5 Truly Terrifying Ghost Stories That Prove Delaware City Is The Most Haunted City In Delaware
By Kim Magaraci|Published November 17, 2017
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
Delaware City is a tiny town located on the Delaware River. It has been an important port town for generations, and was the central location of the harbor defense system that kept Philadelphia and Wilmington safe during the Civil War, World War I and World War II. With such a storied history, it’s no surprise that some of the creepiest ghost stories in Delaware have all come from this tiny, spooky, haunted town.
Delaware City was established in the early 1800s, and many of the buildings that still stand today were built between 1826 and 1930.
The small town quickly became an important city for agriculture, shipbuilding, blacksmith and manufacturing industries. The founders of the town hoped that it would one day rival Philadelphia, but it never quite made it there in terms of population. It was a town that many people passed through on their way to and from the larger port cities, and it became known as a hospitable town, where travelers could stop for the night, eat a warm meal, and relax by the water before carrying on their way. Perhaps the charm of this town is why it has such high paranormal activity - those who once visited wish to return and live out their days in their happy coastal town. Read upon a few of the most haunted places in Delaware City, below:
The Central Hotel, or Stirling Building, is rumored to be just one of many haunted buildings in Delaware City. The City has embraced the tales of unexplained sights and sounds, even going so far as to invite paranormal investigators to explore the historic building. When the building was sold years ago, the town arranged for it to be auctioned off on Halloween.
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2. Delaware's most haunted restaurant, Crabby Dick's
The Delaware City Hotel dates back to 1830, when it was a popular tavern that hosted all sorts of people, from travelers to soldiers. The Soldiers, in particular, enjoyed their time away from their Forts across the river and they spent many hours drinking in this pub. Most of the ghosts who refuse to leave the Hotel are assumed to be there, reliving their glory days. Today, it's home to one of Delaware's cheekiest restaurants, Crabby Dick's.
You can't talk Delaware ghost stories without mentioning Fort Delaware. The abandoned Civil War Prison and harbor defense fort is considered one of the most haunted places in the world. Visitors and staff often hear loud noises like cannon fire or feel spirits grabbing on to them, desperate to tell their own story.
Fort DuPont was the lesser-known counterpart to the mighty Fort Delaware, but that does not mean it is any less haunted. Unexplained noises, orbs in photos, and a general feeling of dread when you stray too far off of the main path are just some of the clues that Fort DuPont is not without a few ghosts of its own.
Pachette's Playhouse has been abandoned since the late 1990s, but it is still regularly visited by paranormal investigators. The Playhouse, also known as the Polk-Henry house, is one haunted home that I refuse to visit. The reported sightings here include the paintings and portraits becoming animated, forces pushing visitors around, mirrors bleeding and faces are often seen from the upstairs windows. At night, some can see a purple light moving from room to room in the empty, abandoned building.
Don’t let these creepy stories keep you from visiting one of the most historic, charming towns in Delaware, though. The ghosts will leave you alone – unless you want to meet them! You can find information on Delaware City public ghost tours right here.
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