The Ghosts of the Omni Parker House

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Two people in formal wedding attire stand in front of the ornate gold‑and‑black entrance of the Omni Parker House hotel. The bride’s long white veil trails across the ground as they pose beneath the illuminated sign reading “Omni Parker House,” framed by decorative lights and three arched doorways.

 Three Spirits, One Legendary Boston Hotel

Boston has no shortage of haunted corners, but few places pack as much ghostly star‑power into one building as the Omni Parker House. If you’ve ever walked through its lobby, you’ve stepped into a place where history lingers — and sometimes checks in for the night.

Here are three of the hotel’s most famous spectral guests.

Sepia‑toned 19th‑century portrait of a bearded man in formal Victorian attire, standing beside a small stack of books or papers. He rests one hand on the stack while the other sits on his hip, posing confidently against a plain studio backdrop.👻 Charles Dickens — The Restless Writer

Yes, that Charles Dickens. When Dickens stayed at the Parker House during his American reading tour, he rehearsed A Christmas Carol in front of the mirror in his suite. Staff and guests have reported seeing a man in Victorian clothing pacing the hallway on the third floor, muttering lines under his breath — as if he’s still practicing for a performance long finished.

👻 Harvey Parker — The Watchful Founder Sepia‑toned 19th‑century portrait of Harvey Parker, shown from the chest up. He has a full beard and neatly combed hair, and wears a formal suit with a bow tie and vest, posed against a plain background in classic Victorian photographic style.

Harvey Parker opened the hotel in 1855 and poured his life into it. Guests staying on the 10th floor have reported a kindly older man checking on them at night — asking if they’re comfortable, if they need anything, and then vanishing before they can answer.

👻 Charlotte Cushman — The Stage Legend

Charlotte Cushman was one of America’s most celebrated actresses, known for her powerful stage presence. She stayed at the Parker House often, and some say she still does. Guests have heard footsteps in empty hallways, felt sudden cold spots, and even caught glimpses of a tall woman in period dress near the elevators.

Sepia‑toned profile portrait of Charlotte Cushman, shown facing left with wavy hair pinned up and decorated with flowers. She wears a high‑collared garment fastened with a brooch, captured in the elegant, formal photographic style of the 19th century.

 

 

Haunted October- The Lady in Black of Fort Warren

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A large stone fort sits on an island surrounded by water, its arched entrance and rows of narrow windows facing the viewer. Mist drifts around the base of the weathered walls, and leafless trees rise from the grounds, adding to the eerie, abandoned atmosphere beneath a dark, cloudy sky.

Another Tale from the archives of Haunted October

Aerial view of a small island surrounded by water, featuring a large historic stone fort with bastioned walls, grassy interior grounds, and several buildings arranged within the complex. A long pier extends from one side of the island, highlighting its isolated coastal setting.A Fort on the Edge of My New Life

When I first came to Boston, I thought I’d be here for six months. Just long enough to finish my training, see a few sights, and head back home. So I did what any newcomer does — I explored. One of the first places I visited was Fort Warren out on George’s Island.

Even in daylight, the place had a weight to it. Long stone corridors that swallowed sound, archways older than the city itself, and that cold harbor wind that sneaks under your collar no matter how warm the day is. I didn’t know it then, but I was walking through one of New England’s most enduring ghost stories.

A Desperate Rescue in the Dark Black‑and‑white historical photograph showing a group of 19th‑century soldiers and civilians gathered outside a large arched doorway of a stone fort. Some sit on chairs while others stand around them, dressed in period military uniforms and civilian clothing, creating an informal scene of life at the fort.

The legend begins during the Civil War, with a woman named Melanie who came to Fort Warren disguised as a man. Her husband had been captured and imprisoned there, and she crossed the harbor with nothing but a rope, a disguise, and a small pistol tucked into her coat.

Antique guns were unreliable things — prone to misfires, jams, and sometimes outright explosions. But it was all she had.

