It wouldn’t be October, much less October 30th, without some ghost stories, right? In honor of one of my favorite holidays being tomorrow this month’s #WorcesterWednesday is all about some of the most haunted places in Worcester.
Growing up in Worcester, I always heard tales of the terrifying Spider Gates and the blood soaked walls of the old Worcester State Hospital. Unfortunately, Spider Gates is technically in Leicester so it gets nixed from this particular list and the old hospital was torn down a few years ago (sorry, no more stories of the ghostly screams of former patients).
But never fear! We’ve still got a few haunted spots to give you that chill in your bones that you crazies feen for this time of year (guilty as charged).
Disclaimer: These are ghost stories and legends that may or may not be true, and the majority of them take place on college campuses, none of which I attended personally. I have not witnessed any of the things claimed in these stories, so believe if you dare.
(I did however attend school in the Bridgewater Triangle, a haunted area of Massachusetts that has even been featured on TV. If you would like to see a full post on that in the future, comment below!)
College of the Holy Cross – Fenwick Hall
First up we have Fenwick Hall at College of the Holy Cross. The oldest of all the universities in Worcester, it would be bizarre if it didn’t have its own legendary ghost story. This story does not disappoint and is my personal favorite on the list.
As you pull through the majestic gates of Holy Cross, you approach the building that now houses the admissions office. This time of year you are flanked by century old trees alight with vibrant fall foliage and when you look up you see the legendary clock tower of Fenwick Hall. The entire scene oozes with all of the feels, of scenes from A Separate Peace, Dead Poet’s Society, and Goodwill Hunting…
But what you don’t see is the horrors that occurred in the walls of that clock tower…
If you have not already figured out by the name, College of the Holy Cross is a religious institution founded by Jesuits in 1843. Rumor has it that the clock tower of Fenwick Hall used to be used as “the exorcism room”. A common practice by Christians at the time, it would not be surprising if the ritual also occurred on this campus as a way to dispel evil spirits from afflicted students.
It is rumored that one night, two priests locked themselves in the tower with a young woman they suspected to be possessed in an attempt to exorcise her. After three days of being in the tower, someone went up to check on the progress of the exorcism and found both priests dead…but the woman was nowhere to be found. At some point during those three days the clock tower also stopped working, and it is believed that it broke as the evil spirits contained in the woman were released. The woman was never heard from again…
Worcester Polytech Institute (WPI) – Higgins House
WPI is another campus filled with old houses and hidden courtyards…but one of particular note is the Higgins House, which currently serves as the Office of Alumni Relations.
Built in 1921 by Aldus C. Higgins, this house screams anything but Worcester. With it’s stained glass window and castle like facade, Mr. Higgins’ love of English architecture cannot be disputed. He lived there with his wife, Mary, who had a secret staircase off of her room so that she could quickly join their dinner guests in the main hall after getting ready.
After his passing, Mary Higgins lived in the home alone until she eventually met her doom. Rumors claim that she fell down her secret staircase and still haunts them to this day.
Hope Cemetery
Despite the numerous cemeteries in Worcester it is shocking to me that the only one I could find ghost stories about is Hope Cemetery.
Two stories consistently pop up about this burial ground, which was established in 1852 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The first involves one particularly sad area of the cemetery…
Like most cemeteries, there is an area that is dedicated entirely to the graves of children. Supposedly, on quiet days, you can hear the children running and laughing through the gravestones.
The second story is one that I have heard for years from multiple people that claim to have seen the ghostly apparition themselves. A kind of guardian of the cemetery, there is supposedly a tall female spirit that tends to the flowers of freshly dug graves. She appears most often in the summer, but does make the occasional appearance in the cooler months.
Becker College – Miller Hall
Becker College has one of the most unique campuses I have ever seen…it is in an extremely old and residential part of Worcester, which means a lot of their buildings are in old Victorian homes. Two of these are Miller Hall and Maple Hall, which are across the street from each other on Cedar Street. (Both of these are residential halls so I did not feel comfortable taking pictures of them, and neither should you unless you live there).
First up we have Miller Hall, which has the spookiest story surrounding these two houses. It is rumored that Miller Hall is haunted by former servants that once worked in the house. There have been numerous accounts of things like moving furniture and drastically fluctuating temperatures. But the creepiest of all are the stories of voices. In certain rooms you can hear strange voices coming from the walls, even when no one is in the neighboring rooms, and strange shapes will occasionally appear.
Becker College – Maple Hall
A short story, but one nonetheless, Maple Hall is supposedly haunted by a student that hung himself in his room. Nicknamed the Friendly Ghost or the Attention Ghost, this particular spirit does things to get attention and not necessarily harm or scare anyone. Some of his antics include opening and closing doors.
Did I miss any??? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Halloween, everyone!!!
Want to read more about Worcester? Check out my other #WorcesterWednesday posts below!
January 2019: Worcester, MA: Why It Should Be Added To Your Bucket List
February 2019: Worcester Art Museum
March 2019: Redemption Rock Brewing Company
July 2019: 6 Best Coffee Shops in Worcester
August 2019: The Best Diners in Worcester
September 2019: The Five Breweries in Worcester
November 2019: Holiday Shopping in Worcester