At a fundraiser on Saturday, October 10th, 2009, I was among the investigators invited to Tenney Gatehouse by the Essex County Ghost Project and Pelham Paranormal Research.

The 2009 event sold out almost immediately, and raised [...]]]> Tenney Gatehouse and the Greycourt Castle ruins are among Methuen’s historical treasures… and among that city’s most haunted locations.

At a fundraiser on Saturday, October 10th, 2009, I was among the investigators invited to Tenney Gatehouse by the Essex County Ghost Project and Pelham Paranormal Research.

The 2009 event sold out almost immediately, and raised over $600 for the Methuen Historical Society to restore and maintain Tenney Gatehouse. Thank you to all who participated in this event!

Note: Some people thought that I was the host of the Tenney Gatehouse event… but I wasn’t. The entire event was planned by Tom Spitalere of the Essex County Ghost Project and Deb O’Leary of Pelham Paranormal Research. They deserve all the credit for how the event was organized, and its success. I was merely one of the invited speakers.

Many investigation teams have visited Tenney Gatehouse and documented its ghosts.  This was my second investigation at the house, and my results were similar to my previous visit.  [My earlier article - Report: Tenney Gate House]

Basement

The basement is an odd location.  I don’t sense a lot of history there, though other investigators have reported significant energy.

Mostly, the atmosphere seems to get heavier (or denser) the longer you stay there, as if something is crowding you out. If you’re prone to headaches, especially migraines, stay away from the basement.

Some very hostile energy lingers in one corner of the room where the furnace is.  That’s odd, since I’m fairly sure it’s a recently excavated area. [See the Methuen Historical Society's page that describes the basement work.]

I also sensed a distraught young woman in a maroon dress.  She’s from the second half of the 19th century.  She has very high, elaborate braids and curls, characteristic of the 1860s and later.  (It reminds me of a Swedish woven loaf of bread, but upright.)

Her skirt is fairly narrow, also suggesting a time from the late 19th century.  She’s pacing and very unhappy, but also seems to enjoy the drama of it, as well as the attention she gets.

There’s also the energy of a little boy, but my “gut feeling” is: this is phantom energy.  I’m not sure that there was actually a tragedy at the staircase where he seems to linger, and I wonder if he’s the created energy of several imaginative researchers.

Whether he’s a real ghost or not, the energy remains there.

Between the amount of running electrical equipment, fuse boxes, and pipes, the basement is unreliable for EMF studies.

Ground floor

In the parlor, the doll and the sofa she was on have been replaced by a lovely organ from Greycourt Castle.  The wooden organ belonged to the Tenneys and not only survived its years when the mansion was a drug rehab center, but it’s also one of the few items to survive the fire as well.

We found a “cold spot” on top of the organ, and a couple of variable cold spots on either side of it.

Because of the organ’s surprising energy, it’s an item to research in more detail, especially in light of the Searles family’s connection with organ making.

Several items in the museum area seem to hold residual energy, in addition to fascinating history.  In light of the history I’ve learned since this investigation, many of the museum’s objects are worth closer study.

In the far room in the museum area, several people saw dramatic dowsing rod activity in one corner.  We also saw baffling EMF meter readings.

At one point, it was as if the EMF meters were dueling; one would beep and flash three times, and then the other would, and so on.

I took a picture while this was going on, and there’s a very faint orb over the EMF meter on the right. As you can see from the light, that EMF meter was signaling when I took the photo.

(I wish I’d taken more photos, to see if the orb bounced back and forth between the meters as they beeped.)

Immediately beneath that floor, a large electrical box emits high levels of EMF.  Though that would explain continuous, high EMF levels, it doesn’t explain the intermittent surges.  (In fact, at one point the EMF meter closest to the floor showed no unusual readings, while another meter — about four feet above it — was surging off the scale.)

Several people felt very strong energy in that area as well, and some thought they were being gently pushed or otherwise in physical contact with a ghost, perhaps a ghostly dog.

However, when researching in areas of high EMF, normal disorientation is possible.  So, we looked in other, low-EMF areas for additional and supporting information about the house’s ghosts.

In another room, a 19th-century dresser holds the residual energy of a grandmother who often laced her corset too tightly, and collected small figurines.  I also detected the energy of two priests around that dresser, but not the priests (or monks) who lived at Tenney Gatehouse.

Upper floor

The upper floor continues to be my favorite.  In one room, both mirrors — but one in particular — seems to have anomalous energy.  It’s worth far more study than I’ve had time for.

That’s the same room where we previously used a K-II meter to communicate with a spirit that wanted the lights turned out.

I did not investigate the room next to it, where refreshments were served to event attendees.

The largest room on that floor had seating for about 30 people, and it was used for “Shack Hack” sessions presented by Chris G., another invited psychic and paranormal researcher.  The Shack Hack indicated several spirits in the room, including two or three men and perhaps one young woman and a little boy.

