The Curse of Charles Island - Milford, Connecticut

Off the coast of Connecticut, there lies Charles Island which is the stuff that fairytales are made of. Native American curses, haunted by spirits, pirates, buried treasure, a pathway that only appears by day so you can walk to the island, but disappears at night, and not to leave out... ghosts!  Except it is not a fairytale, it is all very real.  

Charles Island off the coast of Connecticut has a history of curses, buried pirate treasure, and ghosts.  Photo: the Wikipedia Commons

The island was acquired by the English in 1639 when they overran the Wepaowag Natives who inhabited the island.  Believing the island to be inhabited by spirits, the Wepoawag Chief cursed the English to be haunted by these entities so that they would not be able to inhabit the island, forever.  To this day, that curse holds true even after many attempts to settle it.

Charles Deal, the island's namesake, bought the island in 1657.  It was previously known as Milford Island.  Charles attempted to start a tobacco plantation on the small patch of land and it failed completely.  He ended up abandoning the island a short while later.  Around the year 1699, famed pirate Captain William Kidd sailed through Long Island Sound on his way to Boston.  It was rumored that he stopped at various islands along the way burying some of his treasure for safe keeping.  It is known that he stopped at Milford and some believe that Charles Island was one of his hiding places as Kidd knew of the curse of the island.  He was later arrested in Boston, never to return to claim his treasure.

It is thought that in 1721, a band of sailors had found Mexican ruler Guatmozin's hidden treasure.  Seeking a place to hide it, many believe they concealed the treasure somewhere on Charles Island.  That treasure too was lost as the sailors never returned for it.

1835, an attempt was made to establish a residence on the island by John Harris.  He died soon after and several people lived on the island in his home after that.  However, their stay was always short and they always found some reason to leave.

In 1850, it is believed that fortune hunters seeking William Kidd's lost treasure actually found something.  However, they claimed that as they were leaving the island, a skeleton like burning specter chased them off the island.

In 1852, the island was acquired by Elizur Pritchard who turned the old Harris home into a summer resort which was eventually known as the Ansantawae House. However, that only lasted for about fifteen years.  For a short while the island was purchased and used as a manufacturing facility for fertilizer made from fish. That too failed and the island sat vacant once again.

Charles Island near the Silver Sands State Park in Connecticut has a unique feature than other islands. At low tide, you can walk to it.  It has been known to trap many visitors who have to spend the night on the haunted and cursed island.  Photo: the Wikipedia Commons

Around 1930 a group of monks founded the Aquinas Retreat, building a complex of buildings, pathways and shrines throughout the island.  Then towards the end of the decade, the retreat was abandoned.  There definitely seems to be something strange at work here on this island preventing people from inhabiting it. 

Many visitors to the island have reported seeing and hearing strange things while there. Others have visited the island never to return.  If you walk to the island by day over the sand bar land bridge, you just may be trapped there overnight when the high tides comes in.  They say the current over the land bridge at high tide is wicked as well as the currents and surf surrounding the island.  Many lives have been claimed by the island's waters, some bodies never to be found again. 
 
Today, the island is just off shore from Silver Sands State Park. The only thing that remains of human habitation on the island today are the ruins of the old buildings. There are those who have claimed to hear the sounds of people and moans emanating from the trees and abandoned buildings on Charles Island.  Some have seen eerie lights moving about the island, even in the daylight.  And then there are those who claim they have outright seen human apparitions.  Most say these spirits were dressed in centuries old clothing.  Perhaps the ghosts of those the island has claimed have joined the ancient spirits in upholding the Curse of Charles Island.


Location:

Latitude 41.192043  Longitude -73.056486

Silver Sands State Park
41.198416 -73.066190

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Forlorn Bride of The Lighthouse Inn - New London, Connecticut

In 1902, steel tycoon Charles Guthrie built a summer home in New London, Connecticut which is halfway between Boston and New York City.  Guthrie hired landscaper Fredrick Olmstead who was the man who laid out the plans for Central Park in New York City, to give the mansion the fabulous gardens that it has today.  The beautiful mansion overlooks Long Island Sound.  However, it would not be a private residence for long and a horrible accident would mark the building forever.

The Lighthouse Inn - New London, Connecticut is haunted by the spirit of a bride

The mansion was sold and converted into a resort in 1927.  Since it was located next to the New London Harbor lighthouse, it took on the name The Lighthouse Inn and has been host to many famous guests including movies stars and politicians. It was a favorite place for Joan Crawford to stay for a getaway.  The inn has also become a favorite place for couples to have weddings.  A common practice during the wedding ceremonies has been for the bride to ascend the grand staircase.  However, tragedy would strike during one particular ceremony when a bride was ascending the stairs and stumbled, tumbling to the bottom of the stairs and breaking her neck, killing her instantly.

