Morristown Ghost Hoax

Published on October 18, 2023

image of Peter Zablocki giving a presentation

Join Peter Zablocki at the library on Saturday, October 21st at 2:00pm for a special presentation on the Morristown Ghost Hoax.

The saga of the Morristown ghost has been told around campfires and dinner tables in Morris County for generations. Local legend claimed that British Loyalists secretly buried stolen treasure on Schooley's Mountain during the Revolutionary War. Later in 1788, a former school teacher from Connecticut convinced local prominent Morristown families that a ghost was protecting the treasure and that only he alone could exorcise it. Little did they know that an elaborate plan was in place to extort large sums of money from unsuspecting local elite. While the tale has been recounted in various sensational pamphlets and publications ever since. Local author Peter Zablocki will separate fact from fiction as he discusses his book, The 1788 Morristown Ghost Hoax: The Search for Lost Revolutionary War Treasure.

Peter is the President of the Denville Historical Society, Museum, and Research Center in New Jersey, as well as one of the town historians. When he is not writing, Peter co-hosts Evergreen Network's History Teachers Talking Podcast, where he and his best friend discuss various historical topics in an easy to understand and lighthearted manner.

This program is recommended for adults.

Please note that while registration is not required for this program, seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.

For questions or concerns please contact the Reference Department at (973) 285-6969 or by email at ref@co.morris.nj.us