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Josh Hitchens, the Delaware-born author of Haunted History of Delaware and Eerie Delaware, has always been interested in hauntings, history and folklore.
Hitchens was born and raised in Sussex County—an area rife with history and folk tales. When he was just eight years old, his grandparents took him on his very first ghost tour in Colonial Williamsburg.
“I was enchanted and frightened by the experience,” he recalls. Because of that trip, he knew that was what he wanted to do when he grew up. He felt pulled to the notion of telling stories and sharing historical tales and folklore with audiences.
He grew up to work in museums—he’s been a storyteller for Ghost Tour of Philadelphia since 2007. During the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, the museums closed and there wasn’t much for a museum tour guide to do.
“I knew Arcadia Publishing had a Haunted America series, and I was pretty sure there wasn’t a Haunted History written for Delaware yet. I knew that Delaware had some amazing history and folklore and legends.”
In a full-circle moment, Hitchens decided he would be the one to tell the tales, and he soon got to work on crafting Haunted History of Delaware, his first book.
Here, the author dishes on some of his favorite haunted spots, little-known stories and the details that make up Delaware’s Haunted History.
Old Christ Church: A Haunted Hidden Gem
“I have a soft spot for the Old Christ Church near Laurel,” Hitchens says. “There’s a chapter dedicated to it in Haunted History of Delaware.” The Sussex County native grew up near the 18th-century church and neighboring graveyard.
Hitchens’ first position as a tour guide was with the church. When he started penning Haunted History, he was excited to learn there were stories attached to the church. When he started writing, he reached out to the Old Christ Church League. Stacy Northam-Smith shared an experience that made it into the final chapter of the book.
“There are a few of us that truly believe we have a resident ghost at the church,” Northam-Smith says. “[It’s] a woman in a long black dress. I am sure there are many ghosts and spirits, but she is the one that has been seen.”
While she and the OCCL president were the only two to have seen the mysterious woman in black, other members have reported similar experiences. The Old Christ Church chapter in the book even includes a photo taken by a church member during a service. Mary Ann Torkelson, the photographer, believes it was the spirit of a little girl wearing a bonnet.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast or love a good haunting, the historic church is worth a visit, especially this time of year. The Old Christ Church is one of the most intact 18th-century churches on the East Coast, so there’s plenty to see—even if the spirits aren’t active during your visit.
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Rockwood Mansion: Delaware’s Most Haunted House
While there’s some debate about the “most” haunted place in Delaware, Hitchens confirms: “Rockwood Mansion is definitely the most haunted house in Delaware.” Hitchens recently partnered with Huxley & Hiro to talk about Haunted History of Delaware and Eerie Delaware at Rockwood. The director at Rockwood shared with Hitchens that the mansion team recently identified at least 35 entities throughout the house.
Delaware paranormal enthusiasts are certainly familiar with Rockwood Mansion, and many have even participated in paranormal tours. Hitchens confirms that it’s a site worth visiting if you’re looking for haunted experiences in the First State.
Addy Sea Inn: Bethany’s Hotspot for Folklore
In his chapter about the Addy Sea Inn in Bethany, Hitchens starts by detailing the history of Bethany Beach and the inn itself. In 1974, the Gravette family purchased the inn. According to Haunted History of Delaware, Frances Gravette may have been the first to speak publicly about the inn potentially being haunted. She described an experience in which she was cleaning a closet, and the door slowly creaked shut behind her. Other reported experiences from guests and staff include the unexplained scent of floral perfume, falling oil lamps and items being moved around.
Plenty of staff and guests maintain there is nothing haunting at the Addy Sea Inn. Because of this, Hitchens was hesitant to include it in his book. Yet an experience in Sussex County after the book’s release made him happy he did.
“The Q&A portion [of a book event] is always one of my favorite parts because—along with questions—people tell me their stories,” Hitchens says. “At one event, two older women were in the crowd. They said they both worked at Addy Sea in the ’80s and ’90s, and it’s all true.”
The women said that they had experienced some of the things he had written about, and more. It was a vindicating experience for Hitchens, who notes that sharing ghost stories and folklore is a great way to connect with people. The shared experience between the storyteller and the former Addy Sea employees goes to show that even in instances where the truth is uncertain, the stories are still worth telling.
Overlooked Hauntings: Historic New Castle, Lewes and More
Along with haunted hotspots, Delaware is home to plenty of historic regions that act as a backdrop for a host of spooky tales.
“New Castle is a rich area of historic buildings—a lot of which have a long history of paranormal stuff attached to them,” Hitchens says. He cites examples like Amstel House and Dutch House. An execution on The Green is said to have left behind a spirit or two.
“Lewes is also incredibly haunted,” he adds—a thought upon which he expands in his book.
Another little-known fact about Delaware’s haunted history includes a popular Halloween attraction.
“Frightland is a haunted attraction, but is also really haunted,” the author shares. “There’s a really tragic and sinister history on the land.” Hitchens explains that a lot of tragedy has occurred in the barn, which is used as part of a haunted attraction today.
Where to Find Haunted History of Delaware
While Hitchens shared some great tales and insights with Delaware Today, it hardly scratches the surface of the stories he shares in his book. You can find both Haunted History of Delaware and Eerie Delaware at independent bookstores across the state. Huxley & Hiro, Hockessin Bookshelf, Bethany Beach Books and Browseabout Books all carry Hitchens’ work. You can also find Haunted History of Delaware on Amazon or directly from Arcadia Publishing. Eerie Delaware can also be found on Amazon and via Arcadia Publishing.
Related: These Halloween Happenings in Delaware Are Scary Good