She found her husband in the darkness of the prison casemate. Imagine that moment: two people who thought they’d never see each other again, whispering in the shadows, trying to stay quiet while their hearts pounded loud enough to give them away. They slipped into one of the tunnels, hoping to reach the shore before anyone noticed.

But someone did.

A guard spotted them, shouted, and in the panic Melanie raised the pistol. Maybe she meant to scare him. Maybe she meant to fire a warning sho or maybe her hands were shaking from fear and cold.

Whatever her intention, the gun never behaved.

It exploded.

The chamber burst inward, sending metal fragments flying. Some hit the stone wall. Some struck Melanie. And one piece of shrapnel hit her husband — killing him instantly.

She didn’t just lose him. She lost him by her own hand, even though it was an accident.

The rescue didn’t fail because of a guard or a misstep. It failed because the weapon she trusted betrayed her.

The Birth of a Ghost A person in vintage clothing walks through a dim stone tunnel, silhouetted by light at the far end. They wear a long dark dress with lace details and a wide‑brimmed hat, while a hanging lantern casts soft light on the arched ceiling and textured walls, creating a mysterious, historical mood.

Melanie was captured soon after. She was tried and executed on the grounds of the fort. Her final request was simple: to be buried in the black cloak she wore during the rescue.

And that’s how she became the Lady in Black.

Visitors say she still wanders the ramparts at dusk, searching for the man she came to save. Some hear footsteps behind them in the tunnels — slow, deliberate, echoing off the stone. Others feel a brush of fabric against their arm when no one is near. A few claim they’ve seen her silhouette drifting along the battlements, the long black cloak trailing behind her like a shadow that refuses to fade.

A Memory That Still Echoes

When I think back to my first visit — that quiet corridor, that watchful stillness — I wonder if I walked through one of the places she still haunts. Maybe she was there, just out of sight, carrying the weight of a moment that changed everything.

Some stories cling to a place. And some places cling right back.

Plan Your Own Visit

If you’ve never been to Georges Island, it’s worth the trip. Fort Warren is one of those places where history settles into the stonework — quiet, atmospheric, and just eerie enough to make you glance over your shoulder in the tunnels. Walk the ramparts, explore the casemates, and let the harbor wind tell its own stories.

And who knows. Maybe you’ll feel that same watchful stillness I did all those years ago.

You can catch a ferry out during the season — Boston Harbor Cuises

 

WMEO News Commentary- Daylight Savings Time

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk for a “DST Debate” segment. The orange cat on the left wears a black bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a toy mouse and small teddy bear. A microphone is centered between them. Behind the desk is a festive fall backdrop featuring pumpkins, leaves, coffee cups, and a large clock reading 2:00 with a wooden “FALL BACK” sign above it.

Live from Taunton, this is a WMEO 9 news update – Daylight Savings Time bill stalled in Senate

WMEO News Commentary – Daylight Savings Time

Banner (serious, calm): “Only weeks to go before the clocks fall back and Daylight Saving Time ends for another year. And despite years of debate, nothing has changed.”

Banner continues: “The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent year‑round. However, the proposal stalled in the Senate, with no vote scheduled. Nineteen states have already approved measures supporting permanent DST, but federal law prevents any of them from taking effect until Congress acts.”

Balboa (outraged): “So basically… nobody can agree on what time it is?”

Banner (deadpan): “That is correct. As a result, it appears we have another year of changing our clocks.”

Balboa (panicking): “FALLING BACK MEANS BREAKFAST WILL BE LATE.”

Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat dressed as a WMEO field reporter, stands in a cranberry bog surrounded by floating red cranberries. He wears a white “Boogie in the Bog” T‑shirt and a black WMEO press hat decorated with an orange leaf. He holds a WMEO‑branded microphone in one paw and looks directly at the camera with a serious expression. Behind him are water, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.Pumpkin Spice (remote, exhausted): “I’ve survived storms, bogs, and bears. Now I have to survive a government‑mandated time shift? This job is hazardous.”

