BIDDEFORD — Since he was a young boy, George “Pete” Lamontagne has been a true believer in the supernatural. His mother died when he was 11, and Lamontagne’s father said he had sightings of her after her death.

Lamontagne has accepted the existence of ghosts ever since.

Later this month, he will share some of his experiences with those taking the “Secret Spaces, Haunted Places” tour. The event is a fundraiser for the downtown revitalization organization the Heart of Biddeford, and will take place Saturday, April 27.

It’s the fifth year of the event, said HOB Executive Director Delilah Poupore. Each year, those on the tour get to visit places within Biddeford’s downtown and mill district that aren’t usually open to the public.

For those who have taken the tour in the past, Poupore encourages them to take it again. Not only are there a couple of new venues, but this year’s fundraiser also has a different spin, with the inclusion of tales of the paranormal.

“We welcome locals and visitors to explore Biddeford’s fascinating past while enjoying some of its present strengths,” she said.

Those taking the self-paced tour will visit five sites in Biddeford’s downtown and mill district. Guides at each location will share information about supernatural events and historical anecdotes about each of the spots, which include: The lagoon in the basement of one of the former mill buildings on the Pepperell Mill Campus, the City Hall clock tower, the attic at the McArthur Public Library, the old Reny’s Building, and the classic car company Motorland Vintage America. The tour is self-guided, so participants can visit all or just some of the locations at their leisure during the afternoon hours.

With the use of special equipment, similar to that used by professional ghost hunters, Lamontagne and others have visited each site.

“We found activity at each and every place,” said Lamontagne. “Some are more active than others.”

Lamontagne, a former worker at WestPoint Home, the city’s last textile mill, which closed in 2009, leads ghost tours at some of the former mill buildings that make up the Pepperell Mill Campus.

For the HOB event, he will take tour participants to the mill lagoon and share some of his experiences with the supernatural.

For instance, one time Lamontagne and a friend were kayaking around the mill when the apparition of a young girl dressed in clothing from the pre-World War II era appeared and later vanished into thin air. Both he and his friend saw the vision, said Lamontagne.

The choir room in the McArthur Library’s attic, which is generally closed to the public, is one of the other stops.

“The choir room and attic is likely more secret than haunted,” wrote library Director Jeff Cabral in an email, “although recently, ghost hunters were able to use a ”˜spirit box’ and received communication in the choir room from a woman named Ruthie who mentioned 1880 as a significant year for her. ”¦ ”˜Five’ was heard many times by the paranormal investigators. Five spirits? A 5-year-old ghost? You be the judge!”

The library building is the former home of the Pavilion Church and was built 150 years ago.

The choir room contains one of the original pews from the Pavilion Church as well as many spooky relics from the past, and in general, “an atmosphere akin to traveling back in time,” said Cabral.

The “Secret Spaces/Haunted Places” tour will take place Saturday, April 27 from 2-6 p.m. in downtown Biddeford. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, $15 for adults over 18; and children 12 and under can take the tour for free. Purchase tickets online at Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/361182 or from the Heart of Biddeford office, 205 Main St., Suite 103, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All proceeds will support the nonprofit Heart of Biddeford to help support downtown Biddeford community events and revitalization efforts.

There will be light refreshments at each of the five stops.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or [email protected].