Haunted Gay Bars of New England: Ghosts, History, and the Search for Spectral Cocktails

New England, with its cobblestone streets, centuries-old buildings, and rich (and sometimes gruesome) history, is practically begging to be haunted. We're talking witch trials, pirate hangings, and enough historical trauma to keep paranormal investigators busy for decades. But beyond the usual haunted houses and spooky cemeteries, a different kind of spectral tale lurks: the haunted gay bars of New England. So, grab your EMF reader and your favorite cocktail – because we're diving into the ghostly lore of some iconic LGBTQ+ watering holes.

Jacques Cabaret: Where Drag Queens Meet the Departed

Our first stop takes us to Boston's Bay Village, home to Jacques Cabaret. This isn't your average sports bar; it's a legendary drag cabaret with a reputation for both cheap drinks and… well, let's just say some unusual patrons. Established as a straight bar before transitioning to a gay bar, Jacques has been a haven for the LGBTQ+ community for decades. I mean, who hasn't heard the phrase, "The more you drink, the better *we* look!" shouted from the stage?

While you might leave Jacques with a slightly haunted liver (we've all been there), some claim the hauntings go deeper than just morning-after regret. Rumors persist of ghostly encounters, and comedian Jim Lauletta recounted a chilling experience in Sam Baltrusis's book, *Ghosts of Boston.* Descending into the basement one night, Lauletta felt a strange energy and saw a fleeting figure. The supposed culprit? None other than Sylvia Sidney, the "Bitch of Boston" and a drag pioneer known for her crude humor.

Could it be that Sidney, who passed away in 1999, simply wants one more encore? Or is there more to the story? What else could possibly haunt a place like Jacques? Well, this is where things take a particularly dark turn.

The Cocoanut Grove Tragedy and Jacques' Dark Secret

A long-standing rumor whispers that Jacques served as a temporary morgue after the devastating Cocoanut Grove fire of 1942. This horrific event claimed the lives of nearly 500 people, making it one of the deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history. Imagine the scene: panicked crowds, blocked exits, and unimaginable loss.

While unconfirmed, the rumor suggests that the bodies of the victims were laid out on Piedmont Street, and that Jacques, being nearby, was used to house some of the dead. Could the spirits of these victims still linger, trapped between worlds in the very spot where their bodies once rested? An older acquaintance of mine claimed to have heard this directly from Sylvia Sidney herself! Is it truth, rumor, or just a bit of cabaret hyperbole? We may never know for sure.

The Club and Ramrod: Boylston Street's Double Dose of the Supernatural

Our ghostly tour continues to Boylston Street, where not one, but *two* haunted gay bars allegedly reside. Talk about prime paranormal real estate!

First up is the former site of "The Club," originally a horse carriage factory turned popular gay dance club in the 70s and 80s. The Club had a reputation for mystique, a place where the straights "don't dare tread because they've heard it's gay." But according to one friend, the club had ties to organized crime. The tale goes that the mobster owner met an untimely end due to carbon monoxide poisoning after a night with two prostitutes, leaving his spirit to haunt the club he once profited from.

While the building is now the Baseball Tavern (a straight sports bar), the story of the mobster's ghost serves as a reminder of The Club's significance to Boston's LGBTQ+ community and the darker side of its past. So, next time you're catching a game there, maybe keep an eye out for a shadowy figure with a fedora.

Ramrod and Machine: Bodies Under the Dance Floor?

Just a few doors down from the former Club site is Ramrod (currently home to Ramrod and Machine), a gay leather bar and nightclub with a particularly… *unconventional* backstory. The dance floor at Machine is located in what was the basement of the leather bar. The rumor is that the space used to be a storage area for human body parts used by local medical schools.

Imagine dancing the night away above jars filled with formaldehyde-soaked specimens! It's a gruesome thought, but it adds a certain… *je ne sais quoi* to the club's atmosphere. Is it just a morbid coincidence that both Jacques and Ramrod have basements rumored to be connected to dead bodies? Or is there a deeper, more unsettling truth to these stories?

Beyond Boston: Other Haunted Hotspots?

While our focus has been on Boston, the search for haunted gay bars shouldn't be confined to one city. New England is full of other towns and cities with their own histories of LGBTQ+ life, nightlife, and (presumably) paranormal activity. Who knows what ghostly tales await in Provincetown, Portland, or Providence?

So, Are These Bars Really Haunted?

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these stories offer a fascinating glimpse into the history and culture of New England's LGBTQ+ community. They remind us that these spaces are more than just bars and nightclubs; they're places of community, celebration, and sometimes, even lingering spirits.

Perhaps the real question isn't whether these bars are haunted, but what stories they tell about the people who have passed through their doors. Each ghost story, each rumor, each chilling encounter adds another layer to the rich and complex tapestry of LGBTQ+ history in New England. If you find yourself in one of these establishments, take a moment to listen… you might just hear something more than just the clinking of glasses.