Salem, MA: We’ve all studied the history. Women were burned at the pit for being witches, during a time where being a witch was actually something real and not something cute or slutty for Halloween. Although there are many different locations known to be the most haunted or the scariest, definitely this town embraces the spirit of Halloween. With events that started on the 22nd, Salem has everything from scary open-mic nights, to haunted tours, haunted balls and discussions about the paranormal world.
http://www.salemhauntedhappeni…
Joseph P. Ladd Center, RI: Those brave enough to venture towards the now abandoned compound of the Joseph P. Ladd Center have seen and heard things that none of us would want to. Originally in 1907 as a farm colony, the mental institution quickly became overcrowded and surrounded in scandal. Today, although crumbling to pieces, the institution still holds many of its original artifacts and rooms. Complete with a morgue, recreational center, classrooms, cafeterias and kitchens, and a sub-basement, 6 story cylindrical shaped infirmary containing a padded cell, dental clinic, operating rooms and an x-ray clinic. The institution still has some, possibly still functioning, electric shock therapy chairs, bed frames with chains on them and even a water therapy room where patients were tortured in a tub.
http://socyberty.com/paranorma…
Homer Hall (RISD), RI: Our dearest neighbors have more than one haunted building in their midst, Homer being simply a randomly chosen one, because a haunted building is a haunter building, there are no varying degrees. We can say thanks that these buildings aren’t part of Brown, but at the same time we are still in close enough proximity that if all hell breaks loose, then no one can be saved. One of the supposed spirits is a male who committed suicide in the 70s when the hall had just opened and the other is a woman who turns faucets one when students aren’t looking and leaves traces of blood in the shower stalls.
http://forgottenusa.com/haunts…
Haunted Graveyard, CT: The haunted graveyard is actually an attraction of sorts put on by the residents of Lake Compounce. The graveyard becomes alive with shows, food and a haunted house that is known to be one of the scariest haunted houses of the United States. But the coolest part about this attraction is that it was started by a family who’s young daughter had diabetes and they had to do something to keep the child’s thoughts away from candy. To the date, Haunted Graveyard has raised more than $800,000 for diabetes research.
http://www.hauntedgraveyard.co…
Harkness Memorial Dormitory, New Haven, CT: The dormitory, which was still in use by medical students, has a collection of human brains in jars of formaldehyde that used to belong to Harvey Cushing, one of the country’s lead neurologists. Harvey also took a collection of photos of his patients in various different states of sicknesses that affected different parts of the body. The haunting collection still resides in Harkness Memorial Dormitory and parts of it can be seen by appointment.
http://www.walkingtoursofnewha…
Dudleytown, CT: The once thriving Dudleytown came to a sudden demise not too long after it was first erected. Some think it came to an end because of poorly planned factories, but other attribute the end to the curse of the Dudley family, the first settlers of the town. According to legend, anyone who has ever tried to reside in Dudleytown came to an unfortunate end, either by suicide, murder or demonic possession. More recently, Dudleytown is scare center, drawing all types of crowds, from teenagers on Halloween night, to cults ready to perform satanic rituals. Although Dudleytown is now privately owned and heavily patrolled, this hasn’t ended the curse and the spookiness that surrounds this area.
http://www.damnedct.com/dudley…
Belcourt Castle, Newport, RI: In the beautiful beach town of Newport, not far from Providence, stands the Belcourt Castle, what is known as one of the few real haunted houses in the US. Visitors can take haunted tours of the estate visiting the old ballroom and other rooms of the house. According to people who have already been, the house contains a haunted mirror in which you cannot see your own reflection, haunted chairs, ghostly armor, a possessed statue and apparitions. There have also been claims of screams and just an overwhelming feeling of spookiness when standing in the Castle.
http://voices.yahoo.com/haunte…
White House of Wilmington, VT: The beautiful house has now become a quaint Inn. Advertised as a romantic getaway for couples and newlyweds alike, this seems to be contradicting with the haunting of the place. It is said that Mrs. Brown, the wife of the original owner of the house, haunts the place. Both guests and staff have reported strange sightings, as well as noise when nobody is around and closing and opening of doors. During the Halloween, the inn hosts special events surrounding its spooky reputation.
http://www.hauntin.gs/White-Ho…
Bucksport Cemetery, ME: It seems that Salem is not the only town haunted by the spirit of witches. Legend has it that during the witch-hunt, one Colonel Jonathan Buck condemned a young woman by the name of Ida Black. Right before being hung, Ida put a curse on the colonel and swore she would return to dance on his grave. Colonel Buck died on the anniversary of young Ida’s demise, and although family members have changed the gravestone twice and sanded it once, the image of a foot and leg keeps reappearing on it.
http://www.scarynewengland.com…
The Devil’s Tree, NJ: Although not technically part of New England, the devil’s tree in Bernards Township, NJ, is close enough to Providence that in a rush for some scary adrenaline, you could hop on a train and be there. Various stories surround the tree, which is now said to be inhabited by the souls of the deceased, giving it a warm atmosphere so that even in winter no snow accumulates around it. The first myth surrounding it is that an old farmer murdered his entire family and then went to that tree to hang himself. On a more serious note, Bernards Township used to be the headquarters of the KKK who used the tree for the lynching of the African-Americans residing in the township. The story also has it that all those who have tried to cut down the tree have come to untimely ends.