Paul Leone recently republished his book “Chautauqua Ghosts” in a new hard copy edition, with amendments and additions in the form of historically relevant photographs, a new foreword — featuring an original poem penned by Leone entitled “Ghost Witness” — and expanded textual material in some of the eight individual short stories that make up the book.

“Chautauqua Ghosts” was originally published on paperback in 1996 to much acclaim and enthusiasm by those with an appreciation for some of Chautauqua County’s more ghastly, gruesome and unfortunate events, and the supernatural tales that followed. A fairly popular cult phenomenon, the book underwent six reprints before Leone opted to take the book off the presses three years ago in order to make some adjustments and improvements which he deemed necessary.

“I purposely took ‘Chautauqua Ghosts’ out of circulation three years ago because I wanted to release a more substantial hard copy version,” Leone said. “It was clear from the beginning that the book was received in the community with a great deal enthusiasm, so I wanted to make sure that I had a more substantial copy to give them. I also wanted to re-release it in the hope that some of our younger people might take it on and read it and put it in their libraries.”

Included among the pages of “Chautauqua Ghosts” is the story of Joseph Damon, a Pomfret man who was convicted in the 1834 murder of his wife and subsequently hanged the following year in what Leone said was the last public execution to occur in the state of New York. Also appearing is the capsizing of a boat on Cassadaga Lake in 1852, which resulted in the drowning deaths of seven young women and which, Leone said, contributed to the development of a strong spiritualist community that still resides in the area.

Local writer Paul Leone has republished a new, hard copy edition of his 1996 historical book “Chautauqua Ghosts.” Submitted photos

Also featured in the book are the stories of Mary Peabody, Prudence and Charity Chatham, Allen’s Opera House, Dayton’s Ghost, Panama Rocks and Daniel Kenton.

Leone said he is often asked if he believe in ghosts, as in the spirits of the dead that remain on Earth. He said his definition of a “ghost” differs slightly from this more widely accepted definition.

“I believe that ghosts are the residual remains of some sort of passionate person or event after they’ve gone,” he said. “The memory of the Damon event, for example, deserves to remain in the public conscience and be spread throughout the community, and so the memory of the event itself becomes the ghost.”

The bulk of the photographic material included in the book was used courtesy of the archives of the Fenton History Center, and appear at the beginning of each story. The new edition of “Chautauqua Ghosts” also features new artwork and cover art, which was designed by Gary Peters Jr.

Physical copies of the book can be found and purchased at the Chautauqua Bookstore, Off the Beaten Path, the Ashville General Store and the Fenton History Center. It can also be found at Cadwell’s Cheese House in Dewittville and the Old Corner Deli in Mayville during their open seasons.

Online requests can be made by emailing Leone at chautauquaregionpress@gmail.com, and signed copies can also be requested.

Additionally, Leone will be holding a series of book talks and signings in the coming months, which will be published in The Post-Journal as the dates become available. He is scheduled to hold a book talk on Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Patterson Library, 40 S. Portage St. in Westfield, at 6 p.m.