Watch CBS News

Did a Portsmouth, New Hampshire restaurant "known for its ghosts" catch a spooky sight on camera?

Library Restaurant in New Hampshire says they may have caught a ghost on camera
Library Restaurant in New Hampshire says they may have caught a ghost on camera 00:41

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Did a New Hampshire restaurant catch a ghost on camera? 

The Library Restaurant in Portsmouth says in a Facebook post that motion detectors inside the building were triggered just before what appears to be a puff of smoke passes by outside.

The restaurant says it couldn't have been wind because the trees in the video aren't moving, and also shot down suggestions that it was someone smoking or vaping. 

"It is not lights from the car - because you can see how others are picked up and there is no horizontal wind blowing. So what can this be!" the Facebook post reads.

The video shows police officers responding to the alarms shortly after. 

Our building - the Rockingham - is well known for its ghosts and notably the ones in the Library basement. Last night, for the very first time our motion detector alarms INSIDE the building were set off by this camera motion caught on video in the dead of night outside the window. The motion detectors inside cannot see what the camera outside sees! It is not lights from the car - because you can see how others are picked up and there is no horizontal wind blowing. So what can this be! Make of it what you will but this has never happened before! Spooky coincidence for the time of year? Ps our Police rock,showing up to check it all out in double quick time 1:18.

Posted by Library Restaurant on Tuesday, October 17, 2023

"Make of it what you will but this has never happened before!" the restaurant posted. "Spooky coincidence for the time of year?"   

Those commenting on the restaurant's Facebook page were divided about whether something paranormal actually occurred.

"It's just steam or fog," one person wrote, though the restaurant replied that is not something that would have set off indoor alarms.

"You can see a poltergeist going by the camera. Very cool," another said.

Others claimed to have had ghastly encounters in the building before.

"I have been to the library many times, and I assure you that there is a female ghost in the bathroom area in the lower level," reads one comment.

The restaurant is located The Rockingham building, which is said to be "well known for its ghosts and notably the ones in the Library basement." It was built in 1785 but mostly destroyed in a "disastrous fire" in 1884. 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.