Turret

The turret room may be the most famous haunted area in Tenney Gatehouse, and it’s also the part of the house that will be restored with the help of the funds raised at this event.

According to legend, but no historical evidence that I know of, a monk hung himself in that room.  The stories say that he continues to haunt that room.

Whether that’s a true tale or not, the energy in the turret area is powerful and almost disorienting.  I look forward to researching it further when it’s more fully restored and I can rule out normal EMF (from electrical wiring) as a factor.

Summary

Tenney Gatehouse (or Gate House) is a light, easy haunting for first-time investigators.

However, due to the large amount of traffic through the house, nothing truly scary is likely to happen during a casual investigation or event.

This site is ideal for in-depth investigations by small teams who’ll focus on specific areas and objects that may reveal far more than they do during a brief walk-through.

Next, see my notes and photos: Investigation – Ghosts at Greycourt Castle ruins

You may also enjoy my very detailed report, Investigation – History of Tenney Gatehouse, and my recording, Ghost Hunting without High-Tech Equipment (MP3).

The castle-style mansion was built in the 1880s and used as a summer home by the Tenney family.

In the 1950s, it was sold and used as a drug rehabilitation facility in [...]]]> Greycourt Castle (or Grey Court Castle) was the estate home of Charles H. Tenney, his wife Fanny, and their son Daniel G. Tenney.

The castle-style mansion was built in the 1880s and used as a summer home by the Tenney family.

In the 1950s, it was sold and used as a drug rehabilitation facility in the mid-20th century, and largely destroyed by fires from 1974 through 1978.  The 1978 fire was the result of arson.

As I explain in my book, Ghost Hunting in Haunted Cemeteries, we’re always looking for any of four characteristics of most hauntings:

• Money
• Power
• Drama
• Tragedy (sudden or extended)

If I see more than one of these elements, it’s a red flag that suggests the site is worth investigating.

In my earlier article, Investigation – History of Tenney Gatehouse, I described Greycourt Castle’s intriguing and tragic past.

From the land’s connections to a Colonial blockhouse, to the fire that destroyed Greycourt in the 1970s, the site’s history contains all four elements — money, power, drama and tragedy — that make it a prime location for paranormal investigations.

My “gut feeling” is that we’ve barely scratched the surface on the energy and ghosts around the Greycourt Castle ruins.

I’m also certain that the park-like areas of the Tenney grounds hold additional reasons for ghostly activity.

The nearby Searles site is certainly worth investigating, as well.

My October 2009 investigation

I did not spend time at the area where the monks’ graves were rumored to have been. (The graves were moved when the site stopped being used by the order.)

Earlier in the evening, I’d heard that some people had formed a circle to summon the energy or spirits from any remaining graves and… Unless you really know what you’re doing, that can open doors best left closed, and create unhealthy dynamics with the spirits.

So, I didn’t pause there.

Walking up the path from the gatehouse to Greycourt, I immediately took a photo where I feel intense energy from… well, I think it’s the Gorrill brothers.

(For their story, see my article, Tenney ghosts – Gorrill brothers.)

Though my photo shows only a vivid orb (sorry, no landmarks with it), that confirms it as a location for additional on-site research.

The orb may be something entirely normal… but it might not.  Either way, I’m interested in this part of the Tenney property.

As I continued to Greycourt Castle, I felt the familiar sense of entering an area with very different energy, as if it’s a portal to another time.

The castle feels like something incomplete… in our world.  However, I often feel that the stairs leading down from it actually show more than just a great view of Methuen (albeit blocked by trees).  I feel that it may offer something else, if you have patience, suspend disbelief, and use all of your senses to perceive what’s really there.

This is the second time I’ve smelled the vanilla-like aroma of tobacco around the stairway, too.  (I describe it as a little like Swisher Sweet cigars.  Others have made reference to pipe tobacco.)

During this October 2009 investigation, several other people have commented on that aroma as well, not knowing that I was already aware of it.

My photos from nearby showed some great lights, blurred as the camera moved, but nothing paranormal.

However, one of my next pictures caught an odd, colorful mist.  Someone else commented on her mist photo, around the same time.  We both tried to replicate the mist by breathing near the cameras lenses as we took additional photos, but couldn’t duplicate the effect.

Though this still may be mist (it’s not cigarette smoke), it’s more likely an anomaly.

In the photo at right, that’s a tree on the right, surrounded by the mist.  At the lower left, you can see the promontory where the stairs lead, and where I feel that the energy is different from “normal.”

Though city lights interfere with night photos, and there’s nothing obvious there to see… I still feel that’s a location for in-depth investigation.  But, because that could be something frightening, I’d only recommend it for very experienced ghost hunters.

