Maine's Oldest Tavern In The Jameson Tavern Is A Haunted Gem Worth Seeking Out
By Michelle|Published October 04, 2020
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
As summer turns to fall here in Maine we’ve got our eyes on all the spooky things that come with the season. Somehow the fog feels creepier, the early morning chill feels more ghostly and with the sun going down earlier, there’s even more time for scary stories! We’ve got a great one for you right here. And you’ll love that you can actually go experience this particular haunting.
The building housing the Jameson Tavern in Freeport has been around since 1779. It first served as the family home for John Anglier Hyde, a local doctor.
And before you decide that the building’s origin story is unimportant, take a moment to remember that Maine didn’t become a state until 1820. That means this quaint building existed for about 40 years before we were even a state!
The Hyde family called the building home until 1801 when it was purchased by Captain Samuel Jameson who, along with his wife, officially created "Jameson’s Tavern." It went by this name until 1828 when it changed hands and became “Codman’s Tavern.” And almost 25 years after that it changed hands again and was owned by local shipbuilder, John Cushing.
With all this history so many different owners you’d expect the place to be filled with old souls. This place is considered to be seriously haunted! Ghost hunters and psychics have told stories of seeing an older gentleman in a top hat standing in the tavern’s entry hallway. Perhaps he’s greeting patrons!
Even more people have reported seeing a young girl who’s said to be called “Emily.” Believed to have perished in a fire while in the attic, she’s playful and fun hiding behind corners to surprise people with a laugh. More mysteriously, others have reported hearing pots land on the ground with a clang while the hooks holding them up remained firmly planted in the wall.
Despite these ghostly stories, this place is cozy and fun with a great tavern vibe. But we’re not the first to find it inviting! The Jameson Tavern was also where a meeting between commissioners took place to sign papers giving Maine independence from Massachusetts. You can even check out the plaque placed by the Daughters of the Revolution in 1914 commemorating the event.
The Freeport location makes this a great place to stop for lunch while shopping. But back in the day it was also the perfect stopping point for travelers going between Portland the northern parts of Maine. There are even stories of people like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce stopping on their way to Bowdoin.
And along with all this history let’s not forget just how great it is to enjoy a meal here! They’ve got a huge menu complete with quintessentially Maine seafood dishes.
The Jameson Tavern is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can learn more about it here or check them out on Facebook. Give them a call on 207-865-4196.
