This Spooky Small Town In Massachusetts Could Be Right Out Of A Horror Movie

Dover is a quiet town. It was first settled in 1640, and many town residents can trace their family lines all the way back to the Pilgrims. However, that rich history comes with a bit of an odd streak.

Some of Dover’s spookiness stems from one particular legend that once granted the small town national attention. In the 1970s, a series of bizarre sightings rocked the sleepy community and made Dover one of the more mysterious spots in the state.

Flickr/Paul Geffen

On the night of April 21, 1977, local youth William Bartlett was driving down Farm Street when something terrifying crossed his path. Out of the darkness, a pale creature with "tendril-like fingers" and massive eyes crawled along the top of a stone wall on the side of the road. Bartlett told his father about the incident and cobbled together a rough sketch of the creature, but they both agreed that no one would believe them if they went public.

Flickr/Lisa Henderson

Later that night, fifteen-year-old John Baxter also saw the strange creature while driving down Miller Hill Road on his way home from his girlfriend’s house. His description of the creature was almost identical to Bartlett’s. Another sighting followed the next day on Springdale Avenue.

The story was eventually covered by newspapers around the country, and people began to come forward with their own sightings of the "Dover Demon." In 2006, the Boston Globe interviewed William Bartlett about his encounter with the creature. He stood by his story, stating that he could not explain the bizarre sighting but was sure about what he met on the road that night.

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Flickr/Claudia Daggett

The Dover cemetery is also a particularly spooky site. Dotted with headstones that date back to the town's settlement, this graveyard seems like it has serious ghostly potential.

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Flickr/Paul Geffen

Also located in Dover, the Noanet Woodlands are a grand preserve of forest and trails that makes the town feel even more enigmatic. There have been reports of haunted happenings in the woodlands, besides sightings of the Dover Demon. One story in particular tells of a man dressed in a white suit who watches hikers from a distance, but vanishes if pursued.

Flickr/Mike Halsall

If you follow the Caryl Trail in the woodlands, you'll come across the ruins of an old mill. The foundations of the mill are crumbling, and a small brook runs through them. This site, while quite lovely during the day, will definitely give you goosebumps if visited after nightfall.

Flickr/Paul Geffen

Dover is also filled with historic homes and buildings that can lend the town a spooky atmosphere at night. The town's neighborhoods feel like they've been ripped straight from the set of a scary movie, with their old-fashioned architecture and colonial styling.

Dover is a beautiful town with a rich history and friendly people. For people looking for a lovely town with a definite spooky side, it could be the perfect destination. What Massachusetts town do you think is among the spookiest in the state?