There is no better time to enjoy scenic Princeton than in autumn. The leaves are golden and crimson, the air is crisp and cool, and pumpkin is king, making a stroll through the streets of town just about perfect. But, beneath this idyllic exterior lies a delightfully haunting charm: the ghosts. Ever since its Revolutionary War days, both as a crossroads and in briefly serving as the country’s capital, Princeton has been a bustling hub of American history, where notable and ordinary lives have left their mark – and their spirits – behind. As Princeton Magazine points out in their roundup of the town’s most haunted spots, the local history comes with plenty of spooky company:
One ghost has made a home here since Princeton’s Revolutionary days, though some argue he may simply be a wandering colonial soldier. Sighted at the Nassau Inn, he is described not as angry, but curious, and has been seen meandering through the property, often lingering along the staircase. Luckily, he appears not to be lonely: the ghost of a woman is also frequently spotted by staff at the Inn, where she seems to particularly enjoy climbing the stairs.
As the article shares, the Nassau Inn is far from the only haunted site in town. The original location of the Town Topics newspaper, now a part of Princeton University campus, is said to have its own spirit. The first floor of the building once housed Priest’s Drug Store, and Mary Priest lived upstairs. Today, multiple people have reported seeing an elderly woman in a nightgown looking out from the upper window.
An even older building, The Barracks, is a stone house built by Richard Stockton, who signed the Declaration of Independence. Used to house soldiers during the 18th century, it remains home to one final soldier: the “Hessian Ghost.” Legend has it that he died after fighting at the Battle of Princeton and is said to reappear in the fireplace every Christmas Eve.
These are just a few of the many ghosts reported around Princeton. If you want to explore more ghost stories or research the history behind them, be sure to check out our America at 250, Princeton: A Visitors Guide, or the Town Topics Archive.
Image of Princeton University provided by Unsplash user Tim Alex.