Paranormal Evenings Tour Planned At Historic Chester Location

CHESTER, NJ — Regardless of what the recent bouts of warm weather may suggest, fall is on its way, and with it, Halloween enthusiasm.

This year, the Morris County Parks System's Paranormal Evenings is heading out to Chester to investigate the Cooper Gristmill.

The event is planned for Friday, Sept. 22, and will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Cooper Gristmill, 66 Route 24, Chester Township.

The Cooper Gristmill in Chester is one of the last of its kind in New Jersey, and it is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

According to the Morris County Tourism Bureau, the mill, which is still powered by the Black River, is a living illustration of the state's economic transformation from agricultural to industry, with its water wheel, power shafts, gears, and 2,000-pound millstone.

Grinding wheat, corn and other grains into flour is still practiced today.

This gristmill was erected in 1826 by Nathan Cooper, and the surrounding river has been providing power to mill flour since the 1760s. The picturesque property is nestled on a 14-acre park beside the river, making the Cooper Gristmill an ideal location for picnics and hikes.

Cooper Gristmill is open April through October, Fridays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"The mill was the center of social activity and commerce for Milltown from its beginning in 1760 until the early 1900s. Eventually, farmers turned to factories for flour production, leaving the Grist Mill to become a showcase of industries past," the Morris County Parks System said.

Attendees of the paranormal tour will be able to explore the mill, carriage house, and the historic Visitor's Center.

Tickets for the paranormal evening are on sale for $45 per person. For more information and to register, call 973.631.5022 or email agizzi@morrisparks.net.