The Ghosts of Vermont

The Spirit of Margaret Spencer

The Old Stagecoach Inn at 19 N. Main St. in Waterbury, Vermont was built as a private residence by a millionaire in 1826. It has become one of Waterbury’s most well-known historic inns. The Old Stagecoach Inn has 3 floors. The downstairs parlor and other rooms are decorated with antique furnishings. Guest rooms are located on the third and second floors there are a total of eight rooms and three modern suites.

The inn was a private residence from the 1920s to the 1940s belonging to a wealthy socialite named Margaret Spencer. Margaret died at the age of 98 in her bedroom which is now room 2. Afterward, it appeared that Margaret had chosen to stay in her beloved home and she appears to guests staying in this room wearing a white shawl around her shoulders. She appears content to be sharing her room with the living. Some guests are not too sure about sharing quarters with someone either seen or unseen.

Strange Happenings at Bowman Mansion

Located in south-central Vermont is a large estate called Bowman Mansion which also includes a family mausoleum and Laurel Glen Cemetery. It was originally built by a wealthy tanning magnate John P. Bowman who thinking about the future left a substantial endowment in his will for the upkeep and maintenance of Bowman Mansion. It is now a museum where people can step back into the 1800s when touring this site.

When tragedy hit the Bowman family in 1800 and his wife and children died in an unknown manner he built the Laurel Glenn Mausoleum across the road from the mansion. On the steps of the mausoleum, he built a life-size statue of himself with flowers in hand walking up the steps in grief. A kneeling likeness of himself can also be seen outside the door holding a wreath and a key.

People who come to tour the mansion have seen a woman going about her business in the house. Visitors who climb the stairs stand on a dark stain found at the top of the stairs and feel a feeling of dread. People coming to the mansion must be on their very best behavior. When a child stuck her tongue out at a picture it fell off the wall and hit her. No one is allowed in the mansion at night so that the ghosts may have some time of their own without having to watch over the living.

The Haunted Bridge

Vermont also has its own haunted covered bridge. This bridge was built in 1844 by John W. Smith in Stowe, Vermont. The bridge was formerly called the Gold Brook Bridge or the Stowe Hollow Bridge however local residents call it by the name of the ghost that haunts it Emily’s Bridge. The tragedy is known to have happened around 1849 although no recorded proof can actually be found that Emily existed. The story is as follows the young couple decided to elope because Emily’s parents didn’t approve of her young man. They decided to meet at night on this bridge. The young man never came and Emily hung herself from the rafters. Ever since then her angry ghost haunts the bridge waiting for her lover to return.

Restaurant Ghosts

In Burlington, Vermont is a restaurant called American Flatbread (formerly Carburs Restaurant). Tragically a man who once worked there killed himself by putting a bullet into his head in the basement of the restaurant. The bullet hole from this incident can still be seen in the wall. The basement houses the kitchen and tapped kegs under the bar. Waitresses have felt cold drafts lifting up their skirts and they have had doors slam shut trapping them in the basement walk-in. They were told not to go down to the basement. An interesting fact is that this basement is also connected to other old buildings in downtown Burlington by various tunnels. When no one has been about people have heard talking throughout the restaurant. Glasses have been broken, plates have flown off of the counters, and oven temperatures have increased. A female bartender recounted that she had put away clean glasses and then turned away for a moment when suddenly turning back toward the bar saw that a pyramid of water glasses had appeared on the bar.