Spider Gates Cemetery sits quietly in Leicester, Massachusetts, but its reputation is anything but peaceful. Known officially as Friends Cemetery, this historic Quaker burial ground has become famous for ghost stories, strange legends, and midnight mysteries.
Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, the tales surrounding this place have made it one of New England’s most talked-about haunted spots.
1. The Iconic Ironwork That Started It All
Back in 1895, someone installed beautiful wrought-iron gates at the cemetery entrance. People started calling them “Spider Gates” because the design looked like spider webs to many visitors. Actually, the craftsmen meant to show sun rays in an Art Deco style, not creepy webs at all.
These gates became the symbol of the cemetery’s spooky reputation for over a century. Unfortunately, vandals damaged them so badly that they had to be removed in 2022. Now the Leicester Historical Society keeps them safe, preserving a piece of local history that sparked countless ghost stories.
2. A Quaker Burial Ground With Centuries of History
Friends Cemetery dates back to the 1740s, making it one of Massachusetts’s oldest Quaker burial grounds. The Worcester Friends Meeting still takes care of it today, maintaining the peaceful resting place with respect and dedication…