Book review of Haunted Rhode Island
Tom DAgostino's Haunted Rhode Island will amaze the reader with the number of alleged hauntings in Americas smallest state. A svelte 160 pages, the book is packed with 88 tales of the supernatural, although some are a mere one or two paragraphs. Granted, several stories are culled from the annals
of folklore and superstition, and will probably be discounted by even the most steadfast believers. The Phantom Dog of Fort Wetherill (pp.73-74), whose appearance forebodes imminent death for the viewer, has canine cousins that supposedly roam the moors of Old England. Similarly, numerous ghostly
hitchhikers and spectral pedestrians that haunt lonesome stretches of highway have lingered for decades in the realms of fantasy and legend. Other tales are not so easily dismissed, particularly those that not only have a historical basis, but many sworn eyewitnesses, the author and his wife among
them. But people tend to see what they believe rather than believe what they see, and those that expect to see ghosts are usually the ones who do.
The book is arranged alphabetically, listing towns from Barrington on the Warren River, near the border of Massachusetts, to Woonsocket, at Rhode Islands northernmost tip. Underneath the cities names are sub-headings with accounts of alleged hauntings. Bristol, Cumberland and Newport hold the lead,
with six alleged hauntings apiece. Following the entries are directions to the sites, but given that DAgostino has neglected to include any maps, the would-be ghost hunter might have difficulty getting his or her bearings. Aside from the capital, Providence, and Newport, famous for its mansions,
most non-natives have no idea where the other cities are, if they have even heard of them.
The photographs, taken by DAgostinos wife, Arlene Nicholson, stand in contrast to a narrative that at times becomes awkward and amateurish. With the exception of the cover shot, all of the pictures are in black in white, which seems more appropriate considering the subject matter. Nicholsons expert
use of lighting, camera angles and proper perspective make for outstanding images.
Although they are tempered by DAgostinos mediocre writing, many of the tales are truly unnerving. While most spirits may be contented with turning lights on and off or silently flitting through the shadows, a great many of the featured ghosts are menacing or downright malevolent. The apparition of
an old hag who hanged herself in an 18th-century farmhouse supposedly shrieks death threats at unsuspecting visitors, while another spirit in the same dwelling has injured people by hurling objects at them (p.15). And the floating, severed heads of eight victims of a 17th-century Indian ambush have
been known to glower fearsomely at residents of the town of Warren, on the Kickemuit River (p. 143).
DAgostino is not a bad writer, but not an especially good one, either. The occasional misspellings, improper punctuation and incorrect grammar detract from the reading, and DAgostino haphazardly switches perspective, jumping from third to first to second person narrative. At times he adopts a folksy
style, extending personal invitations to the reader to explore for him or herself the haunted school, graveyard or tavern in question. He even praises the good food and friendly service of a number of "haunted" inns, which makes the narratives seem less like ghost stories and more like advertising
copy. The material itself is excellent and could make for very compelling reading, but DAgostino would have done better to hire a "ghost writer."
INTERESTED IN GHOST HUNTING?
Allan M. Heller is a free lance writer, and the author of three books. He resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
