FACT or FOLKLORE? Rhode Island's historic houses have no shortage of stories. Some are documented in letters, records and historical archives. Others have been passed down through generations as local lore. Here are a few places where history and Halloween intersect. A Few of Rhode Island's Most Intriguing Historic Homes and Haunting Tales
BELCOURT OF NEWPORT — folklore with a long history Built between 1891 and 1895 for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, Belcourt has a documented connection to spiritualism through his second wife, Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, who was known for her interest in the occult and hosted spiritualist gatherings at the mansion. The property later became associated with reported paranormal experiences, including stories shared by the Tinney family, who owned the house for decades. Belcourt itself Bristol's Linden Place was built in 1810 by George DeWolf and designed by architect Russell Warren. Today, it operates as a historic estate museum and arts center. Its documented history includes the complex legacy of the DeWolf family and the property's connections to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, commerce and Rhode Island's changing economy. The mansion and its surrounding history have also provided a backdrop for local ghost stories and Halloween lore. SPRAGUE MANSION — a murderous history acknowledges its paranormal history and offers ghost-themed tours. LINDEN PLACE — history with a spooky side
Cranston's Sprague Mansion has a particularly dark connection to Rhode Island history. Amasa Sprague, a member of the prominent Sprague family and a textile manufacturer, was murdered near his home on Dec. 31, 1843. John Gordon was convicted of the crime and executed in 1845. The case remains a controversial chapter in Rhode Island history, with later scholarship examining the anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudice surrounding Gordon's prosecution. Stories of unexplained activity at the mansion have since become part of its folklore, including reports of footsteps and an apparition associated with the main staircase. The murder is a documented historical event; the paranormal accounts remain matters of legend and personal belief.
NIGHTINGALE-BROWN HOUSE — history speaks for itself Not every historic property needs a ghost story to be fascinating. Providence's Nightingale- Brown House was built in 1791 for merchant Joseph Nightingale and purchased by the Brown family in 1814. The approximately 19,000-square-foot Georgian mansion is considered the largest surviving American wood-frame house from the 18th century. Five generations of the Brown family lived there before the property was transferred to Brown University. Its signifi- cance is architectural as well as historical. The house preserves a remarkable example of late Georgian design while reflecting the wealth, commerce and social history of early Providence.
The state's fascination with ghosts extends well beyond individual houses. Historic properties throughout Rhode Island have accumulated stories of unexplained sounds, apparitions and mysterious occurrences, while the state's broader history includes centuries of folklore surrounding death, spirituality and the supernatural. The important distinction is between what can be docu- mented and what has been passed down as legend. A house may have a thoroughly recorded history while its — Rhode Island's Haunted History — A BIGGER STORY
THE VERDICT
FACT: The homes, their architecture and many of the historical events associated with them are documented. FOLKLORE: Ghost sightings, spirits and unexplained phenomena remain matters of personal belief and local legend. THE FUN: You don't have to believe in ghosts to appreciate a centuries-old Rhode Island house. Sometimes the real history is fascinating enough.
ghost stories remain impossible to prove. That uncertainty is part of the appeal.
15
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online