(By “frightening,” I don’t mean that it’s necessarily dangerous. I think that it might be something very different from what we usually encounter at haunted sites like this.  Perhaps “startling” might be a better word, but when something radically different happens at haunted places, beginners can interpret it as scary, frightening or dangerous.)

Next, I walked along the corridor.  None of my photos showed anything unusual.  However, I kept noticing moving shadows on the columns as I stood and took pictures.  The shadows were very crisp and well defined.  It was as if someone was immediately behind me.

Every time I turned to look — at least four or five times — no one was there.  Since there were only about four of us at that part of the ruins at the time, I don’t have any explanation for it.

I wasn’t afraid of the shadows, and I don’t think they indicate anything malicious… just odd.

Nearby, the area around the fountain seems very active, but with happier energy.  Generally, I connect this with the “flower child” energy that may have resonated with earlier, Spiritualist activities at the site.

Or, it may relate to the ritual energy in a nearby wooded area.

Though the woods feel somber and even creepy to me, the energy around the fountain seems joyous.  I wasn’t at all surprised to see an orb in the photo at right.  In fact, I was amazed that I didn’t have more anomalies in the pictures I took there.

On the walk back from the ruins, I was — as usual — intrigued by the Searles’ property and stone buildings.  That location also contains very powerful, paranormal energy.  That’s the only way I can describe it; it doesn’t feel like anything that’s from this world.

However, my “gut feeling” is that it’s not just the ghost of Mr. Searles.  I’d fully expect cryptozoology reports there, because — in addition to something vaguely ghostly — there’s… well, something else.

Nearby, a second photo included some lines that I’m still studying.  The wavy lines aren’t uniform (though they look it in this small version of the picture) so this isn’t one insect (the top, white shape) and a series of lens flares or repetitions.

Also, everything else — full depth of field — is in focus.  If the camera moved enough to create those lines, other objects should be blurry.

So, this may be something, but it might not.  I’m not going to read anything into it, but share it with readers for your input.

I’m about 90% certain that this is an insect or a falling leaf, plus repeated reflected/refracted images, but 90% certainty isn’t 100%.

Of course, it helps that the area by that stone wall feels unsettling.  It’s the kind of site where we often see apparitions.

Yes, this is probably a perfectly normal photo, and the earlier orb picture may be an insect as well.  I’m displaying them because they’re interesting, not necessarily paranormal.

However, I recommend spend time at this part of the property when you’re at Tenney Gatehouse and Greycourt Castle ruins.

Summary

For a first-time or casual ghost hunter, Tenney Gatehouse is the ideal place for an investigation.

For an experienced investigator, I think the rest of the Tenney property offers more intriguing energy and anomalies that haven’t been reported yet.

Tenney Gatehouse is maintained by the Methuen Historical Society, 37 Pleasant Street, Methuen, MA.  The gatehouse and grounds are open to the public.  Please check the Methuen Historical Society’s website for hours and additional information.

Related report: Investigation – Tenney Gatehouse ghosts (October 2009)

I compiled the following history from a variety of sources.  I’ve done my best to be accurate, but I only briefly surveyed the history.  There may be errors in this report.

The [...]]]> Tenney Gatehouse (37 Pleasant Street, Methuen, Massachusetts) and the nearby Greycourt Castle ruins are great, gently-haunted sites.  They’re ideal for first-time ghost hunters.

I compiled the following history from a variety of sources.  I’ve done my best to be accurate, but I only briefly surveyed the history.  There may be errors in this report.

The Methuen Historical Society is a far better resource for your research, and their information will be more accurate than mine.

In this summary, I’ve included story elements and additional notes that could relate to the hauntings at Tenney Gatehouse and Greycourt Castle.

(Note to ghost hunters: This is the kind of research that adds depth to any investigation. It reveals the most likely “hot spots” for on-site research, and can support existing ghost stories.)

History of Tenney Gatehouse and Greycourt Castle

The bedrock beneath Methuen includes Merrimac quartzite.   That could be important.  Sites built on quartz tend to report far more hauntings than those that aren’t.

The land around Tenney Gatehouse was originally part of the Pawtucket Plantation. Its boundaries were established in 1640, and the land transferred by Indian deed in 1642.

The Pawtuckets were also called Penacooks and Pentuckets.  50 – 85% of the Methuen Pawtuckets died during the 1617 – 1619 epidemics, and the Indian wars that followed.

Though no known Indian battles were fought in Methuen, events related to the  “Battle of Bloody Brook” in September 1615 (not the 1675 event) may have involved local members of the Agawam nation, fighting off the Tarrantine raiders.

Methuen was first settled in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The town was named for Paul Methuen, 1st Baron Methuen (21 June 1779 – 14 September 1849) of Corsham Court, Wiltshire, England.   Methuen was a Privy Court friend of Massachusetts’ Royal Governor William Dummer.

