Let’s face it: Cemeteries, in general, are a bit creepy. While it’s wonderful to be able to visit our loved ones who have passed on, they’re generally a bit spooky. But some cemeteries are scarier than others — like Union Cemetery in Hackettstown, New Jersey, which is rumored to be haunted by a murdered maid.

Union Cemetery is a lovely and peaceful cemetery in Hackettstown, New Jersey.
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It's quite old, with many graves dating back centuries ago.
But while it continues to be a peaceful final resting place for many, we wouldn't want to be here alone or after dark.
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That's because there are many stories that say it's home to a ghost.
That ghost is a woman named Tillie Smith, who was killed in 1886 when she was 18 years old.
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As the story goes, Tillie was a maid at Centenary Collegiate Institute, when she was attacked by a man who tried to rape her. He strangled her to death and left her body in a field behind the college.

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Her grave is quite prominent in the cemetery, with a large sculpture and epigraph that simply reads "She died in defense of her honor."
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The man who killed her was later sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Now, rumors say Tillie continues to haunt the graveyard and Centenary College itself.
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Many people have claimed to see the ghost of a young woman in the area, roaming around outdoors.
Others have reported hearing strange sounds in the graveyard or feeling like they're being watched.
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Spooky!

Of course, these are just ghost stories. It’s impossible to say whether the ghost really exists or if she is the cause of these strange events in the graveyard – but just in case, we’re going to avoid being there at dusk!

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Union Cemetery Association, Hackettstown, NJ 07840, USA