Every October, at least one client asks me some version of the same question, usually with a smile: "If the house is haunted, do I have to say so?"
It is a fair question in our part of New Jersey. Morris, Somerset and Sussex Counties have been settled for more than three centuries, and George Washington's army spent more time in our hills than almost anywhere else. Along the way, our historic homes, taverns and encampments collected a healthy supply of ghost stories. So, in the spirit of the season, here is a lighthearted look at the law and the legends.
Yes, New Jersey Has a Rule About Ghosts
New Jersey is one of only a handful of states whose real estate rules mention haunting by name. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission's regulations classify "a property purportedly being haunted" as a "psychological impairment," along with events such as a death on the property (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4).
The rule is refreshingly simple. Real estate licensees are not required to volunteer this kind of information, because it does not affect the physical condition of the home. But if a prospective buyer or tenant asks, the licensee must share whatever they know (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4). One New Jersey attorney summed it up as "essentially a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy" (NorthJersey.com).
The rule traces back to a famous 1991 New York case, Stambovsky v. Ackley, in which a court found a Nyack house to be legally haunted, largely because the seller herself had publicized its ghosts (NorthJersey.com).
My practical advice for sellers: if your home has a ghost story, please do not feature it in the listing remarks. And if a buyer asks, answer honestly. Honesty is always the best policy, with or without a resident spirit. (For questions about a specific property, your real estate attorney is the right person to consult.)
Revolutionary War Ghosts
The Continental Army wintered in Morristown in 1777 and again in 1779–1780, and camped at Middlebrook in Somerset County in 1777 and 1778–1779. In real estate terms, George Washington was something of a serial short-term tenant in our area, and judging by the stories, a few of his companions never quite moved out. None of these tales is proven, which is most of the fun.
Jockey Hollow, Morristown. The winter of 1779–1780 here was so brutal that it made Valley Forge look mild by comparison, and the soldiers who endured it deserve every bit of our respect. Today, hikers, visitors and reenactors have reported columns of colonial soldiers marching through the trees, fife and drum music with no band in sight, and shadowy figures darting among the reconstructed huts (American Battlefield Trust). The most famous sighting is a woman in a long white colonial dress carrying a lantern along the trails, reportedly most often in the quiet winter months. The hill above the huts, officially Sugar Loaf Hill, has earned the nickname "Haunted Hill" (Morristown Green). If you hear a fife on your morning walk, my advice is simply to fall into step.
The Wick House, Jockey Hollow. Not a ghost, but too good to leave out. As the story goes, in January 1781, young Temperance "Tempe" Wick hid her riding horse in a bedroom of the family farmhouse so that mutinous Pennsylvania soldiers could not take it (National Park Service history, via Project Gutenberg). Historians doubt the horse ever made it past the front hall (PBS, Treasures of New Jersey). Still, I like to think of it as New Jersey's first "flexible-use bonus room." For the record, I do not recommend staging a bedroom this way.
The Wallace House, Somerville. George Washington made this Somerset County home his headquarters from December 1778 to June 1779, while the Wallace family kept living in the other half of the house, which may make it the area's original two-family arrangement. Guides and visitors report a friendly presence that taps shoulders or tugs gently on sleeves during tours. In my business, we call that an engaged buyer. Next door, the Old Dutch Parsonage once had a reputation for unexplained footsteps, until a visiting clergyman reportedly said a short prayer in the late 1980s and the noises stopped (New Jersey Haunted Houses). Few home repairs are that affordable.
Phyllis Parker and the Vealtown Tavern, Bernardsville. In January 1777, when Bernardsville was still called Vealtown, General Anthony Wayne's secret papers went missing at the local tavern. The tavern keeper's daughter, Phyllis Parker, was engaged to a charming doctor who turned out to be a British spy, and he was captured and hanged (Mr. Local History Project). Legend says Phyllis still returns to the old building on cold winter nights in search of her lost love. Local historians point out that there is no proof she ever existed, which has not slowed her down in the slightest (Patch). The lesson, nearly 250 years later, still holds: always check references.
The Headless Hessian, Old Army Road. Not to be outdone by Sleepy Hollow, the Somerset Hills has reported sightings of a headless Hessian soldier along Old Army Road (Patch). If you drive that way after dark this week, please keep your eyes on the road. He has not been able to do so for quite some time.
The Morristown Ghost. My favorite Revolutionary-era tale contains a genuine real estate lesson. In 1788, a former schoolteacher named Ransford Rogers persuaded several prominent Morristown citizens that a hoard of Tory gold was buried on Schooley's Mountain, guarded by spirits that only he could dispel. He collected their money instead, was caught and jailed, and escaped with the money anyway. The account, first published in 1792, was reprinted five times and eventually turned into a play (Morristown & Morris Township Library). The moral has aged well: when someone claims that only they can see the hidden value, ask for the comparable sales. Ghosts, I have found, rarely provide them.
A Few More Local Legends
The Publick House, Chester. Built in 1810 on a stagecoach stop, this beloved Chester tavern is said to host the spirit of the founder's mother, with guests reporting cold spots and the occasional whiff of phantom perfume (Haunt Bound).
The Darress Theatre, Boonton. Opened in 1919 as a vaudeville house, the theatre is said to have a former actor who never quite left the stage (Shop Morris County).
Town Hall, Bernards Township. In Somerset County, even municipal business may come with company. The 1912 Tudor mansion that now serves as Bernards Township's municipal building is said to be visited by Alice Burford Owen, wife of the home's original owner (Mr. Local History Project).
The Martin Mansion, Wantage. Sussex County's grand 1868 Martin Mansion is long gone, but as one local historian put it, "few old places have so haunted local memory" (Sparta Independent).
Things That Go Bump in the Night
In my experience, buyers in our area are far less worried about ghosts than about a few very real, and very fixable, issues.
A creaking floorboard has charm. Buyers of older homes practically expect one, and some would be disappointed without it. A loose railing, a sticking door or a light fixture that flickers on its own schedule, however, is simply a repair item. These small fixes cost little, take an afternoon, and remove the easy objections before a buyer ever has a chance to raise them.
Then again, if the floor creaks when no one is home, the door sticks only on the anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, and a figure in a powdered wig is carrying a candle down the back stairs, you may need more than a handyman. At that point, I recommend calling me, your attorney and, possibly, a clergyman, in roughly that order.
Treats Around Town This Weekend
If you would rather meet ghosts in costume, there is still plenty to enjoy:
Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Morristown. Friday, October 30, 3 to 5 p.m., at participating businesses around the Green (TAPinto Morristown).
Morris Plains Halloween Parade and Party. Saturday, October 31, at 4 p.m., from Roberts Garden to Simons Park, rain or shine (TAPinto Morristown).
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, St. Peter's, Morristown. Saturday, October 31: the annual Halloween silent film, with an original score improvised on the organ. Admission is free, and costumes are welcome (Morristown.info).
The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Mayo Performing Arts Center. Halloween night, with a costume contest (Shop Morris County).
Event details can change, so please confirm with each organizer before you go.
No Tricks, Just Good Advice
Whether your home comes with a ghost story, a 1790s fireplace or simply a long list of questions, I would be pleased to help you prepare it for the market or find the right home in Morris, Somerset or Sussex County. Call or text me at 973-714-1309 for a confidential conversation, or browse current listings at denisemortenson.turpinrealtors.com.
Happy Halloween.