The first buildings

A blockhouse was the first reported use of the property later owned by the Tenney family. A blockhouse was a heavy, plank-style house where settlers could gather for protection from fierce weather, roving bands of wild animals, or reported Indian attacks.  The building wasn’t quite as formal as a stockade, but served a similar purpose.

Around 1726, Methuen’s community meetinghouse and parsonage were established near where the Tenney Gatehouse and Greycourt Castle ruins are today.  The site was called Meetinghouse (or Meeting House) Hill.*  The meetinghouse was about 40 feet by 30 feet, with 20-foot posts.

Soon, a burial ground (1728 – 1786) — where all the gravestones point west — and a schoolhouse completed the development.  Much of that land — later part of the Tenney property — was the original center of the village.

There’s reference to a devastating meetinghouse fire in 1796, and a second meetinghouse being dedicated for public service.  That story is worth researching, to see if it parallels the later fires at Greycourt Castle.

The hill was also nicknamed Daddy Frye’s Hill. That name referred to  Frye Tavern owned by Jeremiah and Elizabeth Hall Frye and their six children.  (The Frye family had been in the Methuen area since the mid-1600s, after emigrating from Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.)

Interestingly, a 1916 book, A Handbook of New England, mentions Frye’s Tavern and the Searles estate, with no reference to Tenney Gatehouse or Greycourt Castle.

Frye’s Tavern was probably at the northwest corner of East and Brook Streets.

Also, another Frye Tavern, “provender for man and beast,” was located in Lowell and owned by Ira Frye.

The origins of Tenney Gatehouse

Between August and November 1830, a stone house — later renovated and expanded as the Tenney Gatehouse — was built as a farmhouse by the Richard Whittier family, and it soon became a popular stagecoach stop.

In the 1840 census, Richard Whittier’s household was large, including 2 males ages 10 – 15, one between 20 and 30 years old, and one between 40 and 50.  Females included one between ages 5 and 10, two between 20 and 30, and one between 40 and 50.  (Richard has been noted as the brother of Ebenezer Whittier, part of an extensive family that is famous throughout the area.)

The Whittiers’ neighbors included Major Nathaniel Gorrell (or Gorrill) and his wife, Jane Armour Gorrell.  Two of their descendants, Mark S. Gorrill and Nathaniel W. Gorrill, became part of a later, ghost-related story. (See Tenney ghosts – Gorrill brothers.)

The Tenney Gatehouse purchase and development

In April 1882, Charles H. Tenney bought the Whittier’s house as a gatehouse and then added the adjoining acreage, then called Jones Hill.

Charles H. Tenney was the youngest son of Methuen grocer John Ferguson Tenney and his wife, Hannah Woodbury, who’d previously lived in Salem, New Hampshire.

Charles H. Tenney had started a manufacturing business in Methuen in 1869, and expanded it to a much larger hatmaking factory in 1872.  At its peak, the business employed about 150 people.

Starting in 1882, Charles H. Tenneys had the gatehouse remodeled and used it as a residence.

In 1883, Charles H. Tenney sold his interest in the Methuen hatmaking business to his brother and business partner, J. Milton Tenney.

(The hat business faltered, and — after selling the factory building to neighbor and friendly rival Edward F. Searles — the Tenney Hat Factory was torn down in 1906.  The site was used for the Selden Worsted Mill. Today, 225 Broadway has been restored as the Espaillat Mills building.  It’s probably worth investigating for ghosts.)

Also in 1883, Charles H. Tenney moved to New York and became a wholesale commission agent, representing most of the U.S. hatmaking business.  His new Methuen estate became the family’s summer home.

In 1884, a stock stable was added to the property, and an 1885 newspaper article describes a “tally-ho” drive to the front entrance.  That stable was remodeled in 1966 at 30 East Street.

In 1887, Tenney renamed his Methuen property Fair View Park, and in 1890, began building Greycourt (or Grey Court) Castle.  The project took three years, and no expense was spared in creating the spectacular estate home.

Later years

By around 1950, the Tenney family had stopped using Greycourt Castle as their home.  In 1951, the estate of Daniel G. Tenney donated 26 acres to Methuen for Tenney High School.  That school, at 75 Pleasant Street, is now Tenney Middle School.

The Tenney estate sold the remaining land, castle ruins and Tenney Gatehouse to the Basilican Salvatorian Order of the Melkite Rite.

For several years, monks lived in the gatehouse, and the Tenney’s former mansion was used as a drug rehabilitation center.  But, by the 1970s, the mansion needed repairs and it was further damaged by a series of fires starting around 1974.  A 1978 fire, set by an arsonist, left the castle in ruins.

In 1985, most of the Greycourt Castle ruins were removed as a safety hazard.  However, the foundation and some of the walls are still part of the site, which are open to the public.

The land owned by Charles H. Tenney, and several locations near it, offer a considerable (and sometimes confusing) history to suggest a wealth of reasons for hauntings.

