Spooky New Jersey

Author S.E. Schlosser has been telling stories since she was a child, when games of "let's pretend" quickly built themselves into full-length stories. A graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature and Rutgers University, she also created and maintains the website AmericanFolklore.net, where she shares a wealth of stories from all fifty states, some dating back to the origins of America. She is the author of six other books in the Spooky series. Artist Paul Hoffman studied painting and printmaking, completing his first extensive illustration work on assignment in Egypt, drawing ancient wall reliefs for the University of Chicago. His work graces books of many genres--children's titles, textbooks, short story collections, natural history volumes, and numerous cookbooks. For Spooky New Jersey, he employed a scratchboard technique and an active imagination.

• IntroductionPART 1: GHOST STORIES1. Ghosts of Ringwood Manor - RingwoodGeneral Erskine still returns to watch over his old home.2. In the Fog A ghostly railroad conductor must tell his tale to a group of people or he will never rest in peace.3. Karen and the Ghost - MendhemA girl encounters a ghost while visiting the ruins of an old convent.4. The Author An author's ghost appears in his sister's home.5. Morgan's ghost Much to her chagrin, a ghost appears in Morgan's closet.6. Amazing Grace - SpringfieldA ghost starts tearing the hymnals in a local church7. Jockey Hollow Ghosts - Jockey Hollow State ParkIn a dense wooded area, the spirit of a woman in white carries a lantern as she visits the camp of George Washington and his troops.8. Jimmy's - MorristownA popular local nightclub is haunted by a female from the Revolutionary War era.9. King George Inn - WarrenThe spirit of a soldier still walks the cemetery at night.10. Skylands Manor - RingwoodA ghost peers out of a window each night.11. Annie - WayneA prom queen is run over on her big night, and her ghost returns to the place she was killed. 12. Caldwall House - UnionLady Caldwell, who was murdered by the British when they raided her home, still walks the grounds of her mansion.13. The Parkway Ghost - Garden State ParkwayThe Garden State Parkway is haunted by a tall male ghost wearing a long, belted raincoat. 14. Union Hotel - Flemingtonar A bouncer and several others workers are terrified one night when a pair of little girl's patent leather shoes walks up the stairs with no body attached.15. Winterwood Gift Shoppe -- Cape MayTwo sisters haunt a Gift Shoppe.PART 2: POWERS OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT 16. The Jersey Devil - Pine BarrensA devil haunts the Pine Barrens of South Jersey.17. Haunted House - North PlainfieldFirefighters are called to inspect a house that has begun moaning. 18. Mark of the Spirit hand Those who receive the Mark of the Hand are doomed to death.19. Tolling of the Bell -- Watchung Reservation A bell tolls in an abandoned ghost town just before someone is about to die.20. Sammy and his Fiddle - Pine Barrens A fiddler encounters the devil in the pine barrons21. The Face in the Fireplace - WatchungWhen a family moves into a new house, they discover a phantom face sometimes appears in their fireplace.22. On Washington Rock - Washington Rock State ParkThe Devil pays a visit to Washington Rock.23. The Library - Raritan The old librarian still haunts the library, moving books, switching on and off lights, and appearing in the windows. 24. Clinton Road - West MilfordA hell-hound roams a ten-mile stretch of road in northern New Jersey.25. Footprints - CinnaminsonThe spirits of small children leave footprints in the snow.26. Purgatory House -- South HamptonA daughter still roams around the house where she was murdered.27. Ship Wreck - Surf City, Long Beach IslandVisitors to a local beach hotel still hear the screams and cries of the doomed passengers and crew on a wrecked ship.28. Spy House Museum -- Port Monmouth.The tunnels below the museum are home to the ghost of a pirate.29. The Poltergeist - LambertvilleA poltergeist moves into a local high school, with amazing results.30. They're Playing My Song - DenvilleA spirit likes to sing in a local theater when the lights go out for the night.