Since Samuel D. Champlain first set foot in what is now Vermont, stories of the paranormal have been synonymous with the Green Mountain State. Over time, some, like Jessica’s Bridge in Stowe, have become common tales. Others, often less talked about, rarely are heard outside of their immediate community. Often based in historical fact, these tales have formed the backbone for Livin’ Magazine’s first list of Vermont’s Most Haunted Places.

#5 Railroad Tracks, Richford

It started out as a crisp October day—the perfect time to go for a walk in Vermont. It ended as the deadliest day in the history of Richford with seventeen dead—the majority burned to death. Mrs. John Lelifore was an innocent victim that day. Just out for a simple stroll along the train tracks with a friend as she had done many times before. Then without warning, a large grain elevator next to the tracks owned by Canadian Pacific and Boston & Maine Railroad exploded. The eruption blew off the entire roof of the big building, scattering timbers in all directions, and almost instantly flames burst out over the whole structure. The heat set fire to a flour shed near the elevator, which was vaporized in seconds. In fact, the heat was so intense it burned 75 freight cars sitting nearby.

Before she ever knew what had happened, Mrs. Lelifore and her friend were covered in flames. Within minutes Mrs. Lelifore would be dead. Her friend would not be as lucky and lived for several hours in a body covered in third degree burns, her face mangled to the point that she was unrecognizable.

Those who walk the tracks in Richford in early October by the light of a “harvest moon” are said to be able to hear Mrs. Lelifore’s screams and the moans of her friend lying in agony waiting to die. A hint of the smell of smoke and burning human hair is rumored to hang in the air, and the wind blows unpredictably. Others claim to be covered in ash for no aparent reason when they return from a trip along the track. Howls are often heard from the sheds across the tracks where 15 workmen perished in the explosion.

#4 Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier

Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier is famous for many things. It is also one of the most haunted places in Vermont.

The stories say there is not just one ghost that inhabits Green Mount, but rather three; none more famous than Black Agnes.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Healy, Director of the Green Mountain Cemetery.

Black Agnes is a slang name given to a life-size bronze statue in Grass Mount that depicts a seated figure. Over time, the weather has stained the bronze black with a deep patina, adding to its already eerie look.

Lore says that when people sit on the lap of the figure something will happen to them in the coming weeks; usually centering around a slow, painful death.

The statue known as Black Agnes actually isn’t female at all, but rather a tribute to John Hubbard, a Montpelier “philanthropist” who died embroiled in controversy.

It seems that Hubbard contested a distant relative’s will, which would have left $300,000 to the city of Montpelier. Eventually, matters were settled and Hubbard received the balance in exchange for town officials’ dropping a lawsuit. The agreement hinged on Hubbard’s building a library in Montpelier, which he did.

Many townspeople thought this was a despicable arrangement, and some organized and built their own library. The controversy went on for years, and even Thomas Waterman Wood and Bishop de Goesbriand weighed in. Hubbard suffered tremendously during this time and is said to have become increasingly bitter towards the town. He died shortly later in a freak hurricane.

Having no family, Hubbard left his estate to the city of Montpelier, with one of the provisions being that a monument be erected. In 1902 Karl Bitter was commissioned to do the work, which still reigns as his masterpiece. Today, we know that statue as “Black Agnes.”

Almost immediately after the statue was erected, ghost stories began to fly out of Green Mount. Some contend that Hubbard’s ghost haunts it and can be seen disdainfully wandering through, cursing the townspeople in Montpelier. Encounters are common on stormy autumn nights, or so they say.

Other stories in Green Mount include the tale of a ghost girl buried a distance from her mother and father. Observers report she will walk from her lonely grave (she comes out of the monument) and walks to her parent’s stone, which is a figural carving, depicting a mother and daughter. She is said to crawl up the stone and meld into the statue.

Green Mount’s last ghost supposedly inhabits the great stone structure that serves as an entranceway to the cemetery. Ironically, this was also paid for from the estate of John Hubbard.