Today, Tenney Gatehouse is the home of the Methuen Historical Society… and several ghosts.

Related investigations

Investigation – Tenney Gatehouse ghosts (October 2009)

Investigation – Ghosts at Greycourt Castle ruins (October 2009)

References

Ancestry.com

Early Methuen Histories

A Handbook of New England, by Porter Sargent

Historic Sites 225 Broadway – Brown

History of Lowell, by Charles Cowley (2nd revised edition, 1868)

Methuen 2007 Town Report

Methuen History Historical Photos (images not working)

Naming of Methuen

Tenney Family Association

Treasure of Tenney’s Grey Court Castle

Wikipedia: Paul Methuen, 1st Baron Methuen

*A second Meeting House Hill caused some confusion during my research.  It was located on Forest Street and had some similar buildings to the main Meeting House Hill.  Most notably, the Forest Street site had a cemetery that was vandalized and has since vanished.

In my opinion, this part of the site’s history has been badly overlooked.  The legends give ghost hunters some very good reasons to more thoroughly investigate the Greycourt Castle area.

So, we’re especially delighted to see Fiona quoted in the new, Halloween issue of Phyllis Hoffman’s “Celebrate” magazine.

Look for this great magazine — shown at right — at your grocery store or at any magazine outlet.

“Celebrate” is similar to Martha Stewart’s magazine, [...]]]> Do you love Halloween?  At Hollow Hill, we do!

So, we’re especially delighted to see Fiona quoted in the new, Halloween issue of Phyllis Hoffman’s “Celebrate” magazine.

Look for this great magazine — shown at right — at your grocery store or at any magazine outlet.

“Celebrate” is similar to Martha Stewart’s magazine, but with a wider range of activities… and far easier projects to make on your own.

The Halloween issue lists some of America’s best, haunted locations, including Salem (Massachusetts) on page 35.  There, you’ll see why Fiona recommends Salem for ghost hunting, and especially the Salem Inn (investigated during GhoStock 7) for a memorable night in a wonderfully haunted B&B.

The magazine also recommends some of Fiona’s other favorite haunts, including the Hotel Monteleone and Brennan’s superb restaurant, both in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Whether you’re staying at home for Halloween, hosting a party, or going out for ghostly adventures, we know you’ll enjoy this magazine.  Look for it at your grocery store or public library, or order it from the publisher, linked below.

Official “Celebrate” magazine website: Hoffman Media

On April 4th, I (Fiona Broome) investigated Tenney  Gate House with  John Zaffis, Tom Lynch, members of the Essex County Ghost Project,  Gavin Cromwell and other paranormal investigators.

We worked in teams, and at the end of the evening, we compared notes.  [...]]]> Tenney Gate House is a fascinating haunt.

On April 4th, I (Fiona Broome) investigated Tenney  Gate House with  John Zaffis, Tom Lynch, members of the Essex County Ghost Project,  Gavin Cromwell and other paranormal investigators.

We worked in teams, and at the end of the evening, we compared notes.  Many of our paranormal encounters matched in terms of locations, activity and psychic perceptions.

WHAT WE FOUND

On the top floor of Tenney Gate House, several of us felt a choking sensation or pain around the neck and throat.  We later learned that there’s a story about a death by hanging — probably a suicide — in the top floor’s turret area.

However, there were throat-related illnesses in the house as well.  So, the rumored suicide isn’t the only (or most reliable) explanation for what we experienced.

On the second floor, we detected energy around the former bedroom and in the room that adjoins it.  In addition, Gavin’s and John’s teams perceived energy in the large room that is used for meetings and receptions.  (My team didn’t investigate that room.)

On the first floor, all three teams reported energy around the parlour.  John’s and Gavin’s teams reported the name, Maude (or Maud).  I’d perceived a single woman who was unstable and thought of herself as “an old maid.”

Note: I’ve identified a servant, Maud Thompson, in George Tenney’s home.  George was Charles’ brother, and lived within a few blocks of Tenney Gate House.

Since the census was recorded at ten-year intervals, it’s possible that Maud also worked (and even lived) at Tenney Gate House.  At the very least, it’s likely that she worked there during parties.  Single at age 29 in 1910, she would think of herself as unmarriageable.

To me, this is a likely match, but I can’t be certain.  I have reason to believe that Maud may not be a ghost at Tenney Gate House.

We also felt uncomfortable with the large doll that rested on the sofa in the parlour.

In the basement, my team detected significant activity with dowsing rods, but — due to wiring, pipes, a refrigerator and a fuse box that can cause high EMF levels — we discounted our readings.

Psychically, one researcher identified energy in the corner of one room, and I confirmed that.  However, we didn’t focus on psychic energy due to the likely influence of EMF in the basement.

The other teams sensed a tragedy with a little boy on or near the stairs.

