Hollow Hill

Ghosts of Salem, Massachusetts

Salem is haunted. Not just by the ghosts of the Salem Witch Trials, but by other troubled spirits as well.

I’ve investigated Salem many times, including when GhoStock 2009 was held there.

So, I’m familiar with its ghosts… the ones people talk about, as well as they ones they don’t.

From 2008 through 2010, I researched on-site, discovering a wealth of hidden ghost stories related to Salem and the city’s famous Witch Trials.

(Of course, it helps that I’m descended from two 17th-century Salem families. Perhaps I have additional resonance with the spirits of Salem?)

Three very narrow and straight ley lines connect 90% of the hauntings around Salem. They predict where strange things will happen, usually within a few yards.

These articles may be helpful when you’re ghost hunting in Salem:

Salem’s “Judges’ Line” locations – Energy lines (ley lines) that connect many of Salem’s most haunted sites.

Gallows Hill – Proctor’s Ledge may be the real “gallows hill” where the witches were hung and their bodies discarded. However, the namesake location is worth visiting (if only to say you’ve been there) and may offer some research opportunities.

Proctor’s Ledge – The most likely site where the men and women – falsely accused of witchcraft – were executed.

Witch Hill (aka Whipple Hill) – One of the most infamous locations connected with apparent “witch” activity in Salem Village. It’s also one of the loveliest and eeriest sites for ghost hunting.

GhoStock 7 Report: Salem Inn – A brief summary of my 2009 investigation at one of Salem’s most charmingly haunted inns.

Also, you may enjoy my friend Jordan’s book, 13 Haunted Places in Salem.

Jordan grew up near Salem, as I did, and has compiled a quick guide for visitors. (I was among the ghost hunters she consulted for insights.)

It’s a very short guide to many of Salem’s haunts, but handy to have with you when you’re visiting “Witch City” and want to know what’s haunted, why it’s haunted, and how to find each location.

Gallows Hill – Salem, MA

Gallows Hill is among Salem’s most famous site related to the witch trials of 1692. However, no one is certain of its historic location.

Between colonial Salem (MA) homes. Today, a site called Gallows Hill rises above a children’s playground and sports field. It’s surrounded by single-family homes in a quiet residential neighborhood.

But, is it that the hill where “witches” were actually hung? Evidence is scant and unreliable.

Most researchers use Sydney Perley’s 1933 map of Salem, showing Gallows Hill near Pope and Proctor Streets, near an inlet from North River.

Upham’s 1866 map of Salem Village offers similar information, and was probably among Perley’s resources.

We can learn a lot from the land formations of 1692, and compare them with areas that have — and haven’t — been filled since then.

In addition, Welsh researcher Gavin Cromwell* and I conducted paranormal research at Halloween 2008. Our discoveries suggest at least one additional spiritually-charged location near the current Gallows Hill site.

The land beneath the hill seemed generally normal. Perhaps the regular Witch gatherings — especially the huge one at Samhain (Halloween) — have cleared the negative energy.

However, I’ve sensed something troubling in the shrubs and wooded areas between the hilltop and the land below. That may be from more recent incidents.

Graves at Salem's Old Burying Ground (MA) Researchers may never document the exact location of the hangings, or where most of the so-called witches’ bodies were buried. That includes the body of Giles Corey,** remembered for one of the Salem curses.

However, additional research may reveal locations where unmarked graves and landmarks connect us with Salem in 1692.

Since my own ancestors were in Salem during the Witch Trials, I’m especially interested in finding more about that era and the spirits that linger.

…

*I’m confident that our experiences at Gallows Hill were genuine.

**Giles Corey’s first wife, Mary (1621 – 1684), is buried beneath a small stone at the Burying Point Cemetery, near the Witch Memorial. Her name appears as “Mary Corry” with a note that she was the wife of “Giles Corry.”

(Remember, spellings weren’t standardized until the 19th century. Many family names appear with various spellings on historic records and monuments.)

Ghosts of Austin, Texas – Photos and Where to Find More

If you’re ghost hunting in or near Austin, mine was the first regional book to describe – with specific details and addresses – ghosts that haunt Austin, Columbus, and nearby communities.

The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, by Fiona Broome.

Discover over 100 haunted locations in and near Austin, Texas. Explore the eerie links between downtown Austin’s ghosts, including the city’s connection with Jack the Ripper, and the creek that keeps on haunting.

Available at Amazon.com and other fine booksellers.

