US State Urban Legends

Maine Urban Legends

From camping trips to sleepovers, urban legends have played a part in virtually every childhood. We've heard tales of ghost children leaving tiny handprints on cars, wild-haired women hiding out in mountain caves, and even shrieks coming from high school auditoriums long after the last student has gone home for the night. Every state has them and loves to tell them, but Maine has some of the most chilling. Here are just a few of the urban legends in Maine that are sure to keep you awake tonight!

The Sabattus Well Descent

According to this story, a group of teens dared a friend to be lowered into a well in Sabattus. The well, located at the back of a cemetery, was reported to be haunted but the young boy agreed to the challenge in order to impress the group. Sitting atop a rubber tire, the boy was lowered down into the well for many minutes before his friends could no longer see him. When they realized that there was no movement at the end of the rope, the boys pulled up their friend and found him very changed. The boy's hair had turned stark white, his entire body shook and he was unable to form coherent sentences. His laughter indicated that he had gone insane and his appearance was that of a very old man. The boy never came back from this state and is said to randomly scream from the windows of the county mental institution where he now lives.

The Monster of Pocomoonshine Lake

This lake in Washington County has held stories of lake monsters for as long as any Mainer in the area can remember. Some have even reported seeing the snake-like beings along with the trails they leave behind when they come to and leave the lake. While there are no photos of the creatures, locals estimate them to be anywhere from 30 - 60 feet long and could date back as far as 1873.