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Ghosts of the Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is such a popular destination that some choose to never leave. From the spirits of ancient Indians who once inhabited the beaches to the pirates who spied for passing victims from the safety of the inlets and coves, the region is infused with eerie, tragic history. A phantom widow keeps watch from the Boston House window for men long ago lost at sea. Spirits of the victims of a murderous cop linger at the Devil's Tree, where their bodies were found. The dreaded pirate Black Caesar still steers his ghost ship toward Dead Man's Point in the St. Lucie Inlet. Authors Patrick and Patricia Mesmer navigate through spooky tales of vanished sailors, wandering phantoms and lost treasure scattered across the ocean floor.
176 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 22, 2019
I'll be upfront by admitting I have never believed in ghosts. As a child, my interest in the "unexplained" involved tangible mysteries like UFOs and cryptids. The older I get and the more time I spend researching more "mundane" history the less the fantastical interests me. The evidence is simply too flimsy. So why would I even pick up this book at all? I spotted on the New Nonfiction shelf at my local public library and thought I should familiarize myself with its contents, even if I didn't expect to like them. Though they are local to my area, I don't think I have ever met the authors.
Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. Much of the book is straightforward history of places alleged to be haunted, from Sebastian to Jupiter. There are also some fresh first-hand accounts, from the Gomez Cemetery to a friend of the Ashley Gang to an account originally published in a 1931 newspaper. I was also pleased to learn of the origin of the story about the "sea serpent with a human face"(pg 60-61) which I had first heard of in Weird Florida: Your Travel Guide to Florida's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets; Mesmer quotes the memoir of pioneer Emily Lagow Bell.
Unfortunately, the publisher (Arcadia Press) doesn't use citations, which adds the frequent vagueness and second/third-hand recycling of vague claims. There is also some rather general speculation. For example, with regard to the Ais Indians: "Does the dark energy of their powerful belief in the afterlife spawn strong forces that endure to this day?" (pg 21) Or speculating whether the 1923 fire that destroyed the Racey House on Mount Elizabeth was revenge by the spirits of the Ais Indians buried in the shell mound under the house. Not offered is an explanation on why those spirits waited 32 years to burn down the home (built 1891).
Some ghost are thought to be especially talented, such as the suggestion that pirate Pedro Gibert/Gilbert still haunts the vicinity of Gilbert's Bar despite having been hanged thousands of miles away in Massachusetts (pgs 103-104), or that Henry Flagler's second wife haunts Port Salerno - a place she likely never set foot or even laid eyes upon - because the railroad station there (a structure no longer extant) was originally named Alicia in her honor (130).
Perhaps best underscoring the flimsy nature of ghost stories is one of the spirits alleged found in the Boston House in Fort Pierce. Aleacon Perkins haunts the place, awaiting the return of her husband and son who drowned in a storm while the family stayed in the house during its bed-and-breakfast days (page 64). Problem: a search on Ancestry.com finds no records for anyone anywhere named Aleacon Perkins. Nor does the Florida Death Index contain any records for anyone named Timothy (or Tim) Perkins dying in St. Lucie County in any year. (Stories about the alleged Perkins tragedy don't even give Mr. Perkins' first name, and no date, or even year, of the event is given). So even if the basic story is correct the correct names have been lost, leaving it impossible to verify.
The book contains photos scattered throughout showing various places discussed in the book. They are mostly historic photos from Florida Memory (Florida State Archives) or the Indian River County Historical Society, or mostly mundane modern photos. I think only 2 photos purport to show ghosts, and then merely orbs.
Obviously, I'm pretty critical of the genre/subject, but I'll give it 2 stars ("Okay") for the history aspects being decent and for presenting some new and/or obscure ghost stories. Those who given more credit to the paranormal than I do will likely enjoy this book.
Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. Much of the book is straightforward history of places alleged to be haunted, from Sebastian to Jupiter. There are also some fresh first-hand accounts, from the Gomez Cemetery to a friend of the Ashley Gang to an account originally published in a 1931 newspaper. I was also pleased to learn of the origin of the story about the "sea serpent with a human face"(pg 60-61) which I had first heard of in Weird Florida: Your Travel Guide to Florida's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets; Mesmer quotes the memoir of pioneer Emily Lagow Bell.
Unfortunately, the publisher (Arcadia Press) doesn't use citations, which adds the frequent vagueness and second/third-hand recycling of vague claims. There is also some rather general speculation. For example, with regard to the Ais Indians: "Does the dark energy of their powerful belief in the afterlife spawn strong forces that endure to this day?" (pg 21) Or speculating whether the 1923 fire that destroyed the Racey House on Mount Elizabeth was revenge by the spirits of the Ais Indians buried in the shell mound under the house. Not offered is an explanation on why those spirits waited 32 years to burn down the home (built 1891).
Some ghost are thought to be especially talented, such as the suggestion that pirate Pedro Gibert/Gilbert still haunts the vicinity of Gilbert's Bar despite having been hanged thousands of miles away in Massachusetts (pgs 103-104), or that Henry Flagler's second wife haunts Port Salerno - a place she likely never set foot or even laid eyes upon - because the railroad station there (a structure no longer extant) was originally named Alicia in her honor (130).
Perhaps best underscoring the flimsy nature of ghost stories is one of the spirits alleged found in the Boston House in Fort Pierce. Aleacon Perkins haunts the place, awaiting the return of her husband and son who drowned in a storm while the family stayed in the house during its bed-and-breakfast days (page 64). Problem: a search on Ancestry.com finds no records for anyone anywhere named Aleacon Perkins. Nor does the Florida Death Index contain any records for anyone named Timothy (or Tim) Perkins dying in St. Lucie County in any year. (Stories about the alleged Perkins tragedy don't even give Mr. Perkins' first name, and no date, or even year, of the event is given). So even if the basic story is correct the correct names have been lost, leaving it impossible to verify.
The book contains photos scattered throughout showing various places discussed in the book. They are mostly historic photos from Florida Memory (Florida State Archives) or the Indian River County Historical Society, or mostly mundane modern photos. I think only 2 photos purport to show ghosts, and then merely orbs.
Obviously, I'm pretty critical of the genre/subject, but I'll give it 2 stars ("Okay") for the history aspects being decent and for presenting some new and/or obscure ghost stories. Those who given more credit to the paranormal than I do will likely enjoy this book.
February 29, 2020
I loved this book, Many of these legends were stories I grew up with in Florida and now thanks to Patrick Mesmer I can share them with my own children. The theme that Runs through many of Mr. Mesmer's books is to entertain us with a supernatural phenomenon while simultaneously infusing actual historical events. I also truly appreciate Patrick's family friendly writing style which can appeal to anyone at any level. Another Great Read by one of my favorite authors.
May 11, 2024
The beginning stories are well written and clearly placed a lot of effort in while the back half of the book seems like it was left with the ghosts 🩶
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews