6 Strange Weather Events in New England History

From ice storms and tornadoes to the summer that wasn’t, here’s a look back at the region’s notable strange weather events. Here in New England, we know a thing or two about unpredictable weather. It takes a lot to truly surprise us, but it does happen now and then. Here are some of the weirdest

History Matters: Strange and true Thanksgiving tales from the Seacoast

New Hampshire’s first Thanksgiving days were no fun at all. Our God-fearing forebears, for the record, defined “giving thanks” as an act of faith, not feasting. Rather than stuffing themselves with turkey and pie, local colonists prayed and fasted. In 1681, New Hampshire’s first royal governor, John Cutt, lay dying at his Portsmouth home. Suddenly

Rhode Island: the Transylvania of America? One vampire expert thinks so

Rhode Island is a creepy place. Ask Michael Bell, who has a doctorate in folklore, and he will recite the date and place of more than 80 cases of vampires and spooky folklore in New England. “Rhode Island is definitely the Transylvania of America,” said Bell, who is working on the second volume of his

The Haunted Hartness House Inn | House for Sale in Springfield, Vermont

The Hartness House Inn is definitely haunted. For years there have been rumors of strange sightings in the tunnel and underground rooms secreted away beneath the front lawn. Even more persistent are the claims that the charming corner room where Charles Lindbergh once stayed is haunted by a young boy named Charlie. Get 3 months

The Lake Winnipesaukee Mystery Stone

Have you ever heard of the Lake Winnipesaukee Mystery Stone? Learn more about this historic object, one of a handful of mysterious stone eggs found throughout the world. Where Was the Lake Winnipesaukee Mystery Stone Found? In 1872, in the town of Meredith, New Hampshire, on Lake Winnipesaukee, construction workers hired by Seneca A. Ladd,

Explore the Unexplainable At These Mysterious Sites in New England

Sure, tourists flock there every fall to see the sights, but Salem doesn’t have New England’s exclusive rights to the mysterious, and October doesn’t have a monopoly on spooky. And while the thought of aliens likely brings to mind the arid landscapes of the American south west, in the Northeast, we have our own close

Rats, Cats, and Death: Horror on Haskell Island

Haskell Island is located off the coast of Harpswell, Maine. It’s a small island, and apparently has no full time residents these days, just vacation homes. It looks quite idyllic, but like many quaint New England locales Haskell Island has a strange past. According to legend, the island was first colonized by the two Haskell

The Flesher Witch: Menace in the Maine Woods

I’m always excited when I learn about a new weird legend, so I was pretty happy recently when I learned about the Flesher Witch of Haynesville, Maine. Thank you Jeremy for pointing this one out! The Flesher Witch legend is creepy, unique, and blends old and new folklore motifs into one gruesome package. Play Caribbean

Sharing tall tales at the tavern

The stage coach arrived in Concord on a cold January day in 1775. The sun was gently setting in the distant hills to the west and the warm fire at the local tavern was greatly anticipated by those traveling. In addition to the warmth of the fire the patrons would find a meal and some

‘Untestable’ myth or beloved local legend: historian prods Connecticut’s first Christmas tree claim

A retired scientist and Windsor Locks historian says he has dismantled the long-touted claim that the town was the first in New England (maybe the nation) to host a Christmas tree. The tale of a former Hessian soldier raising an evergreen reminder of his homeland — a story bolstered by this newspaper since 1955 —