I spent the weekend in Marblehead signing books and catching up with old friends. I also met a “medium” who talks to dead people, which gave me some fodder for the book I’m working on.
There were numerous shipwrecks and pirates and witches in Marblehead’s early history, so of course there are lots of ghost stories, as pirates and witches aren’t much for keeping a low-profile in the afterlife, but instead enjoy shrieking at boats at night and, and casting lights on old cemeteries and chasing people up and down stairs.
This medium, whose name is Maria, sees ghosts everywhere, all the time, and is very casual about the whole thing. I told her that we have a ghost in our house in Connecticut, and that everybody sees and feels her fabulous other-worldly presence, except for me. Denis sees this ghost all the time. I’m really annoyed by this because I like to think of myself as a very sensitive person, but I have never noticed this ghost. Even our dog Lulu can see her, it seems. She (Lulu) stares at the exact corner of our living room, where Denis tells me he always sees this gray lady pass by, and she growls and raises her hackles in a very suspicious manner (Lulu, not the ghost). When Lulu does this, I always run over to the corner, hoping to feel a chill or a draft or the hair rise on the back of my neck, or something, but apparently I’m too obtuse. It makes me feel, I don’t know, rejected … snubbed by the supernatural.
Anyway, as I was reviewing Marblehead history, I came across the story of the “Old Spite House” which was built on Orne Street in the 1700s.
According to Wikipedia, “In 1716, Thomas Wood, a sail maker, built a home in Marblehead, Massachusetts that subsequently received the sobriquet of The Old Spite House. One theory has it that it was inhabited by two brothers who occupied different sections, wouldn’t speak to each other, and refused in spite to sell to the other.[6] In another explanation for the presently occupied, ten-foot (3 m) wide home that is just tall enough to block the view of two other houses on Orne Street, the builder was upset about his tiny share of his father’s estate and his revenge was a house to spite his older brothers’ views. The Old Spite House still is standing and occupied.”
There are a number of “spite houses,” in this country, I learned this afternoon. My personal favorite is the Richardson Spite House that was built on Lexington Avenue between 82nd and 83rd Streets in 1882. Click on the link, go ahead, it’s a great story.
Great post! I love to hear of witches and ghosts. So interesting. I also enjoyed hearing of your house ghost. So sad you don’t see her too. We have something seemingly wandering about our house too. We’ve only had run-ins with him/her very, very rarely.
I’d never heard of spite houses before. Thanks for sharing. I love to hear of our country’s more colorful, not-so-pretty side.
My grandmother lives across from this house. My mom told me that the first story of the brothers but I had never heard the view blocking story. It makes sense though and the spite house blocks her view of the water!
I lived across the street from the Spite House in Marblehead. I remember the picture you have posted. In the last 60 years a tree blocks the line of the house as I remember. Neighbors, and tourists have asked for its removal for photo ops.
I have been in the house. Haloween was always the most fun. My story, is there were three brother’s living in the house. Three doors, built out of spite. Today in 2008, spite continues with the lack of parking for residents. No creature comforts on Orne Street.