5 Unbelievably Creepy Haunted Locations in Massachusetts

In 1872, Andrew Borden bought a house on 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. He merged the two apartments so that it became one home for Andrew, his wife Abby, and their two daughters, Emma and Lizzie.

They lived there for the next twenty years, until the fateful night when Andrew and Abby were brutally murdered in their home, and Lizzie was charged with the crime.

The murders were so brutal, that in addition to the accused being a woman, it garnered national headlines. Lizzie was eventually acquitted, but not before her guilt was determined throughout the country and more damning, her community.

Lizzie Borden’s legacy has since remained in America’s consciousness, and so too, has the Borden House. The sisters sold the home shortly after Lizzie was acquitted of the murders. It was owned by multiple private individuals until 1996, when it was sold to Martha McGinn and Ronald Evans, who turned it into a bed and breakfast.

McGinn was the first to report the strange happenings of the Borden House. 

Lizzie, of course, is often seen near her bedroom, wearing clothes appropriate to the time. Sometimes she drifts into the parlor. Other times her laughter can be heard on the second floor.

Abby Borden, murdered in the upstairs guest room, appears in that room. In fact, it’s one of the most requested for guests to stay in. Andrew was killed in the downstairs sitting room, and guests claim he appears there. Both Abby and Andrew are also sometimes present in their bedroom.

Some encounters are described as gentle. The feeling of being tucked in or fingers running through their hair. Others are far more terrifying. Hands wrapped around their throats, loud voices, and slamming doors.

And then there are the myriad other occurrences that people claim to have experienced or witnessed. A woman weeping. A ball bouncing. A cat pouncing. Footsteps and shadowy figures lurking in hallways and corners. Some even report terrifying nightmares that they’ve never experienced anywhere else.

Salem, as a whole, might be the most haunted place in America. With places like Gallows Hill where women accused of witchcraft were hung and the House of the Seven Gables which allegedly inspired Nathanial Hawthorne to write the eponymous novel, there is no shortage of scary places to explore.

But of all of the places, it’s the Joshua Ward House that just might take the crown for the most terrifying.

Built in 1784, it was one of the first brick houses built in Salem, and reportedly housed George Washington during a visit in 1789.

It isn’t so much the house itself that brought about the haunting, but who might be attached to the property itself. Before the Ward House was built, the land housed the High Sheriff of Essex County, George Corwin.

Corwin was responsible for signing hundreds of arrest warrants and nineteen execution orders against people accused of witchcraft, including Giles Corey. Corey was accused alongside his wife, and died while being tortured after refusing to submit a plea to the court.

Of the most notable apparitions, guests report seeing Corwin, who is also known as The Strangler. Some feel hands wrapped around their throat or wake up with unexplained scratches, bruises, and even burns.

Giles Corey has also made his presence known by throwing books and then restacking them, or moving random objects.

And then there’s another of Corwin’s victims, known as the Lady in Black. She’s easily identified thanks to her frizzy hair framing her head and can be heard crying or wailing throughout the house.

Other guests report flickering lights, melted wax where there aren’t any candles, and unexplained cold spots.

There are a few cemeteries in Massachusetts with eerie hauntings attributed to them, but only one has the alleged eighth gate to Hell.

To add to the mystique, Spider Gates Cemetery isn’t on many maps. It’s located in the middle of a dense forest in the Kettle Brook Reservoir area surrounded by “No Trespassing” signs.

The small Quaker graveyard dates back to the 1740s, with gravestones marking the final resting place of some of the earliest founding families.

Given how old the cemetery is, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when these legends and stories began cropping up, but they are abundant.

The most prominent is that the cemetery houses the eighth portal to Hell. According to urban legend, there are eight gateways into Hell around the country. Entering this one last will open the portal, though what happens from there, no one knows.

Walk around the grave of Reverend Marmaduke Earl ten times while saying, “Marmaduke, speak to me”, and you can hear his voice through his tombstone.

Then there’s the strange stones covered with runes that lead to a nearby river. Some claim this is the River Styx, and if you leave coins for the ferryman, you may be transported to the underworld.

Other creepy elements include an oak tree haunted by the person who hung themselves, orbs floating through the cemetery, a white ooze seeping from the ground, and a second cemetery that appears and disappears depending on who is walking the path.

Considered one of the most haunted hotels in New England, the Omni Parker House was built in 1855.

The historic hotel has housed its fair share of iconic and memorable guests. The Saturday Club met there every fourth Saturday, with literary giants Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Nathaniel Hawthorne as a few of the more notable names in attendance.

Charles Dickens stayed there, as did John Wilkes Booth. John F. Kennedy announced his run for Congress as well as his bachelor party. And Malcolm X and Emeril Lagasse worked there.

The ghost stories date back to the 1940s, starting with Founder Harvey Parker. He’s said to still be inspecting the property, appearing as a bearded gentleman, and will frequently lock office drawers or stack coins.

The 9^th and 10^th floors have had multiple shadowy apparitions appear, faint whispers can often be heard, and orbs of light will float down the halls only to vanish unexpectedly.

The elevator will frequently stop for no reason on the 3^rd floor, where room 303 is housed. That room allegedly inspired a short story by the king of horror himself, Stephen King. Guests claim that strange shadows lurk in the corners of the room and the bathtub will start to fill with water on its own.

With a total square footage coming in at exactly 6,661, it’s no wonder the Pierce Mansion has been accused of devilry and is considered one of the most haunted houses in New England.

Built in 1875 by the wealthy Sylvester K. Pierce, the home brought more tragedy than happiness. Pierce’s first wife died only a week after moving in from a “skin-eating” infection. His second wife also died in the mansion years later.

And they weren’t the only deaths. Rachel Pierce died at two years old. A boarder died after a fire started when he smoked in bed. And in 2011, the pelvic bone of a sixteen-year-old girl was discovered in the basement. 

After Pierce’s death, the home was transformed into an inn after his death run by his son. Many prominent guests enjoyed a stay there including former US President Calvin Coolidge and Norman Rockwell.

Over the years, numerous frightening occurrences have been reported. 

Could the tall, well-dressed man be Pierce himself roaming the upstairs hallways and lingering on the staircase?

Several women in dark, long dresses have been sighted on balconies and in the hallways. These sightings are often accompanied by cold spots, unexplained feelings of overwhelming sadness, and even becoming suddenly fatigued.

Children can be heard running through the house, their laughter trailing behind them. Toys will move on their own and some report the feeling of small hands tugging on them.

And then there’s the moving furniture, uncanny shadows that cling to the corners, slamming doors, heavy footsteps, doors opening and slamming closed, and sudden odors that come and go without explanation.

Feature Image: Boston Ghosts