Here are a few stories from various books, websites and people
about hauntings in Vermont. Please check back often as we
will be adding more stories that we come across as well as
stories that people submit to the site!
Hartford Haunted Railroad Bridge
Norwich Norwich Inn
Stowe Brass Lantern Inn
Stowe Emily's Bridge
Waterbury Old Stagecoach Inn
Wilmington The White House
Hartford
In 1887, Hartford was the scene of a tragic railroad disaster
when the Montreal Express jumped the tracks and fell over
the bridge. The railroad and cars burned, killing over 30
people. THe stories differ in regards to a 13 year old boy
named Joe McCabe and his father - in one story, the boy watched
his father die, and in another they both died. Here
is an actual picture of the wreck that dates back to 1887,
and a picture
of the bridge rebuilt later that year from a post card.
The old wooden bridge was replaced with a steel structure
on the original concrete footings.
Since then, there have been several sightings of the ghost
of the Joe McCabe playing in the river. Many people have even
reported smelling fire in the area of the bridge.
According to Stephen Marshall, a physicist-turned-ghost hunter
who explored the site, boy has been seen several times, always
dressed in 19th century clothes, standing about four feet
above the water. He says the emotional distress of seeing
his father die while he watched, helpless, brought his spirit
to this spot when the boy died. "People often see the
boy and don't realize he is a ghost."
Thanks to http://www.northeast.railfan.net/wreck7.html
for the train wreck photo, http://alphabetilately.com/TOPS/USA.html
for the post card photo and http://www.jhu.edu/~newslett/10-23-97/Science/2.html
for the article on Stephen Marshall.
Directions: The Railroad Bridge is located
in Hartford, VT, which is in Windsor County. The bridge spans
the White River and Route 14 in West Hartford. county
map
back to top
Norwich
The Norwich Inn, built
in 1797, was purchased by Charles and Mary "Ma"
Walker in 1920. According to legend, Ma Walker maintained
the Inn's tradition as a tavern during the prohibition by
selling bootleg liquor from the basement. After she died at
the Inn, her spirit has been reported to walk the upper floors,
and is often seen in the dining room wearing a black formal
gown.
Directions:
The Norwich Inn, located in Windsor County, now offers lodging,
dining and a brewery. To get there, take I-91 to exit 13 for
Norwich - the address is 325 Main Street. For reservations,
call 802-649-1143 and you can visit their website at http://www.norwichinn.com.
county
map
back to top
Stowe
The Brass Lantern Inn,
known to be a romantic Bed and Breakfast in Stowe, is noted
for its noisy ghosts. Guests often report that they hear large
groups of people in another room when that room is actually
empty.
The inkeeper gave an example of a guest who asked about the
"people who came in late last night talking loud enough
so I could hear their words? And where did they go to a party?"
And another guest reported that he"heard
the people across the hall from me last night talking and
laughing and speaking about how happy they were." In
each of these and all instances, it's in reference to the
same room, always late at night, and with similar descriptions
as to what they heard the other guests saying. But note --
there were no guests across the hall.
Directions:
The Brass Lantern Inn is located at 717 Maple Street in Stowe,
which is in Lamoille County. The Inn's website is http://www.brasslanterninn.com/
and they can be reached at 800-729-2980. county
map
back to top
Stowe
This bridge in Stowe, dubbed Emily's Bridge,
was built in 1844 and named after the ghost who haunts it.
A woman named Emily Smith died here, but how she died is the
subject of several different stories: some say she was trampled
by a team of horses; others say she jumped off the bridge
or hanged herself from a roof beam. The most credible and
accepted story is that she died in an accident after being
rejected at the altar by her fiance - she rode after him in
a buggy that overturned on the bridge. Although no one knows
conclusively how she died, there is no doubt about her ghost.
People report that she makes herself known by appearing as
a flickering white light while others state that she shows
herself as a mysterious breeze that leaves people feeling
absolutely stunned and mesmerized.
Directions: Stowe is located in north central
Vermont, 60 miles east of Burlington in Lamoille County. Take
I-84 to Colbyville and go north for 26 miles on highway 100.
The bridge spans Gold Brooke on Gold Brooke Road a few miles
outside of town. Gold Brook Road loops off highway 100, north
of town. county
map
back to top
Waterbury
The ghost of Margaret Spencer haunts
the Old Stagecoach Inn in Waterbury, VT.
Margaret was a wealthy socialite who died at age 98 haunts
her old bedroom, now room 2. There have been several reports
of seeing her apparition in the room since her death in 1947.
Directions:
Waterbury is in north central Vermont, twelve miles northwest
of Montpelier on US Highway 2, in Washington County. The phone
number is 802-244-5056. county
map
back to top
Wilmington
The White House
of Wilmington was built in 1915 as a private summer home for
lumber baron Martin Brown, and it is reported that the house
is haunted by his spirit. Both guests and staff have reported
disembodied footsteps, unexplainable cold spots, doors that
open by themselves, and even visible apparitions.
In 1999, the inn began hosting a "Haunting" on Halloween
weekend, complete with a ghost hunt and seance provided by
Haunted Vermont, a local company specializing in historically
based realistic ghost events. The Haunting of the White House
includes a mini-discussion on spiritualism, afterlife theory,
house history, and ghost-hunting techniques; then the "Ghost
Hosts" take patrons around the inn to look for ghosts
themselves. This is followed by a seance rich with special
effects. The evening culminates with a real Victorian-era
seance held in the inn's parlor.
Directions:
The Inn, located in Windham County. Take I-91 North to exit
2 in Brattleboro, then take a right on Vermont Route 9 West
and proceed 18 miles. You can visit the Inn's website at http://www.whitehouseinn.com/
or contact them toll free at 800-541-2135. county
map
back to top
The information is only as
reliable as our readers' reports. We assume no credit for
your adventures, and accept no liability for misadventures.
Use common sense. Before visiting any "haunted"
site, verify the location, accessibility, safety, and other
important information. Accessibility may become limited without
our knowledge, due to excessive visits by curiosity seekers.
Never trespass on private and/or posted property without specific
permission from the authorities. Okay, we're done. :-)
|
