Sunday Talks: Michelle Shores on America's First Ghost

It’s the month for a good ghost story and a Maine author has the perfect tale: an account of North America’s first documented ghost, a specter that appeared in 1799 in Downeast Maine.

Michelle Shores’ book, “The Gathering Room,” concerns the haunting of the coastal town of Sullivan by Nelly Butler, the young wife of Capt. George Butler. She had died in childbirth three years before but returned in ghostly garb to urge her husband to marry another woman.

Nelly’s ghost appeared for months and was observed by dozens of people who would come to hear her speak. Their testimonies regarding the haunting were captured in a pamphlet written by a traveling preacher as well as in letters and interviews with onlookers.

Although several books have been written on Nelly and George Butler, Shores’ book takes the liberty of filling in the personal gaps with imaginings of what might have been happening in the personal lives of the characters.

Shores was advertising manager for the Maine Tourism Association when she was captivated by the story.  “I did a ton of work into the historical part of it but wasn’t really satisfied with the lack of information about the people’s lives.  Then, I literally woke up one night and said to myself, ‘I’ll just write what I think happened.’”

In pursuit of the story, Shores visited Sullivan numerous times, including the cemetery where Capt. Butler is buried.  She also spoke with town residents, including the descendants of the story’s main characters.

“So my book is fiction, but if it encourages readers to search out the truth then I’ve been successful.”

Shores will present the tale and her book on Sunday, October 20, at 2 pm during the final talk of this fall’s Sunday Talks series at Eastport Arts Center.  Entry to the talk is by donation, which will help support future programming at the Center.

Does Shores now believe in ghosts since she completed the book?  She’s not sure.

“I have no idea what it was,” she admits. “I tend to be an incredibly logical, reasoning, analytical thinker.  If you look at this story it makes no sense.  But who knows There’s obviously no way it could have been a hoax.  I do believe something happened, but I can’t identify what it was.”

Eastport Arts Center is at 36 Washington Street, Eastport, and is handicapped-accessible.