Balboa (dramatic): “I CAN’T LIVE LIKE THIS.”

Banner (closing, dry): “With only weeks to go, it’s not looking good for the Sunshine Protection Act. Viewers are advised to prepare for the annual confusion. You may also need to look up how to adjust the time on your stove, microwave, and other appliances. Those are notoriously difficult to change, and we expect widespread frustration.”

Banner (final reminder):Cartoon illustration of a large clock showing 12:00, with a cartoon person hanging onto the minute hand as it lifts them off the ground. The clock face is light blue, and the scene humorously suggests someone trying to hold onto time.

So remember folks, on November 1 at 2 am you’ll once again be turning your clocks back 1 Hour. Forewarned is forarmed. 

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

This Has Been A WMEO  9 Public Service announcement. We Meow- You Listen

 

 

 

 

Nothing like a Deep Fried Donut

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A white plate with a blue rim holds several homemade, golden‑brown fried donuts with slightly irregular shapes, sitting on a kitchen countertop.

Time to Make the Donuts

A smiling Dunkin’ Donuts employee in a beige uniform and paper hat holds up a chocolate‑glazed donut while standing in front of trays filled with assorted donuts.

 

Do you remember Fred? The dedicated — and perpetually tired — baker who dragged himself out of bed every morning to “Make the Donuts”? That Dunkin’ ad ran for 15 or 16 years, and somehow the line stuck. Everyone still knows it.

Well… for me, I’ve probably avoided making the donuts for at least that long.

I tried baked donuts once. I even bought the special pans. They looked like donuts, but they didn’t taste like donuts. They were fine, but I never made them again.

Seven chocolate‑glazed donuts rest on a metal cooling rack set over aluminum foil, their glossy tops contrasting with the golden‑brown dough beneath.

Dunkin’ (now just Dunkin) makes decent donuts, but they aren’t the ones I remember from childhood. Colonial Donuts comes close — dangerously close — and that’s how this whole adventure started. I got hooked on their crunchy, cakey Old Fashioned donut. Now I’m craving them, but I’m carless, and I’m not about to spend an hour on Dial‑a‑Ride for a single donut. And I’m definitely not spending $20 on Uber or $10 on DoorDash.

So there was only one thing left to do: I’d have to make them myself.

Luckily, they freeze well. I can make a whole batch, keep a few out, and tuck the rest away for later.

I dug out my battered, slightly dented donut cutter. I have a new one, but the little center piece refuses to stay put, so the old one wins. I laid out all my basics. I haven’t made donuts in so long that I honestly can’t remember ever making them completely on my own. So I was being extra careful.

I don’t have my mom’s recipe, but I found one that’s close — close enough that the first bite tasted like home.

Sour Milk Donuts

Equipment A kitchen countertop with a large metal mixing bowl and wooden spoon, plus small bowls holding butter, eggs, and granulated sugar arranged for baking.

  • Donut cutter
  • Dutch oven (mine is cast iron, of course)
  • Slotted spoon
  • Candy thermometer
  • Paper towels (or grocery bags — traditional in Mom’s kitchen)

Ingredients

For the donuts

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 3 ½ cups all‑purpose flour A stainless steel mixing bowl holds a rough, partially mixed ball of dough resting on a speckled kitchen countertop.
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup sour milk or buttermilk
  • Vegetable oil or Crisco for frying

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Blend in the beaten eggs.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the sour milk.
  4. Place dough in a medium bowl, cover, and chill for at least 2 hours.Four ring‑shaped donuts fry in bubbling hot oil, their edges turning golden brown as they cook.
  5. Roll dough out on a floured surface to about ⅓ inch thick. Cut with a donut cutter, saving the centers.
  6. Heat 24–48 oz of oil or Crisco to 350° using a candy thermometer. Fry donuts 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
  7. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper bags or paper towels.
  8. Repeat until all dough is used.

