Massachusetts Ghosts
Beechwood Inn, Barnstable, Cape Cod
If you catch a glimpse of an old lady in a long white gown who shouldn’t be there at the Beechwood Inn, you won’t be the first. Both innkeepers, Ken and Debbie Traugot, have had their own experiences with the woman who haunts their inn. In an article in the Barnstable Patriot they described their encounters. Ken was outside the house when he saw a woman inside. He entered, thinking it might be a new guest only to find the house empty. After returning outside, he once again saw the lady in a white gown, only in a different room. During his second exploration there was still no one else inside. Ken’s wife Debbie clearly heard a woman’s voice wish her “Good morning,” while she was making a bed in an unoccupied room. Guests in that room have reported seeing apparitions. Mostly though, the unidentified woman keeps herself entertained by pulling little pranks such as moving tools, loosening light bulbs or closing deadbolts on room doors from the inside while empty. The Beechwood Inn is an old Victorian house on Rte. 6A in Barnstable on Cape Cod. It has 6 rooms, all with queen or king beds, 3 with fireplaces and all with private bath. Breakfast and afternoon tea are included in the room charge. For more info or reservations call: 800-609-6618 or 508-362-6618. The inn had a Halloween package last year, so there may be a similar package this October.
The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, Fall River
Who needs reminding what Lizzie did to her parents in their Fall River MA home? Believe it or not, the house is now open as a B&B. You can even stay in the Andrew & Abbey Borden Suite, or in the John Morse room where Abby (Lizzie's stepmother) was murdered. The house is said to be haunted. Martha McGinn and Ron Evans renovated the house. According to them, there are doors that open or close by themselves, and the lights will go on and off by themselves. I spoke with Mrs. McGinn, who was quite gracious and open about their ghost(s). Martha's grandparents had lived in the house for decades, so being in the house is not new for her. She told me that there are footsteps, mostly at night, always sounding like they are on the floor above you. During the renovations, a friend of Martha's and a relative of Ron's were working in the kitchen. They heard furniture being moved around upstairs, and thought maybe one of the other helpers had come in. They looked through the house, but no one else was there.
The Lizzie Borden House is on Second Street in Fall River, MA. Fall River is in the southeastern part of the state, between Cape Cod and Rhode Island. Martha McGinn and Simone Evans are the proprietors. No smoking is allowed, and children under 12 are not allowed to stay the night. There are tours that can be arranged for during the day for a fee. Phone:(508)675-7333 Web page: www.lizzie-borden.comUPDATE: on June 21 '04 the Boston Globe newspaper reported that the b&b has been sold to new owners, Donald Woods and Lee-ann Wilber. Woods says he intends to preserve the scene of the crime but would like to add a Starbucks onto the back of the house. He has not gotten a response from Starbucks yet, and as one might imagine, his plan is getting mixed reactions.
The Old Yarmouth Inn, Yarmouthport, Cape Cod
Located on Route 6A in Yarmouthport is a lovely large white colonial inn built in 1696. At that time it served as a stopping point for travelers that was conveniently located halfway between Plymouth and Provincetown. Current innkeepers Sheila Fitzgerald and Arpad Voros seem to take their resident spirit(s) in stride. The ghost makes itself apparent in indirect ways most of the time, however, there has been at least one sighting. In 1999 a guest in the Quisset Harbor room awoke to see a gentleman in 19th century clothing standing at the foot of his bed. As the guest returned the spirit's puzzled gaze, the apparition faded away. Sheila has written, "Arpad and I have never seen the ghost. We have felt cold drafts that cannot be explained. These are usually followed by bizarre reactions from Comet, our dog. On numerous occasions I have returned from a tour of turning off the lights in the various dining rooms to find all the lights back on again. There have been ashtrays that have slid down the bar and then tossed into the air.... Our bartender has had to hold glasses that slide all over the bar as she tries to pour drinks. One woman, who guffawed at the idea of a ghost, was soon a believer when the air conditioner cover fell off and defied gravity as it traveled 10 feet to graxe the tip of her head....Most recently the wait staff has begun hearing their names being whispered byt an unkown source." Sheila and Arpad do not know who haunts the inn, but view he/she as mischievous but harmless. The inn has rooms for lodging, a dining room and a less formal tavern. It is available for events and is located at 223 Rte. 6A, Yarmouthport, MA phone: (508)362-9962
John Stone's Inn, Ashland
This inn was built in 1823 by John Stone to be operated as an inn. It is currently a restaurant and bar. In the mid '70s the inn came under new ownership and the staff at that time would arrive in the mornings to find doors and windows wide open despite having been locked the night before. Objects would be moved around, but nothing was ever taken. In 1984 a seance was held, and a Boston area psychic indentified three spirits: John Stone, a traveler killed by Stone after accusing him of cheating at cards, and a little girl who was hit by a truck in front of the tavern. In recent years typical ghostly behavior is described as glasses breaking while in soneone's hand, lights going back on after the place has been locked up for the night, and staff have felt like someone is grabbing their ankles as they go down the open-baked basement stairs. John Stone's Inn is at 179 Main St., in Ashland which is about 20 miles west of Boston.
The Charlemont Inn
The Charlemont Inn, built in 1787, is in the western part of MA in the Berkshires. It offers lodging and has an attached full restaurant for dining. As well as hosting paying guests, the inn is also host to as many as six spirits, including a revolutionary war soldier, a past innkeeper, and a yound woman aged 16 or 17 called Elizabeth (though what her name really was is unknown). Elizabeth slams doors, stomps on the stiars and down the hallways, and takes small personal itmes then returns them to a different place. Staff has seen items such as potato chips and coffee cups launched across the kitchen. The Charlemont Inn is on Route 2 in Charlemont. Phone: (413)337-4740. their web page is www.charlemontinn.com
The Village Green Inn, Falmouth, Cape Cod
This inn is a beautiful Federal style house on the Village Green in Falmouth, built in 1804 and completely renovated in 1894. From 1924 to 1984 the Tripp family lived there headed by Dr. Tripp. The inn was bought by Diane and Don Crosby in March of 1995 and they continue to be the gracious hosts there. During their first year Diane was setting the table on a November evening when something caught her eye. She looked down the hallway and saw an old, stooped man with gray hair walk into the parlor. He was wearing a plaid shirt and look like a real, solid person. It struck Diane that he looked nothing like either of the two men currently staying at the inn. She entered the parlor to see who it was, and there was no one there. The Crosbys believe that she saw the ghost of the senior Dr. Tripp or his son. That is the only apparition Diane or Don have seen, but not the only strange happening. Dr. Tripp's waiting room was made into a guest room called (appropriately) the Tripp Room. In that room the lights and radio have suddenly turned on by themselves. Another room that seems to be haunted is the Dimmick Room on the second floor (named after the family that built the house). One guest in that room reported seeing a ghostly young woman in a white nightgown during the night. The inn is open year round, and offers large beautifully decorated rooms and an included gourmet breakfast. Children must be 12 or over. Call (800)237-1119 for more info and reservations. The web page is www.villagegreeninn.com
