America’s First Documented Haunting

New England Legends Podcast

Jeff Belanger

History, Paranormal, Ghosts, Folklore, Places & Travel, Monsters, Society & Culture, Legends, Newengland

4.8 • 951 Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In Episode 394 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to Sullivan, Maine, to explore the sad and tragic tale of Nelly Butler. She died young in 1797… but less than three years later her spirit returned in the basement of Captain Abner Blaisdell with a mysterious mission. Dozens of people witnessed the haunted over the span of eight months. Their testimony was captured by a preacher eager to share the miracle with others.

See more here: https://ournewenglandlegends.com/episode-394-americas-first-documented-haunting/

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Jeff, there isn't much to see here in Sullivan, Maine.
0:04.9	No, no, not much.
0:06.6	Population's just over 1,200 people.
0:08.6	It's mostly forest, a few houses, few businesses.
0:11.9	It's a quiet town.
0:13.2	And we're pretty far up here near the coast of Maine,
0:16.0	just a bit northeast of Acadia National Park.
0:18.1	And what are we looking for?
0:19.7	Ray, what we're looking for today is nothing but a cellar hole.
0:23.4	All right.
0:24.0	What did it used to be?
0:25.3	Well, it used to be a house way back in the late 1700s, a house that got a lot of attention
0:30.0	because of something that happened inside.
0:32.0	Ooh, what happened inside?
0:33.6	According to many written accounts, dozens of people came here and saw a ghost.
0:38.6	A ghost?
0:39.9	Now, does anyone know who the ghost was?
0:41.5	Well, they do because they recognized her.
0:43.9	The ghost spoke and even identified herself.
0:46.7	We've come to Sullivan, Maine, to witness not just New England's,
0:49.9	but America's first documented haunting.
0:53.1	We're here to find the ghost of Nellie Butler.
	...

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