Community Corner
Tales of True Crime, Ghosts Highlight Moorestown Ghost Tour
Curious about the darker side of Moorestown's history? The Historical Society of Moorestown has tale or two for you.
A bloody ending to a bar fight and a house possessed by a demon are just a couple of the stories highlighting this year’s annual ghost tours, courtesy of the Moorestown Historical Society.
Organizer Julie Maravich, a member of the society’s board of trustees, said the society added the aforementioned tales of true crime and the supernatural to the tour, now in its eighth year. The first pair of tours were held last weekend, but you have four more chances to catch them this weekend.
Maravich said the Historical Society uncovered the story of Samuel Macready, who tried to break up a bar fight over a game of bagatelle—a “billiards-derived indoor table game,” according to Wikipedia—at Snyder’s Oyster Bar on Main Street (roughly where Morrone & Kaye Orthodontics now sits) and got a knife to the forehead for his troubles.
“He literally slid down, sat on the floor, and died,” said Maravich.
No word on whether Macready’s ghost has ever been seen wandering downtown. Maravich said the Historical Society is still investigating.
The second addition to the tour involves semi-renowned spiritualist Agnes Sanford, wife of Episcopal priest Edgar L. Sanford, who was minister of Trinity Episcopal Church on Main Street.
According to Maravich, Agnes Sanford believed there was a “demonic presence” in her home, located at the corner of Main and Church streets, possibly in the vicinity of NovaCare Rehabilitation.
Visitors will hear those stories and several more during the “graveyard to graveyard” tour this weekend. The tour—at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday night—begins at Smith-Cadbury Mansion, Historical Society headquarters, and heads to the cemetery behind the Episcopal Church, then down Main Street to the Quaker cemetery on Chester Avenue, before looping back along Main to the old town hall building (and jail) across from Starbucks and back to the mansion.
For $12—about the price of a movie ticket these days—tour attendees not only get an hour-plus spooky history lesson, but also complimentary popcorn (donated by Moorestown Hardware), candy corn and apples. Tickets are $10 for students and free for kids under 10.
The tours will be held rain or shine, so keep an eye on the forecast and dress appropriately. Attendees are also advised to bring a flashlight.
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