Historic Haunted America

Haunted America #4

by Michael Norman, Beth Scott

Historic Haunted America is an engrossing investigation into North American ghost legends, a comprehensive documenting yesterday and today's most shocking hauntings in the United States and Canada.

From the ghost-ridden forts in Old Tucson to the "Inn of the 17 Ghosts" near Philadelphia, from the haunted plantations of Louisiana and Georgia to a haunted community playhouse in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Michael Norman and Beth Scott tell stories of the past and present so terrifyingly real that even the most skeptical reader will believe.

Genres: Paranormal, Nonfiction, Ghosts, Horror, Ghost Stories, Supernatural, History

651 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

Michael Norman is a writer who makes his home in Western Wisconsin.

He is the author most recently of "The Nearly Departed: Minnesota Ghost Stories and Legends," published in 2009 by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

He is the co-author with the late Beth Scott of the popular Haunted America series of ghost stories, and the co-author with writer Carol Roecklein of two vocabulary books written for ages 12 and up.

Reviews

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are stories to be found here from every state of the Union and every province of Canada, so chances are one of the locations mentioned will be near you. Most interestingly, some of the old stories are updated with new information. For example, most everyone has heard of the Bell Witch but assume it is gone. Norman and Scott have not only examined strange occurrences that are still happening in the Bell Witch Cave but also have talked to some descendants of John Bell. I knew of the happenings in the Cave but was not aware that some in the Bell family believe the Witch is still involved with their clan. Could the Bell family still be haunted? According to this book they just may be.

This is not the best of this duo's books but it is still well worth a read. This pair views their topic with a bit of skepticism, which if not overdone is a good thing. Their writing is clear and they don't ramble on with useless information just to fill up space. We owe quite a debt to Norman and Scott for all their work collecting ghost stories over the years and their books deserve to be on any ghost aficionado's bookshelf.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in the way this book was written. I liked the way it was done state-by-state, but it sucked as far as description. There was a bland, boring telling of who saw what. There was no storytelling feel, no scary story brought to life feel.
I forced myself through it, got to Nevada, my state, and was sooo disappointed by the lack of mention of Vegas! There are so many mob murders that are local ghost stories, or Liberace, or the Rat Pack. But, nope it dealt with one ghost town. I can only imagine how much can be lacking from other cities with even more colorful history. I lived in St Louis for a few years, and according to the Travel Channel it has some very haunted local places...not one of them was mentioned. So, my opinion is bo-ring.

[Breanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is horrible! The writing is so dry, it sounds like a textbook. This author managed to take a completely interesting subject and make it into the equivalent of eating sawdust. So NOT recommended to anybody!

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more from this book. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either so that is why I gave it 3 stars. Personally I would save my money and get a better book on hauntings than this one.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sort of a reread of sorts. I've had this book for years and read bits and pieces overtime. But this time I finally read the whole book through. It was a nice read even if at times I felt some of the stories could have been cut or at least shortened a bit.

My favorite part of course was the one that covered Virginia as that is my home state lol.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll describe this book as inconsistent. Some stories are very specific about time and place, others are disappointingly vague. Some stories are about a tragic life and end with a sentence or two about how they may be a ghost, others are about ghosts whom no one knows where they came from. Still, there is a lot to learn in here, so if you're into history you might like it. Don't worry, it's not scary enough to keep you up at night, but it might give you chills now and then. It's also not a one sitting read. It's long and not exactly fast paced.

[Jeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of tales that go bump in the night! It really made me want to travel around America and check out some of these places! I feel very bad for some of the people in the tales and it brings up the point that honesty is always the best policy if you want to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from wandering the Earth for eternity!

[Jaymin Ewens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Had a lot of potential, but most of the stories were sparsely told.

[Jenny Wiley]

Interesting stories

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was kind of disappointed by the lack of creepiness in this volume. It took me a while to finish this because I just couldn't stay interested.

[Caden Jimenez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Im not sure if this is the correct haunted america but i got this book from school one day and i remeber reading some of it

[Nytetyger · Rating 4 out of 5]

From coast to coast, and Canada thrown in—a book filled with the amusing and creepy things that haunt building and people from the 1700’s to the present. It was a lovely read for October, and I’m keeping a copy for those times I need a wee bit of creepy to share, or for when I’m planning a trip and want to see if there is somewhere spooky nearby!

[Andrew Willson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the longer ghost story collections I've come across and has an amazing selection of stories from all across the US and then into Canada. The vast majority were ones that were unique compared to the several other collections I have and that is always the best to find a few you recognize and then meet many new spirits, be they friend or foe.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the whole collection of ghost stories by Michael Norman and Beth Scott. I don't find collections of ghost stories like this too much these days, which is a shame. While I have had trouble tracking down the authenticity of many of these stories; I'd still recommend the collection to anyone who enjoys a good ghost story.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't the best book of true ghost stories I've ever read, but it wasn't the worst either. Pennsylvania's was one I hadn't read before, which was nice. SPOILERS I was a little surprised that Gettysburg wasn't mentioned at all, though. Usually historical ghost stories that include PA focus on Gettysburg.

[Alex Klimkewicz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collection of "real" ghost stories from around North America. Most of them are not very scary and mostly just anecdotal stories or territorial tall tales. Some are written as histories and others are more like narratives rather than newspaper reports. Interesting, but not extremely memorable.

[Kitap · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of the same sort of "true" ghost stories recounted in Norman and Scott's Haunted Heartland and Haunted America .

[Astrid Yrigollen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book was not as good as the first but it is still interesting as an account of various people's experiences of the super natural. I no longer read this type of book ( real life is scary as it is) but when I did read it this was an interesting follow up to Haunted Heartland.

[Jewelz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about historical ghost stories as early as the 15th century or earlier...also in later years...very interesting!!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It had some fun and interesting tidbits of American history and geography. I especially liked realizing that I had driven through some of the places mentioned.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed bag of ghostly goings on.Enjoyed it.

[Takipsilim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dip from the quality of "Haunted America" particularly as some stories from the aforementioned title are used once again in this tome. The book is still a fine read nonetheless.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to stay it, because this book is a valuable record of different historic (read: non-active) hauntings, but it's a bit dry. I made it half through before I skimmed it.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice read!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a child. It was interesting, there were some "scary" stories, but overall kind of bland. Interesting though, none-the-less.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books really creep me out. This one did. Can't read it before bed.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun stories to dip into periodically.