Minot's Ledge
The Perfect Storm
Minot's Ledge lighthouse was a place no sane person wanted to live. It is just a tower coming out of the sea on a reef located off Scituate, Mass. In fact, the first tower was destroyed by the sea a scant year after it was built. Isaac Dunham, who was also the first lightkeeper at Pemaquid Point, was sent to be the first caretaker at Minot's Ledge when it was rebuilt, and after 14 months just abruptly retired from the service, being unable to take it anymore, especially when his warnings about the instability of the then spider-legged tower went unheeded.
In April of 1851, the new keeper, John Bennet, flew a flag from the lighthouse to show he was requesting to be picked up for a shore visit. His two assistant keepers, Joe Wilson and Joe Antoine, stayed behind to tend the light. While ashore, a no'theaster with winds of over 100 mph kicked up, preventing Bennet from returning. The lights went out at 10 p.m. The next morning, nothing was left of the tower, it had been smashed on the rocks. Antoine's body washed ashore at Nantasket Beach, while Wilson's was found on Gull Island.
Since then, fishermen report hearing cries from the island at night, and Portugese (Antoine was Portugese) swear they've seen a man hanging from a ladder on the side of the tower, screaming, "Stay away, stay away" in their language. Shadowy figures have been seen in the lantern room, taps on the shoulders and whispers at night have all been heard or felt by subsequent keepers. A cat brought to the tower for companionship, went berserk when near the lantern room, running around in circles and screeching.
Although these phenomena would be enough, the strangest thing is the cleaning. Seagulls flying overhead dirty the windows, which usually take the whole day to clean off. If a keeper mentioned to his assistant that they needed cleaning, by the time the assistant would make it up with cleaning implements, the windows would be sparkling clean again. Another keeper heard five taps echoing up through the stairs. The five taps had been a signal that the two Joes had once worked out for signalling the end of the shift. Some keepers would thank the two Joes for their work, but one couldn't take it and slit his throat and bled to death. Another went insane and was removed from the lighthouse in a strait jacket.
St. Augustine Light
America's Most Haunted City
St. Augustine Lighthouse has been a favorite of ghost hunters and television documentaries. It towers 165 feet above sea level, and is located on Anastasia Island near what is America's oldest city, and allegedly most haunted. Although a hanging was reputed to have taken place there in the 1930s by a passing sailor, the only documented deaths are those of John Carrera of unknown cause at the first tower that was built, Joseph Andreu, who fell from the first tower, William Harn of tuberculosis, and the wife of one of the keepers also passed away. Perhaps one of these are the cigar smoking ghost reported in the fuel house.
However, a tragedy did occur there in 1873. The superintendent overseeing the construction at the time, Hezekiah Pittee, moved his family down from Maine to be with him. To aid in the construction work, a tram was built from out in the ocean to the station. Mr. and Mrs. Pittee had five children, and being kids, they loved to get in the tram car and ride it up and down for fun. Something happened and the car derailed and five children (four of the Pittees and the daughter of a worker or a servant) went into the water. Nearby workers were able to save a boy and a girl, but three, including the unrelated girl, drowned. Their laughter is often heard in the tower, and one has been seen, wearing the same blue dress she drowned in.
During the heyday of the pirates, thirteen were captured and executed at the lighthouse. Their bodies are buried behind the tower. Perhaps it's their spirits still haunting the grounds. Others, althought they didn't die there, threatened never to leave, including the original owner of the lighthouse, who had the lighthouse taken by eminent domain. Some say his spirit still walks the tower late at night.
Stratford Shoals Light
The Suicidal Assistant
Stratford Shoals is a 60 foot granite tower built on a reef just off Long Island, near Connecticut. Looking at the photo, you can see where someone with mental instability would have problems living there. In 1905, Julius Koster, the Second Assistant keeper and a lighthouse rookie, was left behind with First Assistant Morrell Hulse while the Head Keeper was ashore. According to newspaper reports published at the time, Julius attacked Morrell with a razor, who was able to fend him off and calm him down. A few days later, Julius locked himself into the lantern room with an axe, stopped the rotation of the light and threatened to smash it and kill himself. Once again, after hours of pleading, Morrell persuaded Julius to come out. Julius then jumped off the tower into the swift water, but Morrell once again saved his life. At this point, Morrell tied Julius up and kept him for two days until help arrived.
Julius was transported to New York, where a few days later he did succeed in taking his life. ALthough he didn't die at the light, his spirit appears to have returned with a vengeance. Doors slam shut in the middle of the night, chairs are thrown against the walls, posters have been ripped down and hot pans of water have been flung from the stove. The lighthouse was automated in 1969, and the last of the Coast Guard left, probably with no regrets. To this day, however, sailors passing close by can still hear thumps, bumps, grinding noises and loud sounds as Julius continues to throw tantrums.
Southeast Light, Block Island
The Ghost Who Hates Men
Block Island's Southeast Light, Rhode Island, sits over 200 feet high at the edge of Mohegan Bluff. In the early 1900's, a keeper, angry with his (perhaps nagging) wife, pushed her down the stairs to her death. Although he claimed it was a suicide, he was convicted of murder and relieved of his duties. Her spirit, however, stayed behind and has continued to harass men since that time. She will leave women and children alone, in fact children have seen and heard her, most notably in the kitchen banging pots and pans. But men, whether keeper or visitor to the light, are fair game. She is a very physical poltergeist, often lifting the beds with men in them and shaking them violently. She has locked men into rooms or closets. Once she even chased a keeper out of bed and into the cold night dressed only in his underwear, locking the door behind him. The poor embarrassed keeper had to call the Coast Guard to reopen the lighthouse so he could get back in.
In 1993, threatened with erosion, the lighthouse was moved back from the edge of the bluff. Unfortunately, Mad Maggie (as she's known) moved with it, and in fact seems very angry about the move. She rushes up and down the stairs in a rage, rearranges the furniture, and has even thrown bits of food to anyone who dares to sit down and eat in "her" kitchen.
See more about Block Island in Chrissy's Gang to the right.
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