CRANBURY — The paranormal sightings and stories that have spread along generations of residents will soon be on parade, as the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society invites the public to explore the township’s ghostly folklore.
On June 6, the society will be hosting The Lantern Ghost Tour, where residents and visitors can stroll down Cranbury’s streets by way of lanterns, learning the stories of spirits that have been rumored to haunt the township’s homes and businesses for decades.
”A lot of these stories started generations ago and they are still alive today,” said Michelle Newman-Dickey, an organizer of the event and co-vice president of the historical society. “There’s a lot of mystique about the older houses and we’re kind of bringing it to the forefront.”
Among the many ghostly tales tour-takers will cross paths with is the story of a man who met his unfortunate end in a carriage crash near the site of the First Presbyterian Church, Ms. Newman-Dickey said.
But that’s only a sample of the spine-tingling tales to come, she said.
”We’re going to have groups of 25 and each group will visit six locations,” Ms. Newman-Dickey said. “Each location will have more than one story and someone will be there who’s like a docent. Some people will be in costume — we’re going to have some surprises.”
Society members are still gathering information on the stories, some of which have been obtained from a local Ph.D. student’s lengthy paper, which included interviews and testimonies from residents who have experienced or heard of the community’s paranormal encounters.
”We have names and a lot of information,” Ms. Newman-Dickey said. “But because of the nature of the material there’s really no proof. What we do have are the accounts of people.”
Ms. Newman-Dickey said the society has kept the more frightening details to a minimum in hopes of not only drawing out the after-life fanatics but local families as well.
”It think it’s something of interest to a lot of people,” she said. “It does tie a lot of generations together. (These spirits) once lived in Cranbury and people are still talking about them today.”
Although nothing has been set in stone, the society has been looking at running the tour between an hour and an hour and a half and charging in the neighborhood of $6 for adults and $4 for children, Ms. Newman-Dickey said.
For more information on the event contact the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society at 609-860-1889.

