New England

Tales of fairies and bewitching Little People have amazed and horrified New Englanders for over four hundred years. 

In the nineteenth century, residents of Marblehead, Massachusetts, reported malicious pixies leading them in circles at dusk. In Aroostook County, Maine, elves called lutins exasperated farmers with their mischievous tricks and games. In Uncasville, Connecticut, beguiling creatures emerged for centuries at twilight to collect corn-filled baskets from members of the Mohegan Tribe. And in Harrisville, Rhode Island, a vision of fearful banshees augured death to an Irish seer.

From the ancient tales of Algonquian elders to the fireside stories of European immigrants, Andrew Warburton scours New England folklore to uncover the secrets of the region's Fair Folk and the storytellers who've encountered them through the years.

U.S. Route 44 stretches across New England from Massachusetts to Connecticut before completing its circuit in New York State, 237 miles later. Along the way, travelers may encounter the infamous Bridgewater Triangle, take a haunted tour of Plymouth, or see the ghosts of Chepachet.

Follow in the footsteps of famous science fiction horror writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft from Providence to Glocester, Rhode Island. Follow the road through small towns and dark forests where sightings of UFOs and cryptids have surprised travelers for years.

Join authors Tom D’Agostino and Arlene Nicholson as they explore the dark corners of New England’s most haunted highway.

King Philip’s War not only left much of early New England in ruins, but it also left a permanent psychic scar upon the land that still resonates in the many haunted places where wartime tragedies took place.

Ghosts of both settlers and indigenous peoples flourish in the region to this day where battles, murders, and massacres took place. Even the ghost of Metacom, better known as King Philip, roams the many places he held dear in life. Visit Nine Men’s Misery in Cumberland, Rhode Island, where screams of the victims of the war can still be heard. Take a trip to Hockamock Swamp where ghosts and strange creatures roam among the thicket. Stroll the paths along Sin and Flesh Brook where the ghost of Reverend Howland is seen centuries after he was brutally murdered by the enemy. These are just a few of the many places that still harbor eternal tenants from one of the bloodiest conflicts ever fought on American soil.

Authors Thomas D’Agostino and Arlene Nicholson uncover the dark side of what is largely considered the “Forgotten War.”

Visitors and New England natives alike will see a new side of the region through Thomas D'Agostino's eerie road trip guidebook.

He captures the reader's imagination with folklore and anecdotes, plus recommendations useful for any traveler. This guide uncovers lingering spirits across all six states in the region, from the victims of alchemy gone awry in the White Mountains, to wraiths in the Berkshires, to the ghosts of drowned sailors in Mystic, Connecticut. Enjoy these retellings of classic New England ghost stories and discover obscure ones, and then go visit the spooky sights for yourself.

Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley have a rich and varied history, but some of its darker chapters have remained hidden. These include an abandoned road guarded by an invisible entity, factory ghosts, a monstrous serpent, unnerving cemetery lore, demonic houses and a haunted restaurant. Once declared dead due to decades of being inundated with industrial and chemical pollutants, the Naugatuck River has been brought back to life by environmental stewardship, which has been a welcome benefit to residents. However, the river’s cleanup has also awakened supernatural stories that carve a paranormal path from the stream’s source in northwest Connecticut to its confluence with the Housatonic. Local author and historian Michael Bielawa reveals the eerie dark side of the river and this fabled valley.

Despite the beauty of the region, Lake Champlain has been the site of dark and mysterious events.

Located between New York’s majestic Adirondacks and Vermont’s famed Green Mountains, it’s not surprising that some spirits linger in this otherwise tranquil place. Fort Ticonderoga saw some of early America’s bloodiest battles, and soldiers’ ghosts still stand guard. A spirit walks the halls of SUNY Plattsburgh, even after his original haunt burned in 1929. Champlain's islands--Stave, Crab, Valcour and Garden--all host otherworldly inhabitants, and unidentified creatures and objects have made appearances on the water, in the sky and in the forests surrounding the lake. Join Burlington's Thea Lewis as she explores the ghosts and legends that haunt Lake Champlain.

Massachusetts's historic graveyards are the final resting places for tales of the strange and supernatural.

From Newburyport to Truro, these graveyards often frighten the living, but the dead who rest within them have stories to share with the world they left behind. While Giles Corey is said to haunt the Howard Street Cemetery in Salem, cursing those involved in the infamous witch trials, visitors to the Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain enjoy an arboretum and a burial ground with Victorian-era memorials. One of the oldest cemeteries in Massachusetts, Old Burial Hill in Marblehead, has been the final resting place for residents for nearly 375 years.

Author Roxie Zwicker tours the Bay State's oldest burial grounds, exploring the stones, stories and supernatural lore of these hallowed places.

Vermont’s hills hold the echoes of a spirited past. Haunting stories and wandering ghosts are found in numerous burial places from the Riverside Cemetery in Burlington to the Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.

