South Jersey prison attracts paranormal attention

By MICHAEL T. BURKHART, The (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post
Posted Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 7:45 am

In the basement of the old jail in Mount Holly, John Kurkis probes the inky darkness with a sound recorder and an infrared thermal thermometer.

He's hunting for ghosts.

Every now and then, he snaps a digital photo, hoping to record an orb, a wisp of ectoplasm passing by, or even a rare vortex.

A member of South Jersey Paranormal Research, Kurkis helps probe spooky houses, historic buildings and cemeteries looking for evidence of the hereafter.

"I've been interested in it for years," said Kurkis, 39, of Deptford.

Haunted history

The jail, now the Historic Burlington County Prison Museum, has lots of stories, said Susan Bove, who founded SJPR in 2001. For more than a century, the jail housed all walks of life, from petty crooks to murderers. Hangings were carried out in the prison yard. And until an adjacent house was built, the warden's family lived behind the thick masonry walls.

"We love the history," said Bove, 46, of Glendora. "It was built in 1811 and housed prisoners until 1965."

SJPR comes to the jail a few times a year. Because of the activity members say is recorded, it's a good place to give new members some hands-on training.

Other groups also have been there, including South Jersey Ghost Research, another organization that fans out across the area.

Last fall, a crew from SciFi Channel's "Ghost Hunters" visited the museum for several days. The show is expected to air in the new season, although a date has not been announced.

Bove knows there are skeptics out there -- people who say spirits don't exist or that tapes and photos are fabrications -- and she invites them to tag along with the group to see things firsthand.

Some people, like Bonnie Knowles, a new member, participate while searching out answers to life's questions.

"I want to know where we go when we leave this life," said Knowles, 37, of Egg Harbor Township. "I'm just looking for answers to what happens when we move on."

New member Jim DiVietro, 37, of Cherry Hill wants to know what's out there.

"I'm interested in the concept of ghosts," he said. "It's just been a lifelong interest."

Things that go bump

Ron Reed, who has volunteered at the museum for six years, won't say if he believes the place is haunted, but he's seen some strange things over the years.

"Let me put it this way," said Reed. "I don't say I do, but I don't say I don't. There are some things that can't be explained."

He says he's heard footsteps echoing when no one is around. He has a recording of someone saying "hang him." One day, just before closing, he felt what he swears were fingers poking his lower back.

"The hair on my arms stood up," said Reed, 57, of Mount Holly. "I haven't seen shadows. But I've heard things."

The jail was built in 1811 and designed by Robert Mills, one of America's first native born and trained architects. It was in use until 1965, and renovated as a museum in the mid-1990s.

When it closed, it was the oldest prison in continuous use in the United States. Built to hold 40 people, it held about 150 when it was shuttered.

Scary spot

The jail is an imposing place, even during daylight, and many relics from the past remain. There is graffiti on the cell walls and a piece of rope from the last hanging in 1906.

The prison, now part of the Burlington County Park System, is open for tours Thursdays through Sundays.

"There have been stories about the place being haunted since 1834," said Marisa Bozarth, museum attendant. "There have been random occurrences since then . . . noises you can't explain."

The resident ghost is reported to be Joel Clough, a murderer who spent his last night in the jail. He is alleged to haunt the "dungeon," the maximum-security cell on the third floor where he spent his last hours on earth.

"I've seen shadows twice," said Bozarth, who has been at her job for about five years. "I've heard footsteps. There's a weird baying noise once in a while.

"The first time I was scared. I wanted to leave. There's definitely something here. I don't know if I'd say it's haunted."

There were seven executions at the jail between 1860 and 1906. A gallows was erected on the grounds for the occasions, the final one being the double hanging of Rufus Johnson and George Small, who were convicted of murdering a Moorestown governess at a refuge for homeless children.

'Subway' spirits

The arched basement "Subway" is another hotbed of paranormal activity, prison officials said. That's where Kurkis started his evening in the dark.

In 1920, Harry Asay, who was spending 90 days in jail for disorderly conduct, killed guard Harry King in the basement with a metal bar. He also killed a trustee.

That's the location where Bozarth said she saw a shadow and Reed was poked. Last spring, visitors also reported seeing someone dressed like a workman in the basement -- even though no one was down there working on the furnace, Bozarth said.

"It's a little unnerving," Bozarth said. "But it's not scary. It would be nice if someone could explain these things.

"You get the feeling you're being followed or being watched. Feelings of things like you're not the only one there."

Before venturing out in small groups, Bove leads SJPR in a prayer to St. Michael for protection. They also do a meditation exercise to get in the mood.

Then, a few instructions.

"If you whisper, say "I whispered' so later we don't think it's an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon)," she said. "Try to keep the talking to a minimum."

After hanging around in the prison for a few hours, SJPR members head home to pore over the tapes and photos. Findings are sent to Bove, which included unexplained voices on some tapes from the Friday night expedition.

A rare January thunderstorm moved through earlier in the day, and Bove believes that was why the evening was so active.

"Sitting around in the dark is the easy part," Bove said. "Going through the material is the tough part, putting together a report."

The group, which has about 30 active members, almost always finds something noteworthy, she said.

"They're everywhere," she said.