Ringwood Manor
photo taken from hauntsofamerica.com
Ringwood Manor is located in Ringwood, New Jersey. Long before Europeans discovered and settled in the United States, the ground upon which the manor was built was considered to be sacred by the Native Americans. Tribes from all over the east coast were said to have come to this spot for special ceremonies because of unusual happenings that took place there. The scientific explanation of the strange happenings are the large amount of iron ore buried in the soil there which sets off a powerful magnetic force. Iron is indeed what brought Robert Erskine to the area.
He built the original manor in 1762. By 1764, the town had become self-sufficient to support and provide for the iron-making business in Ringwood. During the Revolutionary War, the Ringwood Manor served as headquarters for General Washington, a supply center for troops, and a main transportation route. Many soldiers died on the site as one could imagine. This includes many French soldiers who died there that were buried in unmarked graves on the grounds.
To this day, you can still see the indentation where these French soldiers lie. Often times at night, one may hear the voices of French soldiers, along with horse hooves running towards the bridge. Horse manure has also been smelled even when there are no horses around. The best-known spirit of Ringwood Manor is that of Robert Erskine, the original owner. His spirit was seen in the early 1800s, sitting atop his gravestone holding a lantern. Sometimes he held a blue light, which would follow people over the bridge leading into the cemetery. To this day, the blue light story still is told, now allegedly following cars. Bricks on Erskine’s tomb seem to be chipped from the inside out. Nearby at Sallie’s pond, many spirits persist.
They have been known to scare away visitors and steal fishing gear. Ghosts from all time periods have been seen in the manor even though it was completely rebuilt in 1807. The second floor holds many forms of paranormal activity, including crying, loud noises, and thumps from the room where a maid was beaten to death. Miss Eleanor Hewitt is another presence that is still felt at the manor. She has moved statues, made papers disappear, and opened books to specific pages.
(Source: Belanger, Jeff. Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. 2005.)