Up at the Grey Court site, some of us saw figures playing hide-and-seek (or something like it) among the trees.  We felt peace among the ruins of the home.  And, we detected troubling and violent energy in the nearby woods.

WHAT MY TEAM ENCOUNTERED

My team worked with dowsing rods and K II (EMF) meters as well as EVP recorders, and I shared some psychic observations.

In the former bedroom on the second floor — noted for odd light effects near a tall, narrow mirror — my team encountered several anomalies.

• We detected intermittent high EMF near the smoke detector, but a check of the detector itself showed no increased EMF, even when the light was flashing.
• Lesser intermittent EMF spikes — and consistent dowsing rod activity — occurred near the mirror.
• EMF (K II meter) activity seemed to halt completely when one investigator addressed the spirits.
• The K II meter surged when I asked if the spirits wanted us to turn off the lights.  This was tested repeatedly, turning the lights on and off.  Every time we turned the lights back on, the spirits indicated that they wanted them off instead.
• The meter also surged — wildly and repeatedly — when I asked if the spirits were alive and living in a parallel world, alongside ours.  That’s very intriguing.

CONCLUSIONS

Tenney Gate House and the Grey Court site seem to be active.  Generally, it’s residual energy providing very stylish insights into history.

There may be one or more active (grounded) spirits at the site.  They include a woman in the parlour area and energy around one former second floor bedroom.

This was a fascinating evening, made even better by wonderful researchers — skeptics and believers alike — attending the event.

The original Hollow Hill announcement:

April 4th – If you like spooky places and you’re interested in ghosts, join Fiona Broome at the Tenney Gate House (and the Grey Court Castle ruins) in Methuen (MA) on April 4th.

This investigation will be open to the public, and it’s likely to be an unforgettable evening.

This will be a full-scale investigation. If you’re attending… well, it won’t be for people who are easily frightened.

It’s okay if you’re a beginner. The event will include hands-on instruction (and tools such as EMF meters) so you can participate in the investigation.

The event is hosted by the Essex County Ghost Project.

The celebrity guests — including John Zaffis, Fiona Broome  and Gavin Cromwell — will also be talking about the paranormal world.

John Zaffis was involved in the events that inspired the March 2009 movie, “The Haunting in Connecticut.” He’ll explain what really happened during that frightening investigation… and it will probably raise goosebumps.

(We regularly refer demon cases to John; he’s among the best experts in that field.)

Related news stories

Big-name ghost hunters descend on Merrimack Valley (Eagle Tribune)

“Well-known paranormal investigator Fiona Broome will join the tour of Haverhill graveyards that date back centuries, as well as the walk of the Tenney property in Methuen.”

Here are a few of my notes:

Walnut Cemetery, Kenoza Street, Haverhill, MA

A large cemetery with some very harsh [...]]]> Last night, we had a wonderful time exploring three Haverhill (MA) cemeteries.  Thanks so much to the Essex County Ghost Project for organizing this event and inviting me to it!

Here are a few of my notes:

Walnut Cemetery, Kenoza Street, Haverhill, MA

A large cemetery with some very harsh energy, especially around the Victorian-era graves.   I was immediately drawn to the large, crypt-style embankment, where bodies were once stored during the winter, until the ground was soft enough  in the spring to dig their graves.

From there, one psychic was drawn to an area with a large tree… and an odd marker of cement and stone, left resting against the tree.   In that area, the psychic perceived the spirit of a woman in black, pointing towards the area where the flagpole is; she’s connected with something maritime, perhaps a sea captain.

Then, I was drawn to a hilly area with some of the oldest graves in the cemetery.  One investigator’s photo of a nearby tree was dramatic, and certainly one of the best of the evening.

A local historian and paranormal researcher accompanied us in this cemetery. He directed us to another set of graves, bearing the surname Ela.

Led by researcher (and tech pro) Tom Lynch, we attempted to record EVP, but felt that the male energy there was suppressing efforts by some spirits to communicate.  Two of us came up with the word “sin” in connection with this.   Several investigators — including me — saw the little angel figure move, and I felt that at least one child (perhaps disabled, who died young) is not with his or her mother, Effie Ela.

In general, that cemetery is a little large to visit after dark without a preliminary visit to see where the “hot spots” are.  Also, the energy is generally muted, or it was when we were there.

Pentucket Burial Ground, off Groveland St., Haverhill

A memorial to victims of a Native raid, and the grave of a Salem “Witch Trials” judge are among the high points of this chilling cemetery.

When we stood in a circle, holding hands, and asked Judge Saltonstall to make his presence known, the blast of icy air was astonishing.  One psychic felt certain that the judge won’t “cross over” because he’s sure that his destination will be Hell.  However, he was asking us to save Mary or help Mary… perhaps his wife or daughter.  (We didn’t think that Mary was still there.)

