Vermont has its fair share of haunted places and ghostly tales, and this is one that will send shivers down your spine. This haunting is not in your traditional house, but a popular restaurant in downtown Burlington. The Shanty on the Shore may be best known for its fresh seafood, but there is a tale behind the first inhabitant that makes you wonder if he ever left. Let’s take a closer look at this haunted restaurant in VT.
In 1833, Issac Nye ran a successful general store on the Burlington waterfront.
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore The building was located on the four-lot stretch of land and dock known as Nye’s Wharf.
Today this location is the popular seafood restaurant Shanty on the Shore.
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore But the tales of the past owner continue to be told.
Nye kept to himself and interacted as little as possible with his patrons.
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore He had brief conversations with his customers and the family who rented the rooms upstairs, and he became known as “The Hermit of Champlain.”
Otherwise, Nye kept to himself.
Flickr/Hartwig HKD
Suddenly, at the age of 44, Nye announced that business was ‘distasteful’ and he promptly closed his doors, never to open again.
Flickr/Roel Driever He moved into the small room in the back of the shop and became even more reclusive.
However, Nye would always go out to do his favorite thing…
Flickr/Carol von Cannon Attend funerals.
It didn’t matter if Nye knew the deceased or not.
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore He would stay until the bitter end and the last bit of dirt went onto the coffin before he would get back into his buggy and return home.
When Nye died at the age of 80 he had one final request regarding his own funeral.
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore He asked that his shop which had been closed for 30 years be opened and his body be laid out on the counter for people to pay their respects.
The 1871 Burlington Free Press details this peculiar funeral:
Flickr/waferboard “The goods in the store when he closed it, remained and mouldered upon the shelves. He would sell nothing of them, and what is left of them are still there.”
But that wasn’t the end of good old Issac Nye.
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore Restaurant staff say that they hear footsteps and lights mysteriously turn on. Glassware rattles despite there not being any breeze, cold chills and moved furniture have been reported as well.
Even the current owner of the Shanty by the Sea believes that Nye’s spirit still lives in the building.
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore Perhaps he simply couldn’t give up his stunning view.
For more haunted places take this haunted road trip through Vermont… If you dare!
Facebook/Shanty on the Shore
The building was located on the four-lot stretch of land and dock known as Nye’s Wharf.
But the tales of the past owner continue to be told.
He had brief conversations with his customers and the family who rented the rooms upstairs, and he became known as “The Hermit of Champlain.”
Flickr/Hartwig HKD
Flickr/Roel Driever
He moved into the small room in the back of the shop and became even more reclusive.
Flickr/Carol von Cannon
Attend funerals.
He would stay until the bitter end and the last bit of dirt went onto the coffin before he would get back into his buggy and return home.
He asked that his shop which had been closed for 30 years be opened and his body be laid out on the counter for people to pay their respects.
Flickr/waferboard
“The goods in the store when he closed it, remained and mouldered upon the shelves. He would sell nothing of them, and what is left of them are still there.”
Restaurant staff say that they hear footsteps and lights mysteriously turn on. Glassware rattles despite there not being any breeze, cold chills and moved furniture have been reported as well.
Perhaps he simply couldn’t give up his stunning view.
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