By Thomas D’Agostino 

 

The strange paranormal events that transpired in St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Attleborough, Massachusetts, established in 1889, caused nationwide attention. So much so, that it was said to be on the show, Unsolved Mysteries. Although the segment aired a long time ago, some of the locals still living in the area remember cars reportedly lined on both sides of the street full of paranormal enthusiasts, thrill seekers and legend trippers all there to see for themselves, the legend of the glowing stone.

The marker is not any special elaborate monument or anything that would immediately stand out from the rest of the headstones or memorials. Yet, the stone (name withheld out of respect) has been heavily studied and investigated by paranormal researchers and scientists alike. It was proven that the stone would glow with a greenish hue around dusk and into the early twilight. Fantastic accounts of people witnessing the sun’s rays dipping below the horizon while the memorial would begin to ooze with light on its own accord. Investigators of various sciences gathered and tried many experiments, including turning the stone to dispel the possibility of an outside reflection being cast upon the marker. This was to no avail as the stone still emitted the now famous light. After returning it to its original position, the stone took on a reddish hue for several days before returning to its familiar green glow.

The date of decease on the stone are 1962 and 1964 which means the phenomena began sometime after the stone was put into place in the 1960s. From then until recently, the legend of the glowing stone has sent scores of people on a pilgrimage to witness the uncanny event. Alas, recent reports state the stone no longer glows, but that has not stopped some from visiting in hopes of perhaps an encore performance of the green glow.

If one does not witness the glowing stone, perhaps they will get a visit from one of the resident ghosts of the cemetery. The road that goes to the left of the giant cross leads toward the rear of the cemetery where Eugene (1881-1924), his wife Albertine (1888-1936), their son Ernest (1918–2002) and two year old Doris Doucette (1917-1919) are buried under a monument bearing their names. Eugene and Albertine had six children in all, but only two are buried with them. One of them, Doris, seems to enjoy greeting visitors who happen to wander into that section of the cemetery.

There are numerous reports of a child’s footprints left in the wet grass or on the pavement. Other reports include the sound of footsteps that resemble a small child walking or skipping. The sound usually follows people as they walk down the road near Doris’s resting place. Some have heard the laughter of a small child near the grave as well.

The ghost of Doris also appears every now and then. Her apparition appears near her grave and then vanishes into thin air. Witnesses have also seen the ghosts of who they believe are Albertine and Eugene roaming around their gravestone, probably looking for Doris as she frolics among the tombstones looking for someone to play with. Whether The ghosts know the living are there, or just appearing and disappearing at random is anyone’s guess. Perhaps they are just eternally passing time, a mom and dad spending the afterlife with the daughter they lost so young. If you should happen to visit the cemetery and see any one of the ghosts of Eugene, Albertine, or Doris, you may want to make an attempt to ask them why they linger in the place where their mortal frame is interred. Who knows, you might just get an answer.