Spooky Happenings in Maine

Kennebunk Inn

Located in the southwest corner of Maine is the town of Kennebunk. In this town you will find a lovely, historical inn at 45 Main St. It was built in 1799 and has 3 stories and 22 rooms. It was originally built as a private home for Dr. Phineas Cole and his family becoming an inn in the late 1920s then called “The Tavern.” It got its present name in 1940 when Walter Day bought it and named it the “Kennebunk Inn.” The inn was sold again in 1980 to Arthur LeBlanc who added 6 more rooms.

Breaking goblets

The manifestations that have occurred here have been odd to say the least. Customers witnessed a most unusual thing when a waiter carrying a tray of wine suddenly (as we have often seen in the movies) saw a glass rise off of the tray and crash to the floor as if deliberately thrown down. Goblets from behind the bar have been known to move and fly across the room not held by human hands. One evening a bartender was hit on the side of his head by a flying hand-carved German mug. Silverware has messed itself up and chairs have moved by themselves.

Unknown spirits

An author who writes ghost stories about Maine, Mr. Cahill came to stay at the inn with 3 friends. They wanted to solve the mystery of the haunting. During the night one of Mr. Cahill’s friends was kept awake all night by a moaning, raspy voice while another friend getting out of bed early in the morning felt a cold spot around his legs and quickly got back into bed.

Ghostly Cyrus

Who might the ghostly deed-doer be? There are many different ideas. One of them is that it might be Silas Perkins who owned the place in the 18th century while others put the blame on Cyrus a night clerk who worked there for many years. There was a gentleman who had lived at the inn during the WWII period and had known Cyrus. He said that his desk had been in a room that was to be found directly above an unfinished staircase leading from the cellar to the ceiling. A waitress who had psychic tendencies had had the name Cyrus pop into her head as she was passing this staircase. Whoever it is who's doing the haunting seems to be quite comfortable at the inn with no plans to leave.

Captain Lord Mansion

In the Atlantic coastal town of Kennebunkport on Pleasant St. you can find the “Captain Lord Mansion.” An 1812 white, three-story mansion, family owned and run as an inn. It is a cozy, romantic inn with luxurious guest rooms which are filled with many nice touches including fine European paintings and gas-burning fireplaces. On top of the mansion is an eight-sided cupola from which one has fantastic views. This mansion was built by Captain Nathaniel Lord who died before moving into it. The Lord family lived there until 1972 after which it became a boarding house for elderly women and finally a Bed and Breakfast Inn in 1978.

Floating apparitions

The ghostly presence appeared here soon after the inn opened. In the Lincoln Suite, a woman in a nightgown can be seen drifting about often when it is occupied by guests. During their honeymoon, a couple had the thrill of seeing this floating apparition float through their room and then it disappears into a wall. She has also been spotted on the spiral staircase leading to the cupola.

Theories are that this entity may be the wife of Captain Lord. The traditional name of the room, now called the Lincoln Suite was once the Wisteria Room (meaning “remembrance of the dead”). It may also be that while living this was her bedroom and she may have chosen not to leave it.

Captain Fairfield Inn

Our final stop is at the “Captain Fairfield Inn” overlooking the Kennebunkport River green. This Federal–style mansion was built between the years 1813 and 1815 by Captain James Fairfield. The family lived there for 5 years.

After being a private residence for a long time it became a bed and breakfast inn in 1991. The mansion has 2 stories, a basement, and an attic. There are 9 guest rooms. The rooms are decorated with antiques and period furnishings. It is surrounded by lovely gardens and trees and offers a scenic view of the river and harbor area.

A Captain’s Welcome

When restoration was started on the mansion an entity recognized as Captain Fairfield was seen in a dark corner of the basement. Many guests at the inn have sensed and on occasion seen the presence of their friendly host the Captain who it appears enjoys welcoming guests to his lovely home seeing no reason to abandon the inn.

These are just some of the places in Maine where you may come in contact with another world. I have told you about the ones I found most interesting and about those that appear to be still haunted today. Of course, this shouldn’t deter you from traveling to Maine in fact you should be curious to do so as well as to enjoy the state’s wonderful sights, sweet-smelling pine forests, nature, coastal beauty, friendly hospitality, and perhaps finding a friend from the past or making friends with someone from the world beyond.