H.P. Lovecraft penned it hauntingly well …

“But the true epicure in the terrible, to whom a new thrill of unutterable ghastliness is the chief end and justification of existence, esteems most of all the ancient, lonely farmhouses of backwoods New England; for there the dark elements of strength,
solitude, grotesqueness and ignorance combine to form the perfection of the hideous.”
[H. P. Lovecraft, “The Picture in the House“]

New Hampshire’s hills, homes and closets have more than their share of spooky inhabitants.  With Halloween just around the corner, it is worth revisiting some of these gloomy tales.

Lithobolia–The Stone Throwing Devil bothered a household in New Castle, New Hampshire of 1682.  I’ve been informed by Professor Emerson Baker of Salem State
College that he has just completed a book about this topic, entitled “The Devil of Great Island.”

In 1872 the Legend of the Lakawaka was published about a glowing creature in the ocean off the New Hampshire Coast near the Isles of Shoals.  Perhaps we really have our own Lakawaka “Nessie.”

Does ghostly piano music still float through the air at the location where Rye New Hampshire’s Farragut Hotel stood?

Some places in our lovely state are simply hellish.  Find out which ones.

There are many locations in New Hampshire that are believed to be haunted.
If you decide to visit any of these places, please be respectful of
private property. If you visit any cemeteries, be aware that the very
fragile tombstones may be the only genealogical record of an individual
or family, and tread with care.

–Bath New Hampshire: The Haunted Hibbard House– (Oct 6)
-Francestown New Hampshire: Is Haunted Lake Haunted?– (Oct 16)
–The Ghost (of Abel Law)– (Oct 20)
–New Hampshire Body Snatching– (Oct 24)
–The Strange Haunting of Mt. Moosilaukee– (Oct 30)

Janice

P.S. : Did you know…. In 1928 H.P. Lovecraft visited Mystery Hill in Salem NH. Shortly after his visit to Mystery Hill, Lovecraft wrote “The DunwichHorror.”

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.A Horrifying “Carnival of Genealogy.
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This article (and others) were submitted to the 34th Carnival of Genealogy. Stories with the general topic of “Halloween and the Supernatural” may be submitted until October 15, 2007.

Jasia of Creative Gene describes the topic as follows: “Lots of latitude with this edition… stories of haunted houses, ghosts, any superstitions, voodoo, stories of Halloween parties or traditions, trick or treating, good luck charms, curses, … Was there a witch in the family? How about a black cat? Anyone have bats in the house? Is there a legend about a spooky place in your neighborhood? What was your favorite Halloween costume? Any funny scarecrow stories? Did grandma have a magic potion? Any stories of ancestors rising up from the dead to haunt people? What about bizarre happenings on the night of a full moon? Bring on your hauntings and horror stories, humorous and happy ones as well… let’s show ’em genealogists don’t just have a sense of humor, but a sense of the macabre as well!”