From ghostly sightings to mysterious deaths, a new book aims to raise those little hairs on your neck with its tales from midcoast communities.
“Ghosts of the Boothbay Region” by Greg Latimer was released in August by Arcadia Publishing. Latimer, a journalist whose work has spanned both coasts of the United States, has worked as a reporter, photographer and a police evidence photographer. With a keen interest in the paranormal, Latimer has done extensive research on hauntings throughout the country. His book “Haunted Damariscotta” was published in 2014.
The idea for the book about the Boothbay region came from research he’d done both with his wife, who runs Red Cloak Haunted History Tours, and independently. It contains 17 tales of haunted happenings — including some that still have Latimer’s interest for answers piqued.
“In terms of density, there’s a location I can stand in in Boothbay Harbor and I can point to five buildings where employees have reported paranormal activity,” said Latimer in a recent phone interview.
There’s a resident ghost in a bookstore, spirits in the opera house and a shadowy figure at a restaurant. There also is murder and mayhem.
“We also ran into another mystery that I am still working on having to do with the Lady of the Dusk,” said Latimer. “Nobody really knows who this lady was.”
As the story goes, the woman known only as Louise Meade arrived in Boothbay Harbor by bus. She checked into a hotel, inquired where she could get a good open view of the ocean and headed out. She eventually found it, and then she is believed to have eventually walked into the ocean to her death. Her spirit is said to be seen at dusk, walking in the distance.
Over the winter, Latimer plans to work on learning more about her to try to figure out who she really was. He’s already found some clues in articles that appeared immediately after her death. Latimer said that among them is a piece of paper she was carrying that appeared to be a cipher.
So far, the reaction to his newest book has been quite good, the Damariscotta based writer said.
“Everyone’s been quite positive about it, and that’s important to me because I am not writing just for the people interested in haunts but also for the people interested in history, too,” Latimer said.
Latimer and Sally Lobkowicz will be discussing their work exploring the paranormal at a dinner at 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 15 at Clewley Farm in Eddington. The cost is $30 each, and prepaid reservations are required.
“Ghosts of the Boothbay Region” is available where books are sold including the Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe in Damariscotta, Sherman’s Books in Boothbay Harbor and Smiling Cow in Hampden.