Post by Joanna on Jul 27, 2015 18:38:46 GMT -5
2014 Haunted New England Calendar
Ghosts of the Boothbay Region
Maine author Greg Latimer has been fascinated by mysteries since he first began his career as a newspaper reporter at the age of 16 in Los Angeles. “A lot of the answers come from talking,” he says. “The harder you dig, the more you find.” Latimer, the author of Haunted Damariscotta: Ghosts of the Twin Villages and Beyond, has written a second book, Ghosts of the Boothbay Region set for publication August 3. The book chronicles many stories of locals and summer people who have had ghostly encounters and seeks to uncover the history of the hauntings, according to Latimer. “I consider myself a journalist covering the paranormal,” he adds. “I'll print the whys and the what fors of a story and try to confirm the veracity of witnesses I speak to.”
Latimer found his way to Maine when, after a long career as both a journalist and police evidence photographer in California, where he documented and investigated serial killers and crime scenes, he packed his bags in 1993 and hit the road. In 1999, his journeys brought him to Damariscotta, where he liked it so much he decided to stay.
When talking about his new book, Latimer recalls one story that really captured his interest. He says people have seen “The Lady of the Dusk” walking along Hendricks Head Beach in Southport. “The story goes that on December 1, 1931, a woman in her 40s dressed all in black came in on the afternoon bus from Wiscasset and checked in at the Fullerton Hotel as Louise G. Meade. She asked the hotel staff where she could see a view of the ocean, to apparently ‘get one last good look’ before she headed west.”
According to a report in the Lewiston Journal by Rose O'Brien found by Latimer, “Meade” was seen walking toward Hendricks Head on Southport. It wasn't until December 6 that a formal search was organized to find her. When found, the lady had a leather belt fastened around her wrists, which was tied to an iron and her handbag, which was open and empty. The police were unable to verify the woman's identity and no trace of a missing woman matching her description or by the name of Louise Meade was ever found. On January 8, 1932, she was buried in the Union Cemetery on Dogfish Head Road in an unmarked grave beneath a large tree, according to Latimer’s research. Latimer plans to continue his investigation of the story and hopes to someday uncover her true identity and “bring closure to descendants and maybe put the story to rest.”
Latimer also uncovered many stories about ghosts in the Opera House (above) at Boothbay Harbor, including a witness who saw a man emerge from the green room surrounded by a “shimmering light.” The figure walked past him, causing his cell to lose service, then dissipated.
Another story he researched was a couple's encounter with an old friend from Florida who was walking his dog. They had a conversation in which the man described his health problems and said he was unsure how much longer he'd be coming to Maine. Four weeks later, the couple encountered the man's wife who told them her husband had died two weeks before they saw and spoke with him.
The formal release for the book will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 8 at Sherman’s Book and Stationery Store in Boothbay Harbor. Latimer will be there to sign books, answer questions and discuss the paranormal with anyone interested.
Source: Katrina Clark, The Boothbay Register, July 22, 2015.