Nearby, a few graves set apart from the others — often indicating that they died “in sin” — would be worth investigating more, when we have more time and better light and weather.

Before leaving, one of the investigators helped us find the grave of Polly Winters.  I’ll write about that in another article, but it was a surprising gravestone to find.  Another psychic felt the presence of Polly Winters during a Haverhill investigation in 2008, and — even before we saw the grave — he was certain that she was in this cemetery.

Hilldale Cemetery, Hilldale Ave., Haverhill

This cemetery is a gem for research, with apparitions and very clear spectral energy.  (That may sound dramatic, but the site is definitely unusual.)

However, until the cemetery is cleaned up and some holes filled in, it’s not wise to go there… especially after dark when it is closed and patrolled.  (You will be arrested if you go there at night. We were there with permission.)

In a circle there, I felt the presence of a spirit saying, “Sheridan, James.”  I wasn’t sure if it was actually James Sheridan, saying his name as if reporting for duty.  An Essex County Ghost Project historian told me that someone named James Sheridan is buried in that cemetery.

(Note: I rarely perceive names, and certainly not given and surnames in combination.  So, this had to be very intense energy for me to discern the full name with such certainty.)

Also, researcher Chris G. and I both saw an odd, squat figure — too large to be an animal — that vanished, as well as an apparition of a man, crawling along the far edge of the hill.

I look forward to helping with clean-up days at that cemetery, so this great location can be enjoyed by the public, including ghost investigators.

What’s next? Because the darkness, the cold and the late hour presented some challenges for such a large group, I’d like to plan a “reunion” for people who attended this event.   Let’s meet during the daylight, probably towards dusk, and take a second look at what’s haunted (and just plan odd) in all three cemeteries.

(Since all attendees signed the liability waiver at the start of the evening, we should be able to contact you for an informal, follow-up tour in the coming weeks when the weather is warmer.  Watch for updates from the Essex County Ghost Project and Hollow Hill.)

Thanks again to the Essex County Ghost Project for inviting me to participate in this event!

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Related news stories

Big-name ghost hunters descend on Merrimack Valley (Eagle Tribune)

“Well-known paranormal investigator Fiona Broome will join the tour of Haverhill graveyards that date back centuries, as well as the walk of the Tenney property in Methuen.”

]]> http://hollowhill.com/follow-up-haverhill-cemeteries/feed 0 http://hollowhill.com/haunted-haverhill-massachusetts http://hollowhill.com/haunted-haverhill-massachusetts#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:36:53 +0000 Fiona Broome http://hollowhill.com/?p=806 Since my first Haverhill ghost investigation in 2008, people have asked me why Haverhill and vicinity are so haunted. There are many reasons. History may be part of it.

Why is Haverhill haunted?

Haverhill (pronounced “HAY-vuh-rill” or just “HAY-vrill”) has been the site of many significant events, including some gruesome history that is [...]]]> Since my first Haverhill ghost investigation in 2008, people have asked me why Haverhill and vicinity are so haunted. There are many reasons. History may be part of it.

Why is Haverhill haunted?

Haverhill (pronounced “HAY-vuh-rill” or just “HAY-vrill”) has been the site of many significant events, including some gruesome history that is documented at Golden Hill.

Haverhill, Massachusetts — a lovely town near the New Hampshire border — was known for intense Native American activity, and it was a gathering place for several Penacook Indian tribes.

In 1640, colonists settled in the area and named it Haverhill, after the English town and birthplace of their first minister, John Ward. According to the “Haverhill Deed of Township,” the land was formally purchased in 1642 from the Pentucket Indians. (That deed was signed on Mill Street, just a short walk from Golden Hill.)

The colonists paid three pounds and ten shillings for the entire town. The only signatures of the Natives were two “bow and arrow marks” on the deed. After that, Haverhill was generally peaceful, but some relations with the Natives were difficult.

One of the most horrific attacks occurred on March 15, 1697, when Indians burned six homes and killed or captured at least 39 people.

Many of the victims were buried in Pentucket Burial Ground on Water Street in Haverhill. (The Pentucket cemetery was established in 1668, and has many old and unmarked graves.)

Hannah Dustin

That was the same attack in which Hannah Dustin (or Duston) was captured, along with her newborn daughter, Martha, and Mary Neff, Hannah’s midwife. For 15 days, they were marched in freezing March weather.

After Hannah’s six-day-old baby was brutally killed by Abenaki Indians, Hannah Dustin and Mary Neff were joined by another captive, 14-year-old Samuel Lennardson. Hannah avenged her daughter’s murder by organizing a revolt one night. With a hatchet, Hannah killed and scalped nine of the 10 or 12 Indians they ambushed. Among Hannah’s Native captors, only one woman and a young man escaped the attack.

Hannah, Mary and Samuel seized a canoe and reached the nearest colonial settlement where they presented the scalps to the British authorities, for a reward of 50 pounds.

