I was told to check out this podcast from its creator, Jeff
Belanger. He is "one of the most visible and prolific researchers of
folklore and legends today. A natural storyteller, he’s the award-winning,
Emmy-nominated host, writer, and producer of the New England Legends series on
PBS and Amazon Prime, and is the author of over a dozen books (published in six
languages). He also hosts the New England Legends weekly podcast, which has
garnered over 4 million downloads since it was launched.
Jeff Belanger is an author, podcaster,
storyteller, adventurer, and explorer of the unexplained. He’s written more
than a dozen books that have been published in six languages, he’s the
Emmy-nominated host, writer, and producer of the New England Legends series on
PBS and Amazon Prime, he provides programs and lectures to audiences all over
the world, and he’s been the writer and researcher for every episode of Ghost
Adventures on the Travel Channel. Jeff has made media appearances on hundreds
of radio and television programs over his 20-year career, and he has a passion
for mysteries and legends."(c/o jeffbelanger.com)
The few times I have been in the same room
with him was at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO, Mount
Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods,
NH, Houghton
Mansion in North Adams, MA, and Slater
Mill in Pawtucket, RI. I listened to the
haunting in these areas and they were set loose with all these ghost hunting
tools and sitting in the dark trying to get just a whisper of an electronic
voice phenomenon (EVP). I might have gotten something if I was bold enough to
go alone. I have had some bizarre encounters in person while in group settings
as well, but I think I would be less intimidating as a solo ghost hunter.
Here is a picture of me with Jeff Belanger at The Stanley hotel in 2010. Here is my blog post about the ghost hunting experience. there.
Since then I have been to a couple of library readings of his ghost stories in
the Peterborough, NH, and Franklin, MA. He is a great storyteller. The stories
suck you in and you want to visit the places he talks about. He talks about
sites in New England in his podcast so if you are local, you can. I plan on
visiting some of the sites that are highlighted in his podcast and I'll
document in this blog and on my YouTube Channel.
Jeff has a series of library readings both virtual and lives in New England's
libraries. I recommend checking out an event with him. You'll never be more
captivated by a ghost story. He lives them, he goes to the sites he is talking
about and he makes the hauntings believable. When I attended the event at the
Stanley Hotel I bought one of his books. The book is Picture Yourself Legend Tripping: Your Complete Guide to
Finding UFOs, Monsters, Ghosts, and Urban Legends in Your Own Back Yard.
It is an amazing book. I am originally from the southern Massachusetts area and
there were tons of sites uncovered in his book in the area. I was in Colorado
longing to go home and check out what he was writing about. It was wild. I also
have Weird Massachusetts: Your Travel Guide to Massachusetts’
Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets and it's just mesmerizing.
Below is the first legend I will check out per Jeff Belanger himself. I did
some wild stories about Scobie Lake (Haunted Lake) in Francestown, NH. I will
camp there with my SUV and I'll try to see if something is going on there. I
have not spent anytime there, only a drive-by when I first moved here 4 years
ago. You can check out the story for yourself, New Hampshire's Haunted Lake