Photos from haunted Austin, Texas and vicinity

Here’s the photo from the book cover, in more detail:

This picture was taken in Columbus, Texas, not far from Austin. I was there around dawn, and the sun had barely cleared the horizon behind me.

This is not a flash photo, and it was a normal Texas morning in Columbus City Cemetery.
There was no dust, and that’s not an insect, either.
As you can see from the photo (or if you visited the cemetery), there are no reflective surfaces to cause a lens flare.

I lightened the picture slightly (but did not alter the contrast or anything else) so you can see the orb and cemetery features more clearly.

That’s an extraordinary photograph, and it’s one of many from that cemetery.

This next photo was taken the same morning, pointing in the opposite direction. This isn’t a flash photo, either, but it has no orbs.

Nevertheless, I think you can see why I like researching at Columbus, Texas. It’s downright eerie.

Of course, Columbus is one of many locations in my book, The Ghosts of Austin. The main focus is on Austin, and it offers a wealth of haunted sites.

My favorite haunted cemetery in Austin

Oakwood Cemetery is among my favorite public haunts in Texas. It’s a large cemetery near downtown Austin. If you’re ghost hunting in Austin, plan to spend several hours there.

It’s surrounded by a fence you can see through. So, even after dark, you may get some great ghost photos and other evidence. (However, the neighborhood is mostly residential. Please respect their privacy.)

At any cemetery — including Oakwood — I look for grave markers with messages like this one:

“And never suffer me to be separated from thee” is a lovely sentiment. It’s also the kind of inscription that can indicate tragedy or at least deep unhappiness. Both are red flags that can suggest a haunting.

The marker, above, is one of many at Oakwood featuring emotional inscriptions.

Here’s another grave to look for. It’s a very damaged crypt. Any time you see a grave like this, check it for EMF, cold spots, EVP, and photographic anomalies.

In the following photo, you’ll see a similar, damaged grave in that same cemetery. Where’s the body or the coffin? (I hope it was moved to a safe location, or reburied in the ground beneath the open crypt.)

No matter where the body is, when you see an open grave like this, it’s a place to investigate with care.

Even more ghosts of Austin at Oakwood Cemetery?

The next photo features an odd family plot, also at Oakwood Cemetery. I understand the convenience of a low-maintenance grave site. However, this cement-covered plot is so unusual, I look at and wonder, “Are they trying to be sure everyone stays in their coffins?”

In general, always look for unusual graves.

For example, these two shell-covered graves stand out at Oakwood Cemetery.

In the next photo: Many of the cemetery’s headstones are worth researching. Here’s one to look into, if you’re planning a trip to Oakwood.

When I was there, I noticed odd EMF spikes around this grave. That doesn’t mean it was haunted, but it’s unusual enough to investigate.

I’m pretty sure it says, “M. Julia, wife of M. R. Reagan, & daughter of M. F. Bailey. Died July 23, 1861. Aged 26 years.”

(Double-check the actual stone to be certain. The photo isn’t clear and I may be misreading it, especially her parent’s surname.)

So, you’d be looking for records of a woman born around 1835, who married Mr. Reagan around 1855 or so, and died in 1861.

I’d start with death records for that date, and also check the 1860 census. It looks like her husband died September 30, 1865, so that’s another lead you can pursue.

With the EMF spikes I saw around that exact grave, I’ll bet there’s a tragic story, and perhaps a ghost.

Official book description

The Ghosts of Austin, Texas was written by Fiona Broome, the founder of HollowHill.com, one of the Internet’s earliest, largest, and most respected ghost-related websites.

This book shares locations and stories of over 100 ghosts and haunted places in Austin, as well as those within a few hours’ drive of Austin. Photos in the book include haunted sites in Austin, Columbus, and San Antonio, Texas.

Ms. Broome was one of the first to report hauntings related to Jack the Ripper’s early years in Texas. (Since Fiona’s book was published in 2007, many “ghost tours” have included those sites in their routes.)

Fiona also identifies paranormal patterns that link many of Austin’s most famous haunted places. With this information, you may find even more haunted sites in and near Austin. Fiona gives you the tools to make your own discoveries.

Originally from New England, Fiona spent four fascinating years in the great state of Texas, researching ghosts and haunted places from Austin to Galveston.

Fiona specializes in unreported and under-reported haunted places that are open to the public. She approaches ghost hunting from an historical viewpoint, verifying and documenting ghosts’ actual histories whenever possible.

This book doesn’t repeat the same old “ghost stories.” It’s a fascinating study of over 130 ghosts and haunted places in and near Austin, Texas.