Visitors will often hear the sounds of a large metal door open and close on its own, but when they look into the window no one is to be seen.

#3 Lost Deer Camp, Eden

There is a deer camp in the hills of Eden that few people know about. At one time it was a lively place. Now, it sits abandoned.

They story started on a Saturday afternoon in mid-November during the late 1960s. The five men staying in the camp were out hunting on the opening day of deer season. When they returned, they found the surprise of their lives.

No one knows how the woman from Boston found the camp, or for that matter why she chose it. All that is known is that when the men returned that night they found a half-eaten bowl of chicken soup on the table next to an empty bottle of Jack Daniel’s. On the back porch, hanging from a rope usually reserved for hanging deer, was the lifeless body of the woman.

While that sounds strange enough, the story goes that being Vermonters and products of the Depression, the camp owner didn’t want to cut the woman down and “waste” a good piece of rope. The other hunters agreed and boosted up her limp body until the noose could be taken off her neck. The intent was it would again be used to hang deer, but not another animal was ever killed at the camp.

For almost a decade the rope hung in place on the porch. No one dared touch it or remove it, and in time it was blamed for the hunter’s bad luck. One day the young son of the camp owner had the chance to break the drought, but missed an easy shot at a trophy buck. Later that afternoon, as he met up with the other hunters in his party and told his story, they chastised his shooting and picked on him in the way that hunters often will. What was meant to be good-natured ribbing was taken seriously by the young boy. That night, when the other hunters returned to camp, the dead body of the boy was found hanging from the same rope.

It is said no one has stepped into the deer camp since the boy’s body was cut down. Those who venture by it in the woods late at night will swear they see the shadow of a hanging human body on the back porch.

#2 Railroad Bridge Route 14, West Hartford

In the early 1900s there was a train accident on the old wooden trestle crossing the White River, just outside of Hartford, in which seven people were killed. This account is well known to treasure hunters in Vermont as it is also said that the train was carrying a small trunk of rare coins which was never recovered. To this day, treasure seekers continue to comb the White River looking for the cache.

The lesser known side of this accident involved the death of a father and son who were on the train. It is said that the son plunged into the water below the trestle where he struggled for a few moments before the water sucked him down. The father died trying to find him.

Today, passengers on trains will frequently report seeing ghostly figures in the river near the site of the accident. One tale tells of seeing a young boy playing in the water, and another depicts seeing an older gentleman in high-style dress, frantically wandering the edges of the river.

#1 Glastenbury Mountain, Bennington

Serial killer? Indian ghost? It is hard to say exactly what haunts Glastenbury Mountain, but in recent years it has emerged as Vermont’s most haunted area.

Glastenbury Mountain in Bennington was deemed “cursed” by Native Americans and used strictly for burying the dead. Some sources say there have been over thirty unexplained disappearances on the mountain over the years, but that number is not verified.

It is known that at least six persons went missing there, many between 1945 and 1950. These include 74-year-old Middie Rivers, 68-year-old James Tedford, 8-year-old Paul Jepson, 18-year-old Paula Jean Welden, and 53-year-old Frieda Langer. Of these persons, only the remains of Frieda Langer have been found—and that was under extremely “strange” circumstances. She was said to be an experienced woodswoman and gun handler. She was also with a friend, and simply walked just out of sight to change her clothes after falling into a stream. Her body was eventually recovered months later in an open area that had been searched several times.

Many of the other disappearances occurred under equally bizarre circumstances.

Middie Rivers lived in the region all his life and was with other people when he vanished. He got slightly ahead of his companions and no one ever saw him again. Paula Welden simply went on what was supposed to be a short hike. Jim Tedford was on a bus with other people. No one saw him get off; he was simply gone. Tedford’s disappearance was also on the third anniversary of Paula Welden’s disappearance.

To this day Glastenbury continues to be a hub for the paranormal and strange encounters.

Kyle Scanlon is the editor of Livin’ Magazine. While he reserves judgment on the validity of paranormal activities, he does enjoy a good ghost story, especially when it has roots in Vermont history.