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Dudley Road Photos

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Wednesday Reflection

On Wednesday, Emily and I visited Ridgewood Cemetery and Dudley Road. Ridgewood Cemetery wasn't all that creepy. We walked around trying to find the oldest graves- the oldest died in 1822. This was a great experience because Emily showed me more about how to frame photos, use the focus, and do certain effects. One effect I learned was keystoning. This has to do with lining objects up in a line as such: 

I found the cemetery pretty interesting, but not all that scary. I loved seeing how far some of the graves dated back and how intricate or creepy some of them looked. Probably the scariest graves that Emily and I discovered were those of two sisters named Emily and Rebecca who died in their 40's. We decided to take nervous pictures with them:

I also read that the shack that the workers use as storage is supposedly haunted. We wandered over to it and I decided it looked haunted because the windows were all borded up. 

After the cemetery, we visited Dudley Road. Before doing this project, I thought I would immediately feel scared/nervous going into each location. I was surprised to find that this only happened at two locations: The Lizzie Borden House and Dudley Road. Emily and I were so anxious about Dudley Road that we didn't even get out of the car and instead took pictures from inside. The road was very windy, bumpy, and cracked. We found the nuns retreat where the hanged nuns had stayed and discovered the sinking house. Unfortunately, the sinking house wasn't sinking and was actually a barn that had been built about 50 years ago. As I was taking pictures of the barn from inside the car, a man stopped us and told us how his neighbors are always calling the cops on people who trespass in search of the sinking house. He said the road wasn't haunted and it was all a bunch of legends. Either way, we both felt the road was creepy and had a weird feeling in our stomachs! We quickly drove away, snapped a picture of the Dudley Road sign and headed home, ready to edit all of the photos we had taken over the past few days. 

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Ridgewood Cemetery Photos

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Tuesday Reflection

On Tuesday, Emily and I visited the Lizzie Borden House and Anawan Rock. The Lizzie Borden House was one of my favorite locations because it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit. We arrived in Fall River around 2:00 and decided to stop at a delicious polish restaurant named Patti's Pierogis. At 3:00 we arrived at the Lizzie Borden House for our tour. We found out that we were the last tour of the day and because I was doing a school project, could get the extended tour that included seeing the basement where Lizzie supposedly hid the axe. 

Our tour guide led us throughout the house and taught us all about the Borden's murders and Lizzie's trial. She told us how she believed Lizzie did in fact axe her parents because if she had been where she said she was, she should have heard her step-mother scream and fall to the floor. 

The Lizzie Borden House was very creepy. I felt anxious standing over the spot where Abbey Borden died and I had the chance to lie on the couch where Andrew Borden was murdered (it's a different couch):

During the tour, we did hear a door close even though we were the only ones on tour and no windows were open. The tour guide told us she was used to hearing voices and doors moving on their own. 

One of my favorite parts of the tour was going down into the basement because usually only overnight guests get to see the basement. Here, we took a picture and interestingly enough, you can see Mr. Borden's face in the rectangular hole:

Our tour guide told us the wall was not altered, but for some reason if you take a picture with flash, Mr. Borden's face would show. Sure enough it did. 

After the Lizzie Borden House, Emily and I traveled to Anawan Rock, a part of the Bridgewater Triangle. You're supposed to hear battle cries and see apparitions here, however, we did not. The rock was pretty cool though because of its' size and how it was just placed in the middle of a forest. We climbed it, snapped a few photos, and decided to head home around 6:00, ending our longest day. 

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Anawan Rock (Bridgewater Triangle) Photos

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Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Photos

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Monday Reflection

The Salem visit on Monday was really interesting because of the famous history with the Salem Witch Trials. In Salem, we first went to the Hawthorne Hotel. There, we photographed the third floor and sixth floor because they are considered the most haunted. Jason tried to run through a few of the frames as I was taking photos to look like a ghost. It didn't work:

And Emily wanted a few pictures of her looking creepy in the hallway: 

We then ventured down to the basement. On an episode of Ghost Hunters, they mentioned that a worker had set up the basement, left, and returned to see that everything he had set up was packed away. The basement was pretty creepy but we didn't see or feel anything (except for the occasional tap on the shoulder by Jason or Emily). 

After the hotel, we walked to the Joshua Ward House. Because it was night, we couldn't go in, but we photographed the outside. Emily showed me her style of photography in how she tries to frame certain photos. Afterwards, Emily and Jason convinced me to knock on the front door... I did, but was sure to run away quickly. 

