Quote from Angela on July 2, 2021, 11:54 am

In 1606 King James I of England granted charters for establishing permanent settlers within the United States. The thirteen colonies were founded on the Atlantic Coast of North America during the 17th and 18th centuries.

July 4th 1776, Second Continental Congress unanimously declared independence for the thirteen colonies, separating them from the Great British Empire, founding their own nationhood and together forming The United States of America.

In 1665 the initial combined colony population was 1,980, by 1775 this had significantly increased to 2,400,000. The thirteen colonies were completed in 1732 with the establishment of the Province of Georgia. 

With celebrations peering the horizon we are excited to honourably commemorate 4th July by sharing a spooky tale from each of the thirteen colonies!

So get the family together, party poppers at the ready and enjoy our celebratory list. 

1 .  NEW JERSEY

There is an old oak tree in New Jersey known as the Devils Tree, located along Mountain Road in Basking Ridge. This tree has played host to hundreds of hangings from colonial era slaves to a farmer who killed his very own family and ended his own life by hanging himself from the tree.

It is said that to this day the tree bark still feels warm to the touch and snow will even melt around it. Many speculate that the tree acts as a portal to hell itself.

2 .  MASSACHUSETTS

The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum in Fall River was once literally bathed in blood. Home to Andrew Borden, his wife Abbie and daughters Emma and Lizzie. In 1892 Abbie Borden was killed by a fatal facial axe injury whilst cleaning the guest rooms. Lizzie was believed responsible but denied any involvement. Andrew was murdered next whilst he slept he was violently attacked sustaining over twenty axe wounds. In 1996 the property began to operate as a Bed & Breakfast.

Andrew and Abbies ghosts have been seen here hundreds of times, they seem unaware of the living but will reach out and physically touch guests with icy cold fingers. The sounds of screaming and the metal scrapings of an axe hacking are often heard so vividly here that many actually believe a real murder to be taking place in real time.

3 . SOUTH CAROLINA

Boon Hall Plantation and Gardens is one of Americas oldest plantation homes first established in 1800 by Major John Boon. The original farmhouse was replaced with a brick style mansion but is said to actively haunted by slave spirits.  Ghost children, a little boy and girl, have been seen playing by the chimney area and hundreds of visitors describe witness seeing apparitions of fully uniformed soldiers nearby.

4 . CONNECTICUT

The Palace Majestic Theatre in Bridgeport was built in 1922. Native American artefacts were discovered here and infamous gangster crime boss Dutch Schultz murdered two of his victims here. Schultz was a bootlegger during the prohibition era and is believed to actively haunt the theatre today.

Many have come face to face with Schultz who is known to fully manifest on the second floor whilst others report hearing unexplained sinister phantom voices and residual gunfire coming from the property at night.

5 . DELAWARE

Lums Pond State Park opened in 1963. Lums Pond at is the largest fresh water pond in Delaware. A woman was allegedly raped and murdered at this lake and she is believed to actively haunt the park today.

Many hear her piercing screams, accompanied by mysterious light orbs and even hear panicked splashing sounds amidst the waters. Staff have seen her fully manifest, wearing a long water soaked white dress tinged with blood stains, looking lost and as if calling out for help.

6 . NORTH CAROLINA

Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is a historic civil war battlefield which helped establish Johnston County. In 1850 the Harper family settled here and opened their home as a civil war hospital.

Today it is a visitor centre and museum and is haunted by civil war ghosts. The sounds of battle, gunfire, even the aroma of gunpowder are all phenomena experienced here. Strange floating mists, which seem to have intelligent directional cognition, have been seen here much to the astonishment of onlookers.

7 . GEORGIA

The Tybee Island Lighthouse on Tybee Island was originally built in 1736. This lighthouse was destroyed in the war but reconstructed in 1866. The lighthouse is believed haunted by a five year old little girl who has been seen running down the stairs stopping to urgently warns guests 'don't go any further!'. She then sits quietly and plays with a doll. Also seen is the apparition of a previous lighthouse keeper who roams the site, whistling as he walks.

8 . VIRGINIA 

The Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon was built for General Francis Preston and his family in 1832. This inn has served as a college, a confederate troop training facility and a hospital. Hundreds of guests have reported the spirit of lady who stands on the upper floors staring into the distance from a balcony. Others report disembodied footsteps and ghostly soldiers voices shouting out long lost battlefield commands.

9 . NEW YORK

Washington Square Park is a popular public park located in the Greenwich neighbourhood of Manhattan. The park is prolific for its paranormal activity. Originally purchased and used as a potters field and later as a military training ground. In 1889 to park was used to honour the centennial inauguration of George Washingtons Presidency by way of installation of a large memorial marble archway. 

Many may unknowingly be walking over the twenty thousands bodies who succumbed to yellow fever, their corpses buried underground here. Some of those laid to rest here have actually been unearthed during renovation works.

Tourists describe seeing apparitions of shadowy figures hanging from the trees surrounding the park, their arms and legs kicking violently. It just so happens the original hanging gallows were located a stones throw away just beyond where the fountain is today.

A continual hotspot for paranormal enthusiasts due to its extreme cold spots, high EMF levels and disturbing EVPs. But perhaps the most unsettling phenomena seen here are the dark shadow figures who peer out from behind the trees, watching the living from a distance.

10 . MARYLAND

The USS Torsk in Baltimore was launched in 1944 and has a dark sinister history. This war submarine was active during World War II and was nicknamed 'the Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast'.

Tragically a naval officer missed an emergency call out to 'get below deck' and was pulled beneath the waters where he drowned. Many have encountered mysterious phenomena on deck today including objects visible moving unattended, and visitors have claimed they have even stopped and spoken to this officer who climbs up from a side ladder and on board.

Staff report hearing creepy splashing sounds in the water at night which may suggest a residual haunting. This amazing historical submarine is open to the public today at the Baltimore Maritime Museum.

11 . RHODE ISLAND 

Rhode Island is known to be home to some truly ancient tales. Providence City Hall was built in 1878 and is cloaked in local haunted legend. Believed to be haunted by former mayor Thomas Doyle whose funeral wake took place here.

There have been hundreds of supernatural claims here including chairs moving speedily across rooms, the aroma of cigar smoke, the major was an avid cigar smoker. Also upon entering the building you may feel a ghostly icy hand grasp yours, as if welcoming you officially into the room, just as a mayor would.

12 . NEW HAMPSHIRE

The magnitude of haunted stories coming from New Hampshire is astounding. The Eagle Mountain House Hotel in Jackson was established in 1849. Famous due to its ghostly apparitions of 'the lady in the red dress' and the ghost of a little boy who will actively walk right up behind you and whisper in your ears. It comes as no surprise that this location is a continual favourite with paranormal investigators.

13 . PENNSYLVANIA

Hersheypark is a 120 acre award winning family theme park, founded by Milton S Hershey, the famous chocolatier entrepreneur. Boardwalks, rollercoaster, rides, shops and zoos. But there may be more than just fun on the agenda here. A looming shadowy figure is reported most days from this location, also sounds of a woman crying in the bathroom areas. 

In 1977 a repairman was killed whilst working on the rollercoaster tracks. Visitors will often report sighting a ghostly man working on the tracks today which is clearly the manifestation of the repairman in spirit.  

Wishing you all a happy 4th from across the pond! And don't forget to party like its 1776.

Please let us which spooky colony tale was your favourite in our comment section below.

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