The Great Amherst Mystery

Do you believe in ghosts? You would if you had lived in Amherst in 1878. It was at this time that residents of this small town saw their realm of understanding stretched beyond the limits of imagination. At the centre of the commotion was Esther Cox, a young woman who would draw international attention as the victim of a bizarre twist of fate.

Who Was Esther Cox?

Esther Cox was not an extra ordinary human being. In fact, she was quite the opposite. A happy, healthy eighteen-year-old girl, Esther lived peacefully in the home of Olive and Daniel Teed, her sister and brother-in-law, along with their children and her sister, Jennie. A fun loving girl, Esther enjoyed playing with her nephews and visiting friends. She busied herself with household chores and attended church regularly. However, the tranquility and simplicity of Esther’s existence was shattered when unexplainable phenomena made her the target of its cruelty.

Esther’s Ghosts

Esther was haunted by spirits that subjected her to mental and physical torment. They engraved death threats into her bedroom wall, swelled her limbs in feverish fits, stuck her with pins, and chased her with kitchen knives. Esther was not their only victim. The entire Teed household was turned upside down. Unseen hands tossed furniture about, lit mysterious fires, and knocked thunderously upon the roof. Esther often sought refuge with neighbouring friends and family when the ghosts endangered her or her family. However the spirits soon followed. In 1879, a neighbour’s barn that Esther had been working in caught fire and was destroyed. Charged with arson, Esther was convicted and spent a month in jail. Many attested her innocence. For not only had Esther’s family witnessed the incredible acts of the unseen powers, but the townspeople as well.

Seeing Is Believing

Esther’s spirits followed her beyond her home, never allowing her a moment’s peace. Whenever Esther attended church, incessant knocking and flying hymnbooks interrupted the service. Patrons at White’s Oyster Saloon, where Esther was employed, were amazed when chairs stacked themselves and dishes leapt off the shelves and crashed to the floor. The townspeople flocked to the little house on Princess Street to confirm the strange rumours concerning young Esther and to attempt to solve the mysterious occurrences.

Explaining The Great Amherst Mystery

Esther’s experiences were documented in the local newspapers. As the story spread throughout the nation and to parts of the United States, The Great Amherst Mystery evoked curiosity and scepticism. “Experts” of the day deemed Esther to be a fraud, a lunatic, and even a criminal. Others suggested that Esther some how conducted lightening or had fallen under the influence of hypnotism. Others suspected that dark unearthly agents were at work.

Today

Currently the Great Amherst Mystery remains unsolved. This classical tale of possession continues to challenge our belief in the supernatural. The little cottage on Princess Street where Esther lived out her worst nightmares has ceased to exist, but the story will never fade from memory. Whatever became of Esther Cox? She amazingly survived the ordeal and went on to become a wife and mother, finally taking up residence in the United States. Why the ghosts were motivated to haunt Esther or why they eventually allowed her to lead a normal life is unresolved. Some people believe that an exorcism performed by a Mi'kmaq Medicine Man successfully drove the mischievous spirits away.

Evidently a fine line exists between our world and the spirit world - a line that few of us will ever cross. Thus it is our narrow scope of understanding that holds the truth about The Great Amherst Mystery beyond arms’ reach.

Downtown Amherst Revitalization Society
35 Church Street
Amherst, Nova Scotia
Canada
B4H 4A1

Phone: (902) 667-3638
Fax: (902) 667-2270
Email: cerc@creda.net

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