The Bowman mausoleum in Cuttingsville contains some heartbreaking symbolism. Throughout the state, disturbing tales of mountain madness, murder and “vampires” can be found carved in stone. Discover the graves of humble farmers with independent spirit like Justin Morgan, Ethan Allen, and “Snowflake” Bentley who changed the course of history. The ancient gravestones in Rockingham were once removed and put on exhibit in New York City, while innovative gravestone carvers from Barre to Bennington left artistic interpretations of death to awe and inspire.

Author and tour guide Roxie Zwicker explores these historic and legendary graveyards.

The infamous 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden have captivated New Englanders for more than one hundred years. But the story doesn’t end in Fall River. Far beyond the locked doors of the Borden household, there is a wider web of people, places, and histories connected to the case. From the investigators who shaped the trial and the reporters who sensationalized it to the key locations that marked Lizzie Borden’s life and lingering legacy, there is a multifaceted history behind one of America's most enduring true crime stories. There are the lives of other remarkable—and often overlooked—figures linked to the Borden bloodline. Among them are Innocent Borden, the recently discovered daughter of Thomas Cornell, a man who was executed in 1673 for the alleged murder of his mother in colonial Rhode Island. And then there’s Sarah Maria Cornell, a millworker and distant cousin of Lizzie, whose mysterious death sparked scandal when a prominent Methodist minister was accused of her murder. By weaving these parallel tales of crime, gender, and societal upheaval into the central narrative, local author Sam Baltrusis takes a deep dive into the ultimate whodunit—placing Lizzie’s story within a broader historical and cultural context of rumors, power, and the shifting expectations of women in American society.

It should come as no surprise that one of the nation's oldest cities brims with spirits of those who lived and died in its hundreds of years of tumultuous history.

Boston, Massachusetts, boasts countless stories of the supernatural. Many students at Boston College have encountered an unearthly hound that haunts O'Connell House to this day. Be on the watch for an actor who sits in on rehearsals at Huntington Theatre and restless spirits rumored to haunt Boston Common at night. From the Victorian brownstones of Back Bay to the shores of the Boston Harbor Islands, author Sam Baltrusis makes it clear that there is hardly a corner of the Hub where the paranormal cannot be experienced as he breathes new life into the tales of the long departed.

Bar Harbor welcomes millions of visitors each year, and the popular seaside town is known for its hospitality. However, not many people know that Bar Harbor is one of the most haunted seaport towns on the coast of Maine, nestled at the edge of Acadia National Park. Ghostly sightings abound from the woods to the waters. Restless spirits like the Carpenter of Kennebec Street and the Caretaker join other souls from the Cottage Era, when people like the Astors, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers made the town their summer playground. Seafaring shadows and those lingering at the beautiful—but very haunted—Criterion Theatre create a space filled with souls both alive and dead.

Jennifer Pictou and D. Michael Fleming unveil a mysterious town where the sound of horse hooves can still be heard, along with the apparition of a much-beloved cow.

Full of mystery, magic, and stories stranger than fiction, discover  local legends, lore, and tales of the supernatural that will keep you up at night.

The emerald sheen illuminating the Sabbatarian burying ground, 8 Mile River's misty figures which emerge at the Devil's Hopyard, and flying demon skeletons on Charles Island these bizarre haunts are uniquely Connecticut. In the ghostly lore of the state, the ambient ramblings of the Leatherman still ring out in the caves of Harwinton's forests and the former residents of the Hale Homestead continue to roam the attic at night. Join authors and Paranormal United Research Founders, Thomas D'Agostino and his wife Arlene Nicholson, as they recount bone chilling mysteries from Putnam, Canton, New London and many more shadowy corners of the Nutmeg state.

Ghosts of Newport plumbs the depths of Newport's history and reveals a host of chilling tales in which fact and folklore intertwine.

  Today's Newport attracts countless visitors from around the world; its streets are alive with art, culture, wealth and beauty. Yet the city harbors echoes of a dark and turbulent past, including a variety of haunted sites: the Jailhouse Inn, Astor's Beechwood, the White Horse Tavern—America's oldest tavern—and many more. These stories show a side of Newport that history books alone could never tell, and help you peer past the city's gilded façade to discover dark secrets sure to spook and surprise.

Uncover the ghostly past and peculiar happenings of Burlington, Vermont…

The vibrant city of Burlington is a perpetual hub of activity, with hordes of shoppers strolling up and down Church Street and groups of college students scattered about the lawns of UVM. Stop and listen to the stories of Queen City Ghostwalk guide Thea Lewis, and discover the ghostly shapes and spirits that appear among the throngs of the city's living. Meet the mischievous poltergeist who haunts Converse Hall and the ghost of the Flynn Theater. Take a peek at peculiar happenings at the Firehouse Center or the old Howard Opera House. Lewis delivers plenty of chills with a strong dose of history and a pinch of humor.