Many of them were unknown, prior to Ms. Broome’s 2002 – 2007 research.

The sites include:

The Driskill Hotel
Shoal Creek… and its curse
The Texas Governor’s Mansion
Austin’s former “red light” district
And over a hundred more, eerie, haunted locations in Austin, San Antonio, and nearby cities and towns.

This book includes true tales of ghostly encounters, street addresses of the haunted sites, helpful tips for ghost hunters, and eerie insights from “the other side.”

“…Spell-binding stories backed up with historical data and loads of photographs… recommended reading.” — Margaret Byl, Paranormal Investigator and writer

BUY THE BOOK

The Ghosts of Austin, Texas: Who the Ghosts Are and Where to Find Them, by Fiona Broome

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Published: 15 June 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764326805
ISBN-13: 978-0764326806
Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pound
Available from Amazon.com

Gilson Road Cemetery, Nashua, NH – Driving Directions and Legends

Gilson Road Cemetery is one of America’s most haunted cemeteries.

Once an isolated and rural location, it features apparitions, cold spots, compass and EMF anomalies, EVP, and visual anomalies that show up in photos and videos.

In other words, it’s like a theme park for ghost hunters.

Except that these are real ghosts.

Driving directions to Gilson Road Cemetery

Blue flowers at Gilson Road Cemetery, Nashua, NH Gilson Road Cemetery is on Gilson Road, on the west side of Nashua, NH (USA).

From the south (Massachusetts), take Rte 3 (Daniel Webster Highway) to Exit 1 in NH (Spit Brook Road).

Turn left at the end of the exit ramp. Follow that road – despite how it weaves and how often the name changes – until you reach the T-style intersection at the end of it.

Then, turn right and look for the four corners intersection (convenience store and other retail) at Gilson Road.

Turn left onto Gilson Road and look for the gate and stone wall on the right, shielding the cemetery from view.

A brief history of Gilson Road Cemetery

Ghost orb at Gilson Road Cemetery, Nashua, NH Gilson Road Cemetery probably started as a family cemetery in colonial times.

According to legend, the stone wall enclosed a farmhouse.

Then, the house burned and some of the fire victims were buried in a small plot near the charred remains of the house.

Another house was built on the site, but it burned to the ground, as well.

Like the previous fire, its victims were buried close to the home.

After that, people gave up on the location and turned it into a rural cemetery.

Early records suggest that the Gilson Road area was the site of at least two large Native American battles. Nations from the north (Penobscots, among others) and from the south (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and beyond) met near Gilson Road and engaged in bloody warfare.

This was before many contemporary records existed, so those stories are largely from oral tradition. Details aren’t clear.

The Betty Gilson Legend

Gilson Road is also famous for a local, urban legend. According to stories, if you walk farther up the road (heading slightly northwest) just a short distance, and shout, “Betty Gilson, I have your baby,” she will appear.

She’s described as appearing around age 30, in Colonial clothing, and some say she’s in the middle of the road. (A couple of people talked about the danger of seeing her, and steering the car to avoid hitting what they thought was a real person.)

More people report her hiding behind a tree, occasionally peering out to see who’s calling her name. The first thing they see is her white “mob cap” (hat), and sometimes part of her face, as well as a hand grasping the tree.

The most complete, expert guide to haunted cemeteries. — Click here for this book

— While this site is being updated, the following articles may not be available —

More information about Gilson Road Cemetery

Click here for a brief selection of photos from haunted Gilson Road Cemetery.

OR, visit Gilson Road Cemetery – Investigations for information from many of my past Gilson Road investigations.

humorous ghost divider

Salem’s Haunted ‘Judges’ Line’ – Map

The Judges’ Line of Salem, Massachusetts

Every time I study profoundly haunted communities, patterns seem to emerge.

Patterns of tragedy. Patterns of injustice. And a pattern of reported hauntings.

In my 2007 book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, I talked about two major patterns connecting almost all hauntings in downtown Austin.

In Salem, Massachusetts, I’ve found an almost chilling pattern. It connects many prominent figures – victims and ruthless accusers – as well as events of the Salem Witch Trials.

Haunted ley lines and Salem’s ghosts

I’m not sure how other researchers overlooked these eerie connections that leave ghostly tracks across Salem and Boston’s North Shore.

However, paranormal patterns are among my specialties, and Salem’s landscape confirms these connections.

I’m calling one of these lines “The Judges’ Line.” It seems to be a ley line.

