Reports of ghosts at an enchanting mansion in the northern part of New Jersey. Here are some points to ponder before dismissing the idea that ghost are not real.
Situated on a fifteen-thousand acre State Park is one of the foremost Victorian homes in the United States known as The Ringwood Manor.
The original manor
Built in 1807 it replaced the original manor house which burned in 1780. It was the 51 room summer home of the Cooper-Hewitt family from 1856 to 1936 when it was donated to the state of New Jersey.
Ringwood Manor has been the subject of several books of ghostly encounters. There was a time when the mention of ghosts at the manor was a hush-hush subject.
For those who believe in ghosts and those who do not, spending the day at the manor can make the most skeptical person into a believer.
A bygone era
Towering oak trees line each side of the road forming a canopy for almost a mile. Small houses from an era gone by suddenly appear.
The haunted music room
Many a visitor who approaches the first room to the left has seen a woman in a blue satin gown seated on a bench directly in front of a harpsichord. She is unaware of her circumstance and the onlookers. Some say, it is Sally who the pond in front of the manor was named (Sally’s Pond). She has been dead for over a hundred years.
A walk up the oak staircase brings an eerie feeling and a sense of being watched. In the hallway of the second floor it has been reported by visitors and personnel that at three in the afternoon it is cold even on the most humid New Jersey day. There have been tales of a maid being beaten to death. "If you wander the halls of the Manor House at night, you might meet the ghost of a housemaid who haunts a small bedroom on the second floor," S.E.Schlosser.
The grounds of the manor are equally fascinating. There are tales of a young girl in a long white dress who enjoys skipping after every third step. She is only seen in the rear of the manor. Mr. Erskine can be seen strolling the grounds usually on the far side of Sally’s Pond. On occasion he enjoys sitting in one of the rocking chairs in front of the main entrance.
After the mid 1980s the staff at Ringwood began to acknowledge the ghosts of Ringwood Manor.
Master of the manor
For a beautiful walk back in time it is wonderful place to visit. Peace and serenity abound. Should a sudden tap on the shoulder occur, don’t be afraid. It’s just the impatient and curious master of the manor, Robert Erskine, making his presence known.