Notes

My recipe called for a glaze, but I skipped it — I wanted plain donuts.

About halfway through mixing, I remembered exactly why I hadn’t made donuts in so long. The dough is stiff, and you really have to put some muscle into it to get all the flour incorporated.Four golden‑brown donuts float in bubbling hot oil as they finish frying in a deep pan.

This particular dough got sticky as it warmed up. I cut all the donuts and put them on a sheet pan, but next time I’ll cut and fry in batches so I can keep the dough chilled.

But for all my bungling, I didn’t burn the kitchen down or scald myself with hot oil. Aside from a few straggly-shaped donuts, they came out pretty good — and my cast iron Dutch oven got a beautiful seasoning. So I’m calling it a win all around.

I think cider donuts might be next.

Two bowls of freshly fried donuts sit on a kitchen counter—one filled with large ring‑shaped donuts, the other with smaller round and oval donut holes, all golden brown and crisp.

 

WMEO News Update — October Declared Massachusetts Cranberry Month

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. On the left, an orange long‑haired cat wearing a black bow tie sits upright with a serious expression. On the right, a black short‑haired cat looks toward the camera with bright green eyes. A microphone stands between them on the desk, along with papers featuring paw prints and two small plush toys — a gray mouse and a brown teddy bear. Behind them, a large studio screen displays a photo of a cranberry bog filled with floating red cranberries under a blue sky, along with the headline “WMEO 9 October Is Cranberry Month.”

Live from the Nature Desk at WMEO 9, We bring you the latest Cranberry update

WMEO 9- We Meow-You Listen

Banner: Governor Maura Healey has officially proclaimed October as “Massachusetts Cranberry Month,” honoring the state’s official berry and the many multi‑generational farming families that grow them. Moreover, it’s a nod to the deep agricultural roots that keep the Commonwealth colorful every fall.

Balboa: Cranberries? Those are tart little red berries that float. Naturally, they make me think of Thanksgiving — cranberry sauce, muffins, maybe pie.

Banner: Massachusetts is home to the nation’s oldest continuous cranberry cultivation. Therefore, even without the Governor’s declaration, October is a big month for cranberries. The harvest is in full swing.

Meanwhile, we go now to our roving reporter, Pumpkin Spice, who is currently enjoying a cranberry bog.

Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat dressed as a WMEO field reporter, stands in a cranberry bog surrounded by floating red cranberries. He wears a white “Boogie in the Bog” T‑shirt and a black WMEO press hat decorated with an orange leaf. He holds a WMEO‑branded microphone in one paw and looks directly at the camera with a serious expression. Behind him are water, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.Pumpkin Spice: “Pumpkin Spice reporting live from the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts — where apparently the entire state is just… fruit water. Lots and lots of fruit. And lots and lots of cold water.”

“In the last week I’ve been soaked in a storm, chased by bears, and now I’m wading through berries. Consequently, this job is a hazard.”

Balboa (from off‑camera): “PUMPKIN THEY’RE GONNA COME BACK FOR YOU YOU’RE SMALL AND SNACK‑SIZED!”

Pumpkin Spice : “Balboa, please. I’m a professional. At least, I got this cool shirt out of it.”

A white T‑shirt featuring a playful design of three cartoon red cranberries dancing on a musical staff with a treble clef and music notes. Below the illustration, the text reads “Boogie in the Bog.”

Banner: “Thank you, Pumpkin. Please return safely. Otherwise, we cannot afford another bear‑related incident.”

Pumpkin (muttering): “They were surprisingly fast.”

Finally, Banner closes: “And just a reminder, folks — Ocean Spray’s 15th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration will be held at Patriot Place in Foxboro on Saturday, October 24 from 10 AM to 4 PM. This free, family‑friendly autumn tradition features seasonal activities throughout Patriot Place and behind Bass Pro Shop.”

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.