Ley lines are lines or paths that connect sites with unusual energy. They could be major churches or temples, sites of violence and tragedy, or have some other unusual – but clear and distinct – connection.

Some speculate that energy flows along those paths, and the energy was there even before the church was built or the violence occurred.

According to some theories, that energy may magnify the emotions or affect the thinking of people when they are on or near a ley line.

When I studied Salem’s history and it’s ghost stories, I saw a pattern.

It connects significant homes and businesses related to the judicial side of the Salem Witch Trials.

Even stranger, that same line also indicates where modern-day Salem judges have purchased homes.

The line extends directly to Gallows Hill Park, the most likely site of the 1692 hangings during the Salem Witch Trials.

Here’s a bird’s eye view of that line, related to the entire Salem, Massachusetts area:

In most cases, this line is ruler-straight, and it’s feet wide, not miles.

Here’s my preliminary, hand drawn map of the main locations.

You can use this – and a full-sized map of Salem – to find the spots I’ve indicated, and where the line extends.

Sites along Salem’s haunted ley line

(Numbers represent sites related to accusers. Letters are related to victims of the trials.)

1. Chestnut Street (represented by a straight, heavy black line) – Many modern-day judges and elected officials choose this street for their homes.

2. Judge Corwin’s home, also known as “Witch House” since he condemned so many witches during the Salem Witch Trials. The house’s original location was closer to the line. Later residents moved it.

3. Judge Hathorne’s home, also associated with the Salem Witch Trials. (Nathaniel Hawthorne changed the spelling of his own name to avoid any association with this ancestor.)

4. Sheriff George Corwin’s home – George Corwin was the son of Judge Corwin (#2) and benefited by seizing the property of convicted and admitted witches.

5. The home of Samuel Shattuck, whose testimony helped convict Bridget Bishop, one of the first Witch Trial victims.

6. The home of Massachusetts Bay Colony’s Governor Simon Bradstreet (1603 – 1697).

7. John Higginson Jr. lived here. He was the local magistrate. The Hawthorne Hotel was later built on this property.

8. Jacob Manning, a blacksmith, forged the shackles worn by many Witch Trial victims.

9. Thomas Beadle’s tavern, where Witch Trial inquests were held.

A. The home of Bridget Bishop, a Witch Trial victim who may be among the ghosts at the Lyceum Restaurant, now on that site.

B. Ann Pudeator, a Witch Trial victim whose specter was seen walking along Salem Common, even before her execution.

C. The home of John and Mary English, one of the wealthiest families in Colonial Salem. They were accused but escaped to New York.

D. Alice Parker’s home, owned by John and Mary English. Ms. Parker was accused of witchcraft and put to death.

The slightly triangular area near 7 and B represents Salem Common.

Gallows Hill Park is indicated on the far left side of the map. The “Judges Line” — generally indicated in yellow — points directly to it.

Points 6, 7 and 8 also represent sites with paranormal activity, or they are scenes of violence in the 19th and 20th century, or both.

As I continued my research, I found more, similar sites in Salem.

Most of them were along the Judges Line.

That’s a little chilling, and I wonder why these people felt so drawn to this particular energy path.

I rarely use the word “destiny,” but it still comes to mind as I look at the Judges’ Line and how it represents so much tragedy.

If you’re in Salem on Halloween night, try a stroll along that line. Over 300 years later, ghostly energy along the Judges’ Line may be more intense than you’d expected.

Brown Springs, OK – Too Scared

If you can see this Brown Springs video by “Panic Attack Videos,” watch it. It’s interesting and credible.

[Update: Video made private by “Panic Attack Videos” on YouTube – link was http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DttYnOd1RPw However, the video was so compelling, I’m leaving the link here in case you want to try to access it.]

This video looked like the real thing to me. There is no reason for grown men to act that frightened… unless they were. And, if you check some of their other videos from that site, I think you’ll be impressed with the location.

This was a very short video and — because it’s so brief and the guys panicked — it’s not terribly scary. However, it’s exactly what happens in a genuinely haunted sites… even if you’re a guy who’ll get out of a car to confront unknown people pursuing you. (That refers to part of the video featured in my Hollow Hill article. It’s an amazingly risky thing to do.)

Basically, the guys arrive at Brown Springs — in Love County, by Thackerville, Oklahoma — and stay just a few minutes. Then, a sense of evil and danger overtakes them and they decide to leave, quickly.

Strong language made this video not safe for office viewing, and the authenticity — suggesting something truly frightening — made this video unsuitable for family viewing, too.

Originality

Credibility