Results: Urban Legends by State Part 24: Massachusetts Twēġen
Published on 10/29/2025
You thought I was done? We've only hit the tip of the iceberg! Mass is super rich in legends and not just witches.
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1.
1.
The Lizzie Borden House. "Lizzie Borden took an axe/She gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one." I honestly do not know where to start with this one. This is probably one of the most famous woman in paranormal lore. This Fall River home is the site of the infamous 1892 unsolved double homicide of Andrew and Abby Borden. Though their daughter Lizzie was acquitted of the murders, the gruesome story is now the basis of many hauntings. Today, the house operates as a bed-and-breakfast, where visitors often report paranormal activity. Have you've heard of her? Or maybe have visited this home?
Heard of her
49%
890 votes
Stayed here
4%
80 votes
Neither
24%
440 votes
Not Applicable
22%
390 votes
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2.
Hoosac Tunnel. Nicknamed "The Bloody Pit," this railroad tunnel runs between North Adams and Florida. 190 people died during its construction in the mid 19th-century and took 24 years to complete. Tales of spooky sounds and sightings in and around this tunnel have been circulating for over 150 years. Today it serves as freight train line only. But it is regarded as an engineering marvel. Have you've seen this tunnel?
Yes
5%
93 votes
No
66%
1195 votes
Undecided
6%
108 votes
Not Applicable
22%
404 votes
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3.
Route 44 Hitchhiker. The legend of the Route 44 hitchhiker centers on a mysterious, red-haired phantom in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Also known as the "redheaded ghost," this entity is frequently sighted by drivers along a dark stretch of the highway near the Rehoboth-Seekonk line. Many stories account for different encounters with this spirit. But many speculate that this is a ghost of one of the many fatal car accidents on this route. Some speculate it could have been a resident that lived in the area passed away. Or the scariest which is that the spirit was of a person who escaped the old Taunton State Hospital. After being released, he was often seen hitchhiking along the route. His eventual disappearance and hysterical laughing fits led locals to believe he was a ghost, even though some think he was alive at the time. But there are many stories of this encounter which are extremely long. So I will provide a link if you're interested in reading encounter stories. But have you've heard of this ghost? https://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/affiliate-post/13-days-halloween-tales-terror-red-headed-phantom/179949
Yes
11%
194 votes
No
57%
1030 votes
Undecided
8%
135 votes
Not Applicable
25%
441 votes
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4.
Danvers State Hospital. The state of Massachusetts already has its fair share of hauntings, so a lunatic asylum isn't that far of a stretch to believe. Massachusetts's very own Danvers State Lunatic Asylum is nicknamed the "Witches Castle on the Hill." The building was erected in 1878 in what was once the original Salem's Village. Salem's Village was the first location in the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. In the beginning, this asylum was lauded for its state-of-the-art treatments and caring for its patients deeply. However, once the funding ran low, staffing became scarce, and patients kept pouring in, the asylum quickly sank into concentration camp status. In the end, things became so bad that many patients laid dead in their rooms for days, before they were discovered. The hospital was closed down for good in 1992, but rumor has it that the victims still remain. Once demolished, a set of apartments were built on the grounds. Residents of the apartment buildings, as well as their visitors, are often visited by the ghostly apparitions of the dead. Full body appearances, bumps in the night, and other otherworldly occurrences make it clear that the spirits in this particular hospital have yet to move on into the light. Have you've heard of this place?
Yes
15%
269 votes
No
55%
981 votes
Undecided
8%
142 votes
Not Applicable
23%
408 votes
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5.
Spider Gates Cemetery is the subject of several urban legends, the most prominent being that it is a gateway to hell and a location for human sacrifice rituals. Other stories include encounters with the ghost of Marmaduke Earle, and the belief that leaving a coin on his grave will allow you to speak to spirits. The cemetery is also known for its historical figures, such as architect Stephen Earle and his son, Dr. Pliny Earle. This is more of a general explanation of this place as there is a lot of history and stories behind this place. There for I will post another link to more on this place. But have you've heard of this cemetery? https://bostonghosts.com/spider-gates-cemetery
Yes
6%
103 votes
No
64%
1156 votes
Undecided
6%
114 votes
Not Applicable
24%
427 votes
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