Haunted Massachusetts
Bed down with spirits that still call some inns and hotels home
New England has its fair share of inns and hotels where the spirits of deceased residents are said to hang around, even to the present day. Many have stories associated with them – some tales of heroism, some tales of violence and trauma. Most often, the spirits are simply bumping around, watching present-day goings-on, sometimes pulling silly pranks. Below are some New England hostelries said to be inhabited by ghostly presences.
The Hawthorne Hotel
Salem, Massachusetts
The renowned Hawthorne Hotel is surrounded by historic buildings, many of them built by the Salem sea captains who founded the Salem Marine Society in 1766. The society's building was razed for the construction of the Hawthorne Hotel in the 1920s. Some wonder if the spirits of these dynamic seafarers still return to the site they knew so well. Employees and guests alike have witnessed the large ship's wheel, used in the nautical decor of the Main Brace Restaurant, turning back and forth as though following a ghostly course even though no one was near. Those who stopped the wheel found that it immediately resumed its motion. One houseman working in the Lower Deck meeting room reported several instances in which his room setups were rearranged the opposite direction.
Concord’s Colonial Inn
In 1966, M.P. and Judith Fellenz of Highland Falls, New York, stayed in Room 24 of Concord’s Colonial Inn. Two weeks later, the innkeeper received a letter from Judith Fellenz, which read, in part: “On the night of June 14 … I saw a ghost in your Inn. I was awakened in the middle of the night by a presence in the room -- a feeling that some unknown being was in the midst. As I opened my eyes, I saw a grayish figure at the side of my bed. It was not a distinct person, but a shadowy mass in the shape of a standing figure. It remained still for a moment, then slowly floated to the foot of the bed. After a few seconds, the apparition slowly melted away. It was not a reflection of the moon as all the curtains were completely closed.” Room 24 is in the oldest part of the inn, built in 1716. For a time, it was thought that Room 24 was the only haunted location in the inn, but in early 2005 two organizations investigated the paranormal at the inn and suggested other areas may be haunted as well.
The Colonial House Inn
Yarmouthport, MA
This inn has a long history of spiritual activity, to the extent that paranormal investigators have visited and studied the main house and its nearby carriage house. The main house was the home in the early 19th century of Captain Joseph Eldridge and his wife, Ellen. The couple had nine children, four of whom died before age one, in the house. In recent decades guests have reported hearing the sounds of a baby crying and children’s voices. Also, in one room, a rocking chair spontaneously turns during the night to face a blank wall in the location where there was once a window. This activity continues even when the chair is replaced with a different chair. People have reported hearing boys’ voice in the carriage house, where the stable boys lived, as well as the sounds of horses. Ghost hunters who visited the inn in the spring of 2006 reported the sensation of being touched, grabbed and prodded by unseen hands, but in a mischievous, non-hostile fashion. Two spirits – “Mrs. Clarke” and “David” – have introduced themselves to the ghost hunters.
The Orleans Inn
Orleans, MA
Built in 1875 by Captain Aaron Snow for his wife and seven children, the inn has at least three ghosts that have been identified. Hannah was a lady of the night during the Roaring Twenties, when the inn was used as a brothel. Hannah was murdered in front of the inn and now she welcomes visitors with a cold blast of air. Ghosts of cats occupy the closet in Room 4 and it is believed that Hannah opens doors to let the cats out. Hannah has been known to walk through the inn naked. Fred was a bartender in the 1950s who himself in the cupola, and to this day he plays tricks on people. He slides glasses along the bar and off tables. Fred has been known to speak to employees when they are closing for the night. A manager was locking up one night and jokingly said, “Goodnight Fred.” To her shock, a young man’s voice came out of nowhere with a clear “Goodnight.” Paul was a dishwasher who hung himself in the basement of the inn. The kitchen staff members see a young, well-dressed gentleman walking down the stairs each morning when his relief dishwasher arrives.
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