Norton’s Mine & The Mystery of Hannah Nute.
By Joseph A. Citro
NORTON'S MINE
In the remote and wild Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, a story echoes through the forests and mountains, reminiscent of the tales of the Lost Dutchman Mine or King Solomon's treasures. This is the story of Edward Norton and his lifelong pursuit of a hidden fortune in Lemington, Vermont, near the imposing Monadnock Mountain.
Edward Norton, not originally from Vermont, arrived in Lemington in the early 20th century. Born in 1844 near Albany, New York, he had worked with the United States Army survey and geology teams. His travels eventually led him to Lemington, where he settled by the Connecticut River after marrying a woman from New Hampshire.
Norton was captivated by Monadnock Mountain, once a volcano and now a 3,000-foot-high granite dome. Around 1900, he became convinced that the mountain concealed a rich vein of gold. Determined to uncover this treasure, Norton, at 51, embarked on an extraordinary journey that would define the rest of his life.
He bought the mineral rights to Monadnock and single-handedly started constructing a road to his secret mining site. Norton's house, painted in a distinctive yellow-orange hue made from minerals mined on the mountain, stood as a symbol of his unique endeavor.
For the next twenty years, Norton tirelessly chipped away at solid Vermont granite. Through harsh winters and blistering summers, he worked alone, driven by an unyielding belief in the mountain's hidden riches. His obsession led him to neglect his family and devote all his time and energy to the mine.
Despite his relentless effort and sacrifice, Norton's mine never yielded gold. He passed away in November 1922, leaving behind many unanswered questions. What inspired his unwavering conviction? Was it a map, a supernatural hint, or a discovery in geology that convinced him gold lay within Monadnock?
The true motivator of Norton's quest remains a mystery, perhaps as simple as a belief that just a few inches to the right or left might have revealed a fortune and sparked a gold rush in Vermont's north country. Today, Norton's mine stands as a testament to one man's dream and the enduring allure of undiscovered treasure.
THE MYSTERY OF HANNAH NUTE
In Lancaster, New Hampshire, a ghost story lingers around the Farrar family home, a tale that begins with the hiring of a young servant, Hannah Nute, in 1818. William Farrar, a prosperous lawyer and deacon, and his wife brought Hannah into their home, unaware of the eerie events that would soon unfold.
Shortly after Hannah's arrival, strange occurrences began. One night, she was startled by distinct rapping sounds coming from under her bed, a rhythmic knocking that defied explanation. When Mrs. Farrar came to investigate, the noises persisted, convincing even the skeptical Deacon Farrar that something unworldly was at play.
The rappings grew louder and more frequent, leading Deacon Farrar to seek the counsel of Minister Joseph Willard. Despite thorough investigations and prayers, the source of the sounds remained a mystery, with every corner of the house scrutinized to no avail. The inexplicable events prompted whispers of hauntings, with suspicion falling on Hannah, as the rappings occurred only in her presence.
In an attempt to unravel the mystery, four town elders conducted a vigil, restraining Hannah and observing her closely. Astonishingly, the rapping continued even under these controlled conditions, leaving the observers bewildered and defeated.
Exhausted and distressed by the ordeal, Hannah requested to leave her position. As she prepared to depart, the rappings intensified, following her movements through the house with a thunderous resonance. This led to speculation: did the mysterious presence leave with Hannah, or did it linger in the house?
After the Farrar family left, the house, now known locally as "The Haunted House," was purchased by the Norris family. They too experienced strange phenomena: doors banging shut, unexplained noises, and terrifying encounters, particularly in the basement. One of the Norris daughters was so frightened by something she saw there that she never spoke of it again.
Intriguingly, in the late 1850s, the Catholic Church acquired the property. Without delay, they demolished the house, replacing it with a rectory. This action raised questions about the church's possible knowledge of the house's eerie history.
The mystery of Hannah Nute and the haunted Farrar house remains an intriguing chapter in New Hampshire's folklore, a story of unexplained phenomena that continues to captivate and mystify.
Joseph A. Citro is a Vermont author, folklorist, and longtime collector of New England’s strangest stories, from ghostly happenings to local legends and unexplained curiosities. Known to many as Vermont’s “Bard of the Bizarre,” he has spent decades preserving the tales that linger along back roads, old houses, covered bridges, and quiet hillsides. In Passing Strange, Citro shares folklore with a curious eye, a storyteller’s warmth, and just enough mystery to make you look twice on the ride home.