Echoes from the Past on Main Street

A Ghost Story, of Sorts ...

As the Haunted Ghost Walk approaches, I find myself revisiting some memories of spookiness I've experienced. Some of you know my art studio sits above Lower Forge Brewery. Before the brewery opened, I spent countless quiet days and nights up there painting, prepping for my kids’ art classes, and creating. I’ve always loved working to the sound of vinyl — that warm crackle of a record spinning as I paint — though every so often, the record would end, and I’d let the silence linger.

The building was new to us at that point, but of course, the building has stood witness to the comings & goings of Main Street since 1789. Over 200 years of downtown shoppers, festivals, parades. Watching horse & carriages turn into vehicles, and petticoats turn into jeans & hoodies. But the bustle of Main Street remains constant - changing - but constant. For our portion of Main Street's history, it was around 2014 or 2015, the space below was still under construction. The building was peaceful — a rare luxury for a mom of little kids. But in those moments of stillness, something strange started happening.

Whenever my record ended, I’d hear voices. Not whispers — full-on conversations. They came from the far side of the building — the area that’s now Jenni’s Goodies. (Sorry Jenni! They're friendly ghosts! LOL!) I was sure it was a therapist’s office; after all, years before I’d had a studio downstairs, and there had been a therapist upstairs back then. So I figured I was overhearing marriage counseling sessions — a woman and two men, voices rising and falling with emotion. I couldn’t make out the words, but the emotional tone told me everything: anger, tears, frustration, even laughter at times. The words sounded so....here...so real! Oddly it didn't occur to me that the voices weren't from this world.

Feeling awkward about overhearing what I assumed were people's most private moments, I’d either turn the music back on or pop in headphones to give them “privacy.” It became such a regular occurrence that I hardly thought about it — until my dog, Kismet, joined me in the studio.

Kismet, my miniature Aussie, would sometimes jolt upright and charge toward the studio doors, barking as if chasing someone invisible down the stairs. Other times he’d growl low, stalking an unseen presence. His reaction was so intense that I’d find myself wondering — is this a ghost or is there someone actually in here?

When the brewery finally opened in 2016, I met a neighbor who had recently moved in the apartment next door (now Jenni’s Goodies). Making small talk, I said something like, “I guess the therapist moved out!” He looked puzzled and said, “That space? It’s been empty for years.” That stopped me cold. Empty? Then… who — or what — had I been hearing all that time? I don't think I mentioned anything to him in the moment, not wanting to spook him or, make him think I'm crazy being that it was the first time I was meeting him.

Years later, when the Medford Ghost Walk started back up (admittedly through my own efforts, as well as the trusted & metaphysically gifted psychic & medium, Susan Drummond from NJBalance, I volunteered my studio as one of the stops. The Center, Life in Balance (now The Center for Life) has verified, reputable and trust worthy psychic mediums to investigate this stuff with in a respectful & peaceful manner. I certainly wasn't about to bust out an Ouija board and find out for myself! A medium stayed upstairs while tour groups came through, and they didn’t disappoint — one guest even caught video of a cardboard box moving on its own, flaps lifting and falling with no one nearby.

It was thrilling confirmation that maybe I hadn’t just been overhearing ordinary therapy sessions after all. But at the end of the day, I never felt threatened by the presence & we at Lower Forge have gone on to have a few different experiences with the super natural.

This year, the Ghost Walk will explore the other half of the building — the very area where I first heard those mysterious voices. I can’t wait to see what our mediums uncover there. The building has been a number of things in it's 240+ years. A post office, a residence, rebuilt after a fire - a print shop, offices, a piano store, and more.

Right now, and for the last 25 years or so, my life had been woven into Main Street. It began back in the early 2000's when I opened the Jersey Devil Cafe in the old Stagecoach Building, pre-fire. Years later we opened Lower Forge Brewery. I volunteer a lot of my time to Main Street's growth. I really have no idea why, I didn't grow up here, or spending much time on Main Streets. I grew up in a beach town, Medford is nothing like that. And yet, Main Street calls to me. The only thing I can think, is that my love of Gilmore Girls (I am a serial re-watcher) has me on this never ending urge to create my very own Stars Hollow. I'm honestly not sure. I watch it now and think "God, I'm not the Taylor of Main Street.....right?" hahaha. Some questions need not be answered. But what does enchant me about Main Street is the history. About how right now in this moment of history myself, and my friends Lesha, Craig, Susan, Angela & April are charged with preserving the energy of Main Street. We run the Dickens Festival, and events like the Ghost Walk & others. Sometimes I look around Main Street and I see my artwork on the banners, or in the shop windows. For this short time, we're part of Main Street's history. I know many others came before us, and many will come after us, and I love to think about how Main Street stays the same - and the people change. These buildings have watched the people of Medford walk up the sidewalk holding lanterns for light, riding horses for transport, growing their own food & cattle. They've watched their sons go to war, babies be born, grow up, get married - some stay some go. But here & there, energy remains. I think it's pretty cool. Someday, maybe I'll be the one scaring people at the Ghost Walk on Main Street! I mean, it's not far fetched, considering just last Saturday night I was dressed as a moth with my bestie scaring people on Main Street!

If you want to find out for yourself, join us for this year’s Ghost Walk! Tickets are on sale now — but they won’t last long.

👻