Hannah’s story has been the subject of controversy. Some describe her as a hero while others are less flattering. Nevertheless, a Haverhill statue commemorates her history, and — though the story is disputed — she may be buried in an unmarked grave in the Pentucket Burial Ground.

Around Haverhill, you may see artifacts from the Dustin-Duston Family Association.

Hannah’s connection to accused Salem witch Lydia Dustin (or Duston) is not clear. Lydia Dustin died on March 10, 1693 — four years before the Haverhill attack — after being acquitted of witchcraft.

An 80-year-old widow, Lydia Dustin was not allowed to leave the Salem prison because she could not afford the jail fees. The courts had impoverished her. Lydia’s husband, Josiah (1623 – 1671), had been one of the founders — and leading land owners — of Reading, Massachusetts.

A second bloody attack

On August 29th,1708, Haverhill was attacked again. This time, over 100 French and Indians raided the town in a guerrilla-style attack. At least 40 people were killed and others taken captive, and — according to some contemporary descriptions — the town of Haverhill was “destroyed.”

Many victims of that attack are also in unmarked graves “at the south end” of Pentucket Burial Ground.

A spiritual site

Golden Hill is an historical location with beautiful river views.

From the first colonial settlement at Golden Hill, the site has been recognized as a deeply spiritual site. John Ward, the minister who came to Haverhill in 1641, held church services there. (The 1710 house located at Golden Hill was named for him.)

There are also rumors that, before the colonists’ arrival, the site was considered sacred by the Native Americans.

Witch trials and Judge Nathaniel Saltonstall

One colonial home atop Golden Hill passed from Rev. John Ward to his daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband Major Nathaniel Saltonstall.

Nathaniel Saltonstall (1639 -1707) was a soldier and a 1659 graduate of Harvard University. He’s remembered as one of the judges during the 1692 witch trials in nearby Salem, Massachusetts. Records suggest that Major Saltonstall was “very much dissatisfied with the proceedings.” After the hanging of “witch” Bridget Bishop, Saltonstall resigned in protest, and was replaced by Judge Jonathan Corwin.

Nathaniel Saltonstall was later accused of witchcraft. His grave is also in the Pentucket cemetery.

1815 Duncan House and 1850 Daniel Hunkins Shoe Shop

Two other historical buildings at Golden Hill include the Duncan House, built in 1815 — the year James H. Duncan began his law practice in Haverhill — and the Daniel Hunkins Shoe Shop from 1850.

Bradford College

Haunted Bradford College is also in the city of Haverhill. For more about its ghosts, see our report at Hollow Hill: Bradford College, MA – summary of ghosts.

The college is no longer at that location.  It is now private property.

Summary

Haverhill is clearly a magnet for historically significant events. From its early Native American lore to its violent Colonial history to Bradford College’s Necronomicon connections and ghost sightings, Haverhill has an ample foundation for paranormal activity.

Ghost hunting becomes routine after years of research in eerie cemeteries. It takes a lot to startle us, but this tall, strange headstone did. And, every time we’ve visited it since then, we’ve felt that something isn’t right about that grave.

The skull is surrounded by a banner [...]]]>

Ghost hunting becomes routine after years of research in eerie cemeteries. It takes a lot to startle us, but this tall, strange headstone did. And, every time we’ve visited it since then, we’ve felt that something isn’t right about that grave.

The skull is surrounded by a banner that says, “All must submit to the King of Terrors.”

When I took this picture, I was stunned by the emotional impact of the energy around the stone.

But, when we studied the picture, we didn’t see any orbs, streaks of light, ecto, or other anomalies. So, I filed the picture among the hundreds that I plan to use for illustration.

Later, I was using this photo for some digital art. Suddenly when I enlarged the image, the skull’s eyes became obvious to me.

At the left, you can see the skull exactly as it was photographed. On the right, I’ve increased the contrast around the eyes, to make them more obvious.

I applied no art or linework to this image.

To the naked eye and in the cemetery, the eyes are not visible. Like many anomalies in haunted settings, these eyes are only visible in photographs.

How to take your own photo of these eyes:

From Route 128/95, take the Route 2 exit, driving west towards Lincoln.

When Route 2 turns sharply left, don’t follow it. Keep going straight into the middle of Concord.

At the rotary (Concord’s haunted Colonial Inn will be straight ahead of you), the cemetery is at your right. There is a private home on the east side of the cemetery, and a smaller, more empty grave area at the street level.

Hike up the hill, and the headstone will be towards the crest of the hill, and on the west side. The image faces the rotary.

Sometimes, the eyes are clearly visible. On other visits, we’ve left with nothing interesting in our photos. I’d guess that we’ve had about 30% success capturing pictures of the eyes that watch from within that skull.

This the the top portion of this large, eerie gravestone: