The Glebe House Museum and Gertrude Jekyll Garden in Woodbury, Connecticut represents one of the earliest historic house museums in the country. The museum allows visitors to get a glimpse of what life was like in the 18th century.
An annual Halloween tradition at the Glebe House Museum is the All-Hollow’s Eve Cemetery Tours & Haunted Museum exhibit. This year’s event was entirely sold out!
While the museum property was not part of the event this year due to COVID-19 restrictions and building capacity, the Glebe House still offered a delightfully theatrical experience through its cemetery tour nearby.
The Cemetery Tour
Guests met notable ‘ghosts‘ during their cemetery stroll. These ‘ghosts’ from Woodbury’s history such as Sarah Brian Marshall, and the Reverend John Marshall. In real life, they had once met at King’s College, now Columbia University, in 1761.
The Reverend served Woodbury, Southbury, and Oxford and helped young men prepare for college.
During this ‘ghostly meet up‘, a headless apparition roamed the premises, and a group of witches enjoyed a tea party.
Beetlejuice and Chief Nonnewaug’s daughter were in attendance as well as Maul Cramer, a reputed witch. She was the wife of a blacksmith who would curse her neighbors if they did not meet her demands. Her son was later denounced under the charges of being a familiar to Satan.
Dr. Samuel Orton shared his story about the therapeutic effects of Wolfsbane, and several Revolutionary War-era soldiers told their stories as well.
Finally, we met the spirit of the Connecticut Leatherman. He was a legendary vagrant who walked a 365-mile route around Connecticut and New York, sleeping in caves and under the stars.
Useful Information for Visitors
Guests of all ages were in attendance. The event is pleasantly spooky, but still appropriate for little ones.
The Glebe House Museum is open for reserved guided tours for groups of 4 or fewer. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.
For more historic fun, visit the Woodbury’s Treasured Past fundraiser at the Glebe House Museum and enter to win a cash prize of $5,000.
The treasure hunt raffle will take place Sunday, November 8th at 2pm and will feature 1,200 3-foot squares. Of the 1,200, three winning squares will have an antique coin buried within them. Squares cost $25 each and must be purchased by October 31st. Guests need not be present to win.
