visit the “Spider Gates” cemetery, that you inform the Leicester police that you will be going there. This is preemptive. The Leicester police patrol the cemetery and the surrounding area. Even if you are there during the day, when visiting is allowed, the local police may question why you are there.
Be aware that grounds surrounding the Spider Gates cemetery are owned by the city of Worcester. The grounds are attached to the City of Worcester Reservoir property and are posted with No Trespassing signs. Reservoir trespassing is a bad idea.
Also, because the area is somewhat secluded, don’t go alone. (That is a common sense safety tip that has nothing to with ghosts.)
Getting to the Haunted Place in Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester is near Worcester, Massachusetts. People often have trouble locating the area because “Worcester” is sometimes mispronounced as “Worchester,” and the cemetery itself is really in Leicester, not Worcester.
The Friends Cemetery can be found between the Leicester Landfill and the Worcester Airport, near Earle Street. Earle Street is the private road where you will find Spider Gates. Earle Street is off of Manville Street.
Parking
According to the Worcester-Pleasant Street Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), you cannot take bikes or cars into the cemetery. If you are visiting this rumored haunted place in Leicester, Massachusetts, park near the landfill. Obey all no trespassing signs.
Sources
Worcester-Pleasant Street Friends Meeting, web site and email inquiry
http://www.neym.org
http://www.weirdus.com/stories/MA02.asp
http://www.realhaunts.com/united-states/quaker-cemetery
