Ford Mansion (Washington's Headquarters)

This Georgian-style mansion built in 1774 served as General George Washington's headquarters during the winter of 1779-1780. Washington, Martha, five aides-de-camp including Alexander Hamilton, and eighteen servants lived here for 200 days.

The Ford Mansion stands as a sentinel of Revolutionary War history—and perhaps as a home for the spirits of those who lived and died within its walls. Built in 1774 by Colonel Jacob Ford Jr., a wealthy iron manufacturer and commander of the Eastern Battalion of the Morris County Militia, this Georgian-style manor witnessed tragedy before Washington ever arrived. Ford died of pneumonia on January 11, 1777, in this very house, with 35 Delaware troops witnessing his final moments. His father followed him in death just eight days later. The widow Theodosia Ford, left with four young children, would remain in the house until her own death in 1824 at age 83—never remarrying, and never leaving the home where her husband drew his last breath.

When General George Washington arrived in December 1779, he found a household already touched by loss. The widow Ford agreed to share her home, confining herself and her children to just two rooms while Washington, Martha, five aides-de-camp (including the young Alexander Hamilton), and eighteen servants occupied the rest. For 200 days, the mansion served as the nerve center of the Continental Army during what became known as "The Hard Winter"—the coldest and most brutal season anyone could remember. Outside, at Jockey Hollow, over 10,000 soldiers suffered through more than twenty snowfalls, starvation rations, and temperatures so extreme that some men ate their shoes, gnawed on bark, or slaughtered their horses for sustenance. Ninety-six soldiers died; over a thousand deserted in desperation.

The paranormal activity at Ford Mansion has been documented by investigator Gordon Ward, who conducted extensive EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) studies of the property. Ward recorded evidence of five distinct spirits: two male voices and three female voices. Notably, none of the voices belonged to George Washington—Ward explained that he wouldn't expect the General's ghost to linger, as Washington spent only six months there. Instead, Ward believes at least one of the female spirits was a kitchen servant who worked in the mansion during its occupation.

During one recorded session, Ward posed the question "What is your favorite memory?" from a room across from the kitchen—an area he suspected the shy female spirit would haunt. The response came through clearly: "In the kitchen." The audience listening to the playback gasped at the clarity of the voice from beyond.

Park Ranger Joni Rowe, who has worked at Morristown National Historical Park since 1985 and is one of the few people who actually lives in proximity to the mansion, confirms the sense of unseen presence. When alone in the mansion, she feels she is not alone. Now, upon entering, she makes a point to say hello to whoever—or whatever—still resides there. Other visitors and staff report cold spots, the sensation of being watched, and the unmistakable sound of footsteps on the wooden floors when no one else is present.

Some researchers speculate that the spirits may include members of the Ford family—perhaps Jacob Ford Jr. himself, whose life ended in the house, or servants and soldiers who passed through during the tumultuous Revolutionary period. The mansion also housed Continental Army troops sick with smallpox in 1777, adding another layer of tragedy to its history. It was here, too, that Alexander Hamilton met Elizabeth Schuyler and fell in love—a romance that would lead to their marriage in December 1780.

Today, Ford Mansion is preserved as the centerpiece of Morristown National Historical Park, America's first national historical park, established in 1933. Guided tours take visitors through the rooms where Washington strategized, Hamilton composed correspondence, and Martha Washington attempted to provide some sense of normalcy amid the chaos of war. The Morris County Tourism Bureau has presented "Ghostly Revelations" events at the mansion, where paranormal findings are shared with the public. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the weight of history is palpable within these walls—and some say that history has never quite let go.