Over the years, the ghostly bride who lost her life has been seen ascending the stairs just as she did that fateful day, longing for the wedding that she never got to have.  Her apparition would fade away as it neared the bottom of the staircase.

The forlorn bride is not the only specter that has been seen on the grounds of The Lighthouse Inn.  Another apparition has been seen wandering the hallways and grounds of the mansion.  The spirit of a young child is also thought to haunt the inn.  Sounds of a child laughing, giggling, and running footsteps have been heard in the mansion when there has been no children around.  There has been poltergeist activity reported such as objects moving on their own and doors closed by unseen hands.  This is fairly common when an area is haunted by a child.

The New London Harbor Lighthouse located not far from The Lighthouse Inn which is haunted by several ghosts

The Lighthouse Inn is located at 6 Guthrie Place, New London, Connecticut.  As of the writing of this article, it is not open for business and is awaiting a new buyer.

Black Dog of Meriden Mountain - Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut

In the Hanging Hills near Meriden, Connecticut, a legend goes back 100 or more years regarding a black dog, not a normal everyday dog, but on of a supernatural sort.  Many who have been hiking on Meriden Mountain have had encounters with what appears to be a black dog that seems to leave no tracks, makes not one sound even when it appears to be barking, and it seems to disappear into thin air.

According to legend, if you spot the dog once, it brings you good luck.  If you encounter the dog a second time, it will bring you sorrow.  However, if you see the dog for a third time, it is an omen of death.

Geologist W.H.C. Pynchon was working in the Hanging Hills and encountered the black dog and it followed him around while he was traveling the mountain on horseback.  As he was coming back down the mountain, he approached the spot where first encountering the animal and as he turned to look, the dog was gone.

Later in 1891, Pynchon and Herbert Marshall of the United States Geological Survey were working on research on what is known as the West Peak of Meriden Mountain when they encountered the spectral beast.  According to Pynchon, the dog appeared to be relatively normal looking.  The dog then suddenly disappeared.  Pynchon recalled to Marshall how he saw the dog in that same area once, before.  He also noted that Marshall had told him he had seen the dog on two separate occasions himself while doing research in the area.  Shortly afterwards while the two were studying rocks near a cliff, Marshall slipped and fell to his death onto the rocks below.

The Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut.  Shown here is the East Peak

A few years afterwards, Pynchon again went into the Hanging Hills to do research.  Days later his body was discovered near the same spot where his friend Marshall had fallen to his death.  The locals speculated that he once again, encountered the Black Dog of Meriden Mountain.

"And if a man shall meet the Black Dog once, it shall be for joy; and if twice, it shall be for sorrow; and the third time, he shall die." - W.H.C. Pynchon, not long before being found dead on the West Peak of Meridan Mountain.

Over the years many people have met their end on the West Peak in Hubbard Park.  Although, the dog has been spotted in various parts of the mountain including Castle Craig located on what is known as the East Peak.  It is believed that 6 deaths are attributed to the Black Dog of Meriden Mountain.  So if you are hiking on Metacomet Trail which passes through the park or on the mountain itself, beware of the Black Dog.

Castle Craig which sits on Meriden Mountain in the Hanging Hills located near Meriden, Connecticut

Castle Craig which sits on Meriden Mountain in the Hanging Hills.   Meriden, Connecticut can be seen in the distance.

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The Green Lady of Burlington, Connecticut

The Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery is commonly referred to as the Burlington Cemetery and more recently nicknamed "The Green Lady Cemetery" because of it's history.  After to moving to Connecticut from Rhode Island, a church was built by the Sabbatarians and they began burying people there since 1780.  However, it did not become the official cemetery until 1796.  Today there is not much left of the cemetery due to vandalism.  Many tombstones have been destroyed and others out right taken.

Entrance to Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery in Burlington, Connecticut

In April 1800 Benjamin Palmiter a nearby resident, went into town to get some supplies when a severe snow storm hit the area unexpectedly.  When he did not return when expected, his wife Elisabeth went out into the storm looking for him.  She became lost and confused in the blinding snow and wandered into a swamp were she became trapped in the muck and froze to death.  Her husband returned the next day and went out looking for her and found her frozen body.  She was wearing one of her favorite green dresses.  She was buried in the Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery.