Haunted America

Ghosts of Newport plumbs the depths of Newport's history and reveals a host of chilling tales in which fact and folklore intertwine.

Today's Newport attracts countless visitors from around the world; its streets are alive with art, culture, wealth and beauty. Yet the city harbors echoes of a dark and turbulent past, including a variety of haunted sites: the Jailhouse Inn, Astor's Beechwood, the White Horse Tavern--America's oldest tavern--and many more. These stories show a side of Newport that history books alone could never tell, and help you peer past the city's gilded façade to discover dark secrets sure to spook and surprise.

The Blackstone Valley is alive with the echoes of souls that roam the old mills, homes, social clubs and land they once inhabited. Visit a haunted monument in Cumberland, where nine colonists slain in King Philip's War may linger. Shop at an antique store in Chepachet that harbors more than just treasures from the past. Enjoy drinks with the other kind of spirits in historic establishments like the Granville Pub and the Tavern on Main. Take a hike through Precious Blood Cemetery, where ghosts may wander endlessly searching for their loved ones. Join authors Thomas D'Agostino and Arlene Nicholson on a tour of the most haunted places in the Blackstone Valley.

On May 19, 1822, Peleg Walker was found dead inside Foster's Ramtail Factory. Almost ten years earlier, he and four other family members had made the fateful decision to start a business. Legend has it that when relations soured over arguments about money, the partnership ended, with Peleg hanging from the very bell rope he rang each morning to signal the change in shift. Whether he took his own life or was murdered remains a mystery. Recognized as a haunted site since 1885, the factory now lies in ruins. Yet Peleg still keeps vigil over its remains, sounding his night watchman's bell and drifting with his candle lantern in hand. Authors Tom D'Agostino and Arlene Nicholson share over two decades of research into the mysterious history of Rhode Island's haunted factory.

Though Rhode Island is America's smallest state, they have more than their fair share of spooky stories.

Author Rory Raven has collected stories and tales drawn from the history and folklore of one of the oldest cities in the nation. From restless spirits and mysterious deaths, to vampires and shadowy strangers, and even stories involving Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, Haunted Providenceexplores the unusual events and untold tales that have made this capital city unlike any other.