The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-09
Hosis|y Erected Before the
Revolution to Be Torn Down.
MYSTERY MAY Be EXPLAINED.
Ghosts Reported Active Again For More
Than q Century the Structure Has Been
Dreaded by The People.

living near the old Hageman homestead
lust outside Hopewell. This place has
long been known as the haunted tav-
ern," and the old timers around here
say that the ghosts are breaking loose
in Il again.
II Is probable that within the next few
weeks the tavern will be torn down ana
a modern building erected on the farm.
when the building Is being raised IL Is
Thought many mysteries will be solved.
The building has been deserted for sew
eral weeks The last person TO hve In II
was the daughter OF an old resident
named Stockholm. Shed led and since
then no one has expressed a desire to
rent the place This Is due 10 the many
queer things that have happened In the
tavern.
During a stormy night week OF two
ago Wilbur Thompson, farmer, was
passing the place when he heard uncanny
sounds proceeding from the old building.
Weird shrieks followed by loud pound
ing. which came from the tumble down
structure caused Thompson TO ride at
full speed into Hopewell and tell or his
terrifying experience.
on a moonlight night later. Fishklll
boy who was passing the house declares
ne saw a white figure pacing backward
and forward on the front porch He
paused to make sure that his eyes were
not deceiving him. but as he did so, he
says, the figure began waving pair OF
arms that reached down almost to Its
feet. Then the lad fed.
HENDRIcK HAGEMAN's GHOST
Those who have followed the history OF
the tavern closely say that the ghost or
old Hendrick Hageman is again stalk
ing about. This ghost is reported to have
been seen at rare intervals during the
last century.
According 10 the traditions here. its ap-
pearance always portends some calamity
Several years ago II was seen just few
days before violent storm, which de-
stroyed the crops and In which three
people were killed by lightning.
Hageman built the tavern prior 20 the
American Revolution. His place had a
bad name from the start. IL was re-
ported that several persons. known 10
have had considerable money. had put
up In the tavern for the night and had
mover been heard from again. Then fol-
lowed stories that the place was haunted.
This was while Hageman was alive.
!. According to the traditions here, he nm
ally died In terrible agony. He was taken
silk under mysterious circumstances, and
then, from no apparent cause his throat
began swelling until he. could not breathe.
Thus he died by strangulation.
After he had passed away one solitary
ghost was all that was ever seen in the tav-
ern. Down through half dozen de-
cades this wrath is said to have held
sway in the primitive building. Some
times the ghost would DISAPPEARED for ten
years or more and recently II had length
ened its absences TO Is or 20 years.
But when II came back there was Al
ways horror in Hopewell and II any one
happened to be living In the tavern 1t
would Immediately be vacated.
STORY OF HAGEMAN's CAREER.
The story that Is told of Hagemans
career is one OF the most uncanny tradi-
tions in this part of the state. IL has
been handed down from generation "a
generation. and has probably. in its long
stretch through time. been exaggerated.
The land upon which the tavern origin
ally stood was part of the immense patent
OF Rombout and Verplanck In lower
Duchess county. IL was purchased py
Hageman who came from Long Island.
He cleared the woods from his pur-
chase, laid out roads and erected a tav-
ern. IL was for many years the only
stopping place between Hopewell and the
Connecticut line.
Hageman is said to have run away
from his family In Long Island. Another
story is that his family would have moth
ing TO do with him, and that he had beer
forced 20 leave his relatives. When n,
settled In Dutchess county he was
man In the early prime OF life. beini
under 40. OF large though not ungainl,
built. OF great strength and active wheI
Il suited his convenience.
A man OF few words, and they not nj
ways the most choice. he never was popu
lar. He had little means when he bull
his tavern, and only put up sufficien
room 10 accommodate a few stragglinI
guests. For years be had no barn. bu
stabbed his horse In an outcellar connect
ed by a passageway with the house eel
lar.
He had n large brown horse. which
runor said, he had lifted from some per
son I'm Westchester county while on m
way from Long Island. This horse wa
oiind OF one eye. but always In. fine iet
tie, and on Il Eageman used TO scour TN
country day and night
He never did any work on his place ex
cept to gather a little hay. The oats hi
horse consumed were unwilingly furnish
ed from other farmers bins and grans
r,cs, rs report has ~. He was ION IN
make" I'm any way possible and woul
trade and dicker In anything that h
though there might be a sixpence OF pror
In.
FEW PATRONS OF TAVERN.
Patrons az Hagemans tavern were few
and his place had bad name even fror
the start. lie kept up. however. and a
his expenses were small he graduam
accumulated means, added 60 his build
ing and IN few years was know
throughout the whole region an a ma
with ready money I'm plenty. which wa
unusual IN the newly settled neighbor
hood.
To make business more brisk he widen
ed out a mile stretch on one OF the road
he had cut through the forest, and level
ling Il np. made a race track. which be
came known rs Hsgeman's running lane
Here on afternoons I'm pleasant weathe
races were run. All this brought none
"a his TIL
Hageman kept the tavern some Is o
20 years, when one December night, 4
a severe storm of hail and sieet. a pac
peddier stopped M his place for n night
lodging. The weather was 80 unpleasant
he few loungers that had been hangin.
around the ire had nearly all gone away
and only two or three besides Hagemai