By now it was around 9:30 so we decided to head to the Old Burying Point which was where our Paranormal Investigation Tour met (we stopped for some pizza and met a puppy named Emily on the way, something Emily would not let us forget). At 10:00, we met Kevin, our tour guide, and found out that we were the only ones on tour for the night. He gave us a quick history lesson on Salem and told us about some of the equipment they use to detect ghosts/spirits. He gave each us pendulums to use to contact ghosts. That part freaked us all out because the pendulums are something you control, but they moved on their own. Kevin then had us go into the Old Burying Point where we used the pendulums, took photos, and tried to "contact spirits" (It was a little odd, I'll admit). 

We then wandered over to the old Witch Dungeons. There, we talked to a ghost named Frank, using flashlights (he turned them on and off in response to questions). This part was pretty creepy because the response of the flashlight was immediate after each question and was not controlled by Kevin. After this, we went to the old Fire House where we recorded us asking questions using an EVP and listened back to see if we got any responses. We didn't. 

Overall, the tour was pretty cool because we learned more history behind these hauntings and supposedly talked to some ghosts. Parts of it were really strange and Kevin definitely took everything very seriously. Either way, I'm someone who likes to believe that ghosts are real because there is definitely some unexplainable evidence, but I'm not completely convinced that all of the "ghost detecting equipment" actually works. The tour was interesting though and I'm glad we had the chance to experience it. 

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Joshua Ward House Photos

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Hawthorne Hotel Photos

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St. Mary's Cemetery Photos

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Dudley Road History

Dudley Road is located in Billerica, MA. Legend has it that there was a nunnery on the road where three nuns where hanged for practicing witchcraft. The nuns were hanged near an abandoned house which apparently sinks each year. There was also an abandoned insane asylum deep in the woods surrounding Dudley Road. Visitors believe that the nuns now haunt the road. People have reported seeing apparitions of nuns and hearing screams near the road. Others have heard chains rattling, supposedly relating to the insane asylum. Emily and I will visit the road today, May 29th and we will begin the editing process tomorrow.

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The Bridgewater Triangle is a 200 mile area with Abington, Freetown and Rehoboth at its’ angles. The triangle has been known to be one of the world’s most concentrated areas for paranormal activity. A few of the most noteworthy sites in the triangle are:

Hockomock Swamp: Hockomock Swamp is located in the Western part of the Bridgewater Triangle and is where the majority of the sightings have been reported. It is the site of an 8,000-year-old Native American Burial ground, when archeologists opened the graves, the red ochre inside bubbled and photographs taken at the time did not develop. People have reportedly seen a redheaded hitchhiker, Native American dancers, UFO’s, a bigfoot-like creature, a ghostly phantom near Route 138, and a ghostly trucker who speeds along Copicut Road.

Dighton Rock: Dighton Rock is located on the banks of the Taunton River across from the Native American burial grounds. There are inscriptions carved into the rock, however the origins are unknown. Many believe they may be Native American, Viking, or Phoenician.

Profile Rock: Profile Rock is located in Freetown and depicts the portrait of a Native American face. The Wampanoag people considered the rock sacred and legend has it that Native American ghost dancers dance around the rock.

Anawan Rock: Anawan Rock is located in Hockomock Swamp along Route 44 and is where Chief Anawan surrendered to the colonists and ended King Philips War. Apparently, the angry spirits of Chief Anawan’s tribe haunt the area with ghost dancing and fires. 

Emily and I will visit a few of the locations in the Bridgewater Triangle on Tuesday, May 28th after we see the Lizzie Borden House.

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Lizzie Borden House History

On August 3, 1892 Andrew and Abbey Borden were found dead in their home in Fall River, MA. Both were brutally mutilated with an axe and had been attacked in their sleep. Lizzie Borden told the maid of her father’s murder and the police were summoned to the scene. The police initially believed that Lizzie had killed her parents, however her trial found her not guilty due to the lack of evidence against her. Lizzie died of pneumonia in 1927.

Today, the Lizzie Borden House is now a famous bed and breakfast. Many people describe feeling both happiness and sorrow and have felt cold and hot spots throughout the house. People who have stood on the spot where Abbey Borden was killed have claimed to have been pushed or kicked and have shaky legs. Other guests have heard voices of a woman weeping, seen objects move across the floor, and have even had an older woman dressed in traditional clothing tuck them into bed.

Emily and I will be visiting the Lizzie Borden House on Tuesday, May 28th. This is one of the locations that I'm most excited for because it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit and has an especially creepy/gory history. 