Prepare yourself to journey through the local tales of fright throughout Rhode Island.

Rhode Island's ghostly heritage is as deep and profound as the history of the state itself. From the ghastly moaning bones of Mount Tom to the stately haunt of Judge Potter in a local library, Rhode Island's apparitions have been causing fear for centuries. Follow M.E. Reilly-McGreen as she reveals the ghoulish stories of the state's most haunted places. The author delves deep to unearth tales of fright little known to most as well as those that have helped define the state's supernatural history. From ghosts to monsters, this book is your guide to all things spooky in Rhode Island. So prepare to journey through the Rhode Island you didn't know existed, or does it?

The landscape of Connecticut is diverse, from coastal beaches to picturesque lakes and cozy, quaint villages with a rich historical and cultural heritage. In every city or town is a graveyard with a compelling story to tell carved in stone. From grinning skulls to massive marble mausoleums, Roxie Zwicker takes readers on a tour of the state from shore to hillside, uncovering mysterious tales of people who were thought to be witches in the early 1600s to stories of Revolutionary heroes. From the famous P.T. Barnum to the anonymous numbered dead of the Connecticut Valley Hospital, there are stories that need to be told. Ghost stories linger in many of these gardens of stone, perhaps as a connection to an unquiet past.

Though Rhode Island is America’s smallest state, they have more than their fair share of spooky stories.

Author Rory Raven has collected stories and tales drawn from the history and folklore of one of the oldest cities in the nation. From restless spirits and mysterious deaths, to vampires and shadowy strangers, and even stories involving Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, Haunted Providenceexplores the unusual events and untold tales that have made this capital city unlike any other.

Centuries of horror and hauntings: An award-winning look at the dark history of the town where the Pilgrims landed.

Plymouth is known worldwide as “America’s Hometown,” landing place of the Pilgrims in 1620 and home of the first Thanksgiving. But the real story of the town is a tale of grim beginnings, plague, desperation, massacre, murder, and fear.

A ghostly Victorian couple is known to wander Burial Hill. A shocking crime on Leyden Street, one of the oldest streets in America, still haunts the area. The crew of the brigantine General Arnold, trapped offshore during an icy eighteenth-century blizzard, are suspected to haunt not one but three locations. In this fascinating tour of the New England landmark, Darcy H. Lee exposes the haunting acts that lie beneath Plymouth’s cherished history.

Silver Medal, 2018 Independent Publisher Award for Regional Non-Fiction E-Book

Finalist, 2018 Eric Hoffer Book Award

Finalist, 2018 International Book Awards History: General Category

Restless spirits in seemingly tranquil summer cottages and specters watching for phantom ships from a sea captain's mansion are among the many ghostly residents of one of New England's oldest counties.

The harshly beautiful coastline of York County has a long history of storm, revolution and violence that seems to lure deceased residents from the ether. From the otherworldly mariners in the Boon Island Lighthouse to the terrifying cells of Old Gaol, America's oldest prison, an abundance of mysteries reflects the region's turbulent past. Join Roxie J. Zwicker, haunted history author and owner of New England Curiosities tours, as she delves into the chilling secrets and ghostly lore of York County.

The infamous 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden have captivated New Englanders for over one hundred years. But the story doesn’t end in Fall River. Far beyond the locked doors of the Borden household there is a wider web of people, places, and histories connected to the case. From the investigators who shaped the trial and the reporters who sensationalized it, to the key locations that marked Lizzie Borden’s life and lingering legacy, there is a multifaceted history behind one of America's most enduring true crime stories. There are the lives of other remarkable—and often overlooked—figures linked to the Borden bloodline. Among them are Innocent Borden, the recently discovered daughter of Thomas Cornell, a man who was executed in 1673 for the alleged murder of his mother in colonial Rhode Island. And then there’s Sarah Maria Cornell, a mill worker and distant cousin of Lizzie, whose mysterious death sparked scandal when a prominent Methodist minister was accused of her murder. By weaving these parallel tales of crime, gender, and societal upheaval into the central narrative, local author Sam Baltrusis takes a deep dive into the ultimate whodunit—placing Lizzie’s story within a broader historical and cultural context of rumors, power, and the shifting expectations of women in American society.

Chilling tales of the supernatural

Ghostly legends are usually associated with the turreted fortifications found throughout Europe and the English countryside. However, New England is also home to several haunted castles filled with paranormal activity, each boasting its own unique legends and lore.

The medieval-style Hammond Castle in Gloucester, Massachusetts, is said to be haunted by the ghost of its former owner, John Hays Hammond Jr. Meanwhile, Castle Craig, which overlooks the Hanging Hills in Meriden, Connecticut, is rumored to be guarded by a legendary black dog, believed to be a harbinger of death.

From New Hampshire’s Searles Castle to Belcourt of Newport, author Sam Baltrusis uses careful research and firsthand accounts to explore the history and mystery surrounding some of New England’s most haunted castles.