Scary America

> According to a story by Neal Murphy in the February 1994 edition of Yankee Magazine, the first documented ghost sighting in North America happened on Aug. 9, 1799, when Abner Blaisdel heard strange noises at his home in Machiasport, Maine. The source was an apparition that appeared to Blaisdel—and, soon, many other visitors to his home—in the form of Nelly Butler, the deceased wife of Captain George Butler. Not surprisingly, the ghost of Nelly became a local celebrity. Why? Because Americans love to be scared by the unknown—maybe more than we have the courage to face fears that are right in front of us. In October 2021, a survey by YouGov revealed that two in five Americans believe in ghosts, one in five claim to have actually seen one…

The Octagon House Located at 1799 New York Ave., Northwest, the Octagon House—also known as the Colonel John Tayloe III House after the wealthy businessman for whom it was constructed—is one of four presidential residences in U.S. history and the only one other than the White House that still stands. President James Madison lived there after the White House was destroyed by fire during the War of 1812. As for its haunted history, the spirits of John and Ann Tayloe, both of whom died in the house, are believed to ring bells, calling for servants from the afterlife. Visitors have felt chilling and unexplainable cold by the home’s circular stairway, and workers in the building—which is now a museum—have heard screams when no one else was around. These eerie occurrences…

> Construction on the White House began in 1792. In 1800, John Adams became the first U.S. president to call it home. Today, with 54,900 square feet of space, 16 guest bedrooms and 35 bathrooms, it is the ultimate “live-work” space in America. Some say that it is also haunted. Jeremiah “Jerry” Smith, who started working in the White House for Ulysses S. Grant, claimed to have seen the ghosts of Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, and Grant himself during his 35 years of service in the building. Over the years, others have heard unexplained laughter (believed to be coming from the spirit of Andrew Jackson); a violin being played by Thomas Jefferson in the Yellow Oval Room; and various other presences—including children and former first ladies—lingering around spaces from the attic…

Cornwall Nestled in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, this rural community is famous for its scenic West Cornwall Covered Bridge. Its most infamous attraction, however, is the abandoned settlement known as “Dudleytown,” officially closed to the public and only accessible—illegally—by hiking through the Mohawk Trail. Local legend claims the area is cursed and haunted, dating back to its very settlement and resulting in a history of failed farming and illness. In modern times, the similarities between Dudleytown and the area shown in the 1999 movie The Blair Witch Project turned this into a destination for vandals and thrill seekers—which has only added to its chilling presence for anyone who ventures into the woods. Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam > Covering nearly 900 acres, this public recreation area offers trails…

Rockwood Museum, Wilmington A Quaker banker named Joseph Shipley built his Rockwood Manor between 1851 and 1854, modeling it after an English country estate. Covering more than 70 acres, the stunning grounds are now a public museum—one believed to be haunted by past residents and Shipley family descendants, including a man who wears a red smoking jacket, a young boy, a dog, a woman who is surrounded by a halo of chilly air, and a person who haunts the basement and is known as The Shadowman. These presences have led Rockwood to be explored by multiple television shows about paranormal activity, including Ghost Hunters and My Ghost Story. Welsh Tract Road, Newark > Just off Route 896 near Delaware Stadium sits Welsh Tract Road. It’s notable for its old historic…

Bucksport > Located on the banks of the Penobscot River is Bucksport, Maine, home to just 5,000 residents. In earlier times, Bucksport was known for its paper factories, including the Maine Seaboard Paper Co., which opened in 1930. It was later discovered that the mill was built over the burial ground of the indigenous Red Paint People, a group that many believe have haunted the town for decades. Then there is the story of Sarah Ware, a local resident who went missing in 1898 before her body was discovered, headless, in one part of town and her skull in another. The crime remains unsolved. Wood Island Lighthouse, Biddeford Rising 47 feet over Saco Bay on the southern coast of Maine is the Wood Island Lighthouse. It was the site of a…