As one of the new world’s earliest settlements, New England has a very rich history, not all of it benign. While known for it’s vibrant trees and delicious seafood, the Northeast is also home to many apparitions hoping for a better ending that what history allowed. Today, you can still visit many haunted places in New England and perhaps sneak a peek at the unknown.
Vermont College – Montpelier, VT
The first haunted New England story is one of heartbreak. Vermont College is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl, Anna. whom was engaged at the age of 17 to a stonecutter. One day, while walking to see her betrothed, Anna was shot by another girl, named Miriam, whom was disillusioned into thinking she was the stonecutter’s fiance, not Anna. Today, Anna is seen in the College Hall Chapel, a building she watched from the hill as she died. On occasion, the pipe organ has been known to play on its own accord, glass has broken, and furniture has been pushed against doors to make escape impossible – All behavior typical of a disgruntled teen girl.
The Lizzie Borden House – Fall River, MA
One of New England’s most famous haunted sites is the Lizzie Borden house. This murder scene turned bed and breakfast is home to the famous tale of 31 year old Lizzie Borden, whom allegedly took an axe to her mother and stepfather. A jury acquitted her of the crime a year later, and no one knows for certain who is actually behind this gruesome rhyme:
‘Lizzie Borden took an axe. Gave her mother 40 whacks. When he saw what she had done. She gave her father 41!’
Now guests of the inn claim to hear shutting doors, creaking floors, and the faint flowery perfume of Lizzie’s mother.
The Country Inn – Nashua, NH
The Country Inn restaurant was once the quaint home of a sea captain and his wife, Elizabeth. In the 1740s, the captain bought the home for his wife to live in while he was at sea. One day, after being at sea for 10 months, he returned to find his wife and her new baby. In a fit of rage, he threw Elizabeth in the cellar and killed the infant. Finding out what he had done, the enraged mother attacked her husband, only to be tossed down a well to her death.
It’s said that the spirit still frequents her once home, playfully hiding salt shakers and running her fingers through her guests hair.
Biltmore Hotel – Providence, RI
This hotel’s spooky history dates back to the days of Zelda Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, whom used the basement along with other guests to throw ragers during prohibition. The parties were so off the hook, that is resulted in the death of many hotel guests. Many claim that you can hear laughter and the sound of a boisterous party echoing from the basement.
The most famous apparition seen is a wealthy guest whom jumped off the 14th floor building to his death. Today, guests state they say a man sailing past their window, but when they look at the ground, there is nothing there. Scarier yet, some lore states that guests seem to vanish at night without a trace.
Mount Washington Hotel – Bretton Woods, NH
Leaf peepers and ghost hunters rest their heads at this idyllic estate. The iconic hotel was built in 1902 by a wealthy businessman, Joesph, and his wife, Carolyn. They loved the hotel just as much as they loved each other, until Joesph suddenly died from a heart attack. While Carolyn eventually remarried, she survived her second husband and spent her last days roaming the hotel alone.
Many believe Carolyn still resides in the Mount Washington Hotel. The ghost, often watching from the balcony, is described by guests as a woman whom matches Carolyn’s description. Carolyn is most often seen in room 314, the suite she used to share with her late husband. Often times, the ghost is seen brushing her hair or standing at the end of the bed. However, on occasion, bath tubs fill on their own accord, perfume fills the air, and lights flicker.
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