Maine Ghosts and Legends (Paperback)

~ Thomas Verde (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Freelance writer and reporter Tom Verde became interested in Maine ghosts and legends when he was researching a series for public radio programs. He discovered that Maine has a rich history of supernatural phenomena. He writes: "I have accepted the testimonies of the people in this book as truth. You will have to judge for yourself."

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Down East Books (January 25, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892722738
• ISBN-13: 978-0892722730
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #476,614 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Are you scared yet?, December 28, 2000

By	"wylde_brew" (Maine) - See all my reviews

Well if you are, don't be. It's really not that kind of book. Although, there are some spots that might make your imagination get a little over excited given the right atmosphere. Never the less this book is built on a good foundation of story telling, and locations. Here's a little note: just in case you were looking for a book to tell you the exact directions to the haunts in it. You won't really find that here, but if you read a little bit into the locations given along with some of the facts around the stories. You can find most of the places on your own. Back to the review. There are a lot of good stories in this book. They were well written, and re-searched. If your looking for a fairly through guide to the supernatural happenings in Maine. This book would be a good place to start. I found it to be a great aid to me while I was searching for local legends. The book is an easy read, but a good one. I hope you enjoy it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXPLORE THE GHOSTS OF MAINE!, May 26, 2005

By	Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The New England's tradition of hauntings dates back to the earliest settlers of America and in his book "Maine Ghosts & Legends", author Thomas Verde concentrates specifically on Maine's ghostly traditions with 26 chilling tales. The book is sectioned into four parts: Ghost Legends, Haunted Houses, Haunted Places & Objects, and Haunted Inns and Taverns.

In Ghost Legends, we'll find out that Maine has their own version of the Flying Dutchman. During the War of 1812, a ship called "Dash" was commissioned to detain & seize vessels and goods under powers of war. Its larger mast gave it more sail and thus extremely fast. The Dash performed its duties very well but in 1815 it disappeared in a storm. Months later Maine fisherman began seeing the phantom ship, always when it was foggy out, sail swiftly by, even when there was little or no wind. These sightings continued right through WWII when both naval and coast guard ships quickly armed themselves after a blip appeared on their radar screens, but then the bewildered sailors caught sight of the phantom ship...

Maine's Jewell Island is filled with legends of pirates, buried treasure and ghosts. The ghost of a man, allegedly murdered by his partner while they sought the buried treasure of Captain Kidd, is said to haunt the island. Witnesses are said to have seen strange lights and heard shrieks and screams. In the 1960's several unmarked gravestones were found on the island. Some believe that these were victims of female pirate Ann Bonney who were killed to keep the location of her treasure a secret.

In Norway, Maine, a young couple with a baby moved into a 200 year old home and began experiencing strange phenomena in the baby's room, such as the baby somehow getting out of his crib and sitting on the floor, windows closing, etc. A psychic revealed that a three year old boy had died in that room and was now protecting the baby by closing the window what it was cold or rainy and helping the baby from the crib so he didn't fall.

A Victorian home in Cape Elizabeth is said to be haunted by the resident's great-grandfather who built the home. One resident, Ellen, was terrified when she encountered the wraith as it seemed to scream at her but no sound was made. Other residents reported sensations of being choked while they slept.

Besides the tales you'll read about Ghostly nuns and priests that linger at a home in Portland; the theater in Skohegan, haunted by a rather violent spirit; and a haunted tavern in Freeport where the ghost of an Indian haunts the spot where he was murdered by a man seeking revenge for his family's massacre at the hands of Indians many years earlier.

Maine certainly can boast a tradition of hauntings as strong as any New England state and Thomas Verde relates these tales in very conversational way, not dry like so many similar books. My only wish is that they had put in exact locations to some of the spots, at least the commercial spots where ghost-hunters could visit if they take a trip to Maine. That aside, this is a fascinating book.

Reviewed by Tim Janson