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The Old Burying Point History

The Old Burying Point was built in 1637 and is the second oldest cemetery in the United States. Some famous graves in the cemetery include Mayflower passenger Captain Richard More and Justice John Hathorne of the Witchcraft Court. Many people who visit the Old Burying Point are overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness and claim to have seen the apparition of the ‘Woman in White’, an accused witch from 1692. Cameras also tend to malfunction at the cemetery and people have captured mists, orbs, and streaks of light. Finally, some visitors have seen a woman in a Victorian dress with a young boy near the back corner of the cemetery.

Emily, Jason, and I will visit the Old Burying Point on Monday, May 27th when we take our trip to Salem. This could also be another stop on the Paranormal Investigation Tour. 

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St. Mary's Cemetery History

St. Mary’s Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Salem and is known as one of the most haunted cemeteries in New England. Visitors have reported seeing strange white lights and hearing the sounds of a dog running through the cemetery. Many people also feel as if they’re being watched and stalked. There is a negative energy felt throughout the graveyard making visitors feel unwanted.

Because this is a cemetery, there isn't all that much history to be found about it. However, I did find some good information on the hauntings. When I visit, I'll keep an eye out for some recognizable names and dates on the graves. 

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The Hawthorne Hotel History

The Hawthorne Hotel is situated at the site of Bridget Bishop’s apple orchard. Bridget Bishop was the first person accused and hung for witchcraft in Salem and was later found to be innocent. The main headquarters of the Salem Marine Society was also located here and was founded in 1776 by a group of sea captains due to the high mortality rate of mariners. The organization provided relief for sea captains and their families. In 1925, the building was torn down and the Hawthorne Hotel was built.

The land upon which the Hawthorne Hotel was built is a piece of history in and of itself. Therefore, the hotel is bound to have some sort of paranormal activity. Many guests and workers at the hotel have reported seeing a female apparition whom they believe to be Bridget Bishop. In addition, the scent of baked apples can be smelled throughout the hotel when there is no such dish being baked in or near the hotel. The mariners also unsurprisingly haunt the hotel. For example, the display of a ship’s steering wheel has been known to turn by itself even though it is too heavy to be moved by anything but a human.  Room 325 is possibly the most haunted room in the hotel. Guests have reported lights and water faucets turning on and off by themselves, hearing the cries of a child looking for its’ mother, cold spots, and being touched by unseen entities when they sleep.

The Ghost Hunters also did a special on the Hawthorne Hotel, but did not find any concrete evidence of it being haunted. However, when one investigator asked for a presence to make itself known, the receipt machine printed a piece of paper that said “1:26AM Good Morning”, something that had never before occurred.  

Emily, Jason, and I will be visiting the Hawthorne Hotel on Monday, May 27th when we take our day trip to Salem, MA. 

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Joshua Ward House History

The Joshua Ward House was built in the mid 1780’s for Joshua Ward, a retired sea captain. Interestingly enough, the grounds the mansion was built on had previously been the land where Sheriff George Corwin had lived. During the Salem Witch Trials, George Corwin was known as “The Strangler” because he interrogated the suspected witches and carried out their death sentences. Corwin executed nineteen men and women and came up with new, horrifying ways to torture each of his victims. The Sheriff died of a heart attack in 1697 and his body was left in his cellar and was later moved to the Broad Street Cemetery. In the 1800’s, the mansion was transformed into a hotel and later in the 1970’s it was turned into a series of business offices, the function it is now used for today.

Today, the Joshua Ward home is still occupied by three entities. The first is a woman who was most likely one of Corwin’s victims. There have been reports of her apparition roaming the hallways of the building and an image of an angry spirit was also caught on film. Many also believe that Giles Corey haunts the mansion as well. Corey was accused of being a warlock and was crushed to death by rocks. His spirit is known to turn over trashcans, pull books from shelves, melt candles, and leave cold spots in certain rooms. Finally, the last entity is that of Sheriff George Corwin. An older male figure has been seen sitting in a rocking chair by a fireplace and in the 1800’s there were reports of people being choked by an unseen entity. Some believe this is either Corwin trying to reclaim his power or one of his victims showing how they suffered. Corwin is also known to move items around the mansion and bend candles into an S shape.

Emily, Jason, and I will be visiting the Joshua Ward House on Monday, May 27th when we take our trip to Salem. This could also be one of the potential locations on the Paranormal Investigation Tour.