This location was renovated several times and is supposedly where Edgar Allen Poe wrote "The Raven". On December 23, 1843, Poe lectured at the Academy and visited the Inn. As he was attempting to emerge from his carriage at the Inn, he was reputed to have fallen in the mud and was so upset that he put a curse on the building. Reported activity includes phantom sounds, smells and manipulations as if the bar were still open.
The site on which the Deer Park Tavern is built was previously occupied by the St. Patrick's Inn, which was destroyed by fire. There have been arguments as to whether the St. Patrick's Inn was indeed located on this spot, or across the street, but the consensus seems to favor the site of the present building. From 1747 to 1848 John Tobias, and then John Pritchard ran the inn. It thus acquired the nickname "Pritchard's." In the 1700s the St. Patrick's Inn was a favorite resting place for travelers passing through Newark.
In 1764, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon stayed at the inn with their team of surveyors. A folk account of their stay says that they were a jolly bunch who kept a tame bear for amusement and consumed large portions of peach and apricot brandy. The Mason-Dixon line was the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, which became famous as the line of demarcation between free and slave states. Mason and Dixon were requested to survey a one and a half-mile section of the city border that was to form a corner near the site of the St. Patrick's Inn.
During the American Revolution, soldiers stayed at the inn and it has even been stated that George Washington spent the night there. Harriet Black Evans related this story: During a British invasion, Robert Warnock, who was a reputed wizard and a man feared by the townspeople, had a fight with Israel Pritchard and put a spell on the cattle that were pastured behind the inn. The next day, Mr. Pritchard found all the cattle and horses lying in a peculiar position. He called Mr. Warnock to the inn and demanded that the spell be removed. When Warnock agreed, the men walked outside to see all the livestock up and grazing as if nothing were wrong.
FOR A WALK THROUGH THIS AND OTHER INTERESTING DELAWARE HAUNTINGS:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.deldot.gov/information/media_gallery/2002/85th/images/old_state_house_dover_1930s-fit.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mlparanormal.com/dehaunt.htm&usg=__mwD6wUpnwNo12_6H-WI0XBBte4g=&h=607&w=531&sz=96&hl=en&start=20&sig2=XMxl4vD4xpcMYZ9S8mnnbQ&um=1&tbnid=ufUBxr5bVstRoM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstate%2Bstreet%2Bdover%2Bdelaware%2Bhaunted%2Bbuildings%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS333%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1&ei=AImpSrmEOcfglAeEgYXABg
In 1764, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon stayed at the inn with their team of surveyors. A folk account of their stay says that they were a jolly bunch who kept a tame bear for amusement and consumed large portions of peach and apricot brandy. The Mason-Dixon line was the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, which became famous as the line of demarcation between free and slave states. Mason and Dixon were requested to survey a one and a half-mile section of the city border that was to form a corner near the site of the St. Patrick's Inn.
During the American Revolution, soldiers stayed at the inn and it has even been stated that George Washington spent the night there. Harriet Black Evans related this story: During a British invasion, Robert Warnock, who was a reputed wizard and a man feared by the townspeople, had a fight with Israel Pritchard and put a spell on the cattle that were pastured behind the inn. The next day, Mr. Pritchard found all the cattle and horses lying in a peculiar position. He called Mr. Warnock to the inn and demanded that the spell be removed. When Warnock agreed, the men walked outside to see all the livestock up and grazing as if nothing were wrong.
FOR A WALK THROUGH THIS AND OTHER INTERESTING DELAWARE HAUNTINGS:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.deldot.gov/information/media_gallery/2002/85th/images/old_state_house_dover_1930s-fit.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mlparanormal.com/dehaunt.htm&usg=__mwD6wUpnwNo12_6H-WI0XBBte4g=&h=607&w=531&sz=96&hl=en&start=20&sig2=XMxl4vD4xpcMYZ9S8mnnbQ&um=1&tbnid=ufUBxr5bVstRoM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstate%2Bstreet%2Bdover%2Bdelaware%2Bhaunted%2Bbuildings%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS333%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1&ei=AImpSrmEOcfglAeEgYXABg
12 comments:
strange. but since it's poe, why not strange?
and stranger...
:)
The cows were in a strange position on the ground? Weird.
Very strange and interesting entry. I was fascinated by it. I am a big fan of Edgar Poe, so what you wrote could be one of his stories.
hey nancy - yessss....very weird - but, this is delaware :)
hello celeste - i've always been a poe fan too - something about the rhythm of his words - divine! thanks so much for coming over -
I'd love to visit a "famously" hunted place one day..., the Corona hotel in San Diego perhaps, any place really...., and see whether I sense something.
A stirring tale. Poe would be proud that his fiendish curse still lives on.
hello maya - beautiful name, by the way - i know what you mean about visiting somewhere famously haunted - for several years i worked in a large law firm that was housed in several historical buildings in downtown dover - the buildings dated back to the 1700's and were said to be haunted - as a matter of fact, they are on delaware's list of haunted buildings and on the ghost tours there - in any event, couldn't tell you the number of employees and visiting outsiders who experienced unexplained things - in any event, so glad you came by and please do drop in again - it's always such fun visiting your place! have a great day!
you know, abbot, i bet you're right!!! and who knows, maybe he's still hanging out there from time to time, just keeping an eye on his handiwork! thanks for dropping by and leaving a note - always appreciated - have a wonderful day! and come again soon!
fascinating!!!
hey there - thanks so much for dropping over - love all the goings-on over at the manor! fabulous stuff, lady!
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