Rose Hill Cemetery: Haunted with History

Take a guided tour of the Rose Hill Cemetery this weekend and discover the history of Matawan through the many people who have lived, and died, here. The Matawan Historical Society will present two separate tours, Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Each costs ten dollars and parking is available at the site.

Here are five reasons why this is the tour to take this weekend:

1. Two presidents have visited this cemetery

William Stafford Little, who was such a powerful politician in the Democratic machine that at the time of his funeral, former President Grover Cleveland and future President Woodrow Wilson both attended his burial.

2. The 1916 Shark Attack

Lester Stillwell, the 12-year-old boy who fell victim to the 1916 shark attack; Stanley Fisher, the 24-year-old man who was attacked while recovering Lester's body; Captain Catrell, who first noticed the shark going up Matawan Creek; and William Shepard, who was a very close friend of Stanley Fisher and was by his side when he died, are all buried here.

3. Biography after biography

Al Savolaine of the Matawan Historical Society has spent two years researching the lives of the people buried in the cemetery. When will you again have the opportunity to access so much knowledge (without having to do the research!)?

4. Zombie

There is one grave very simply labeled, "Zombie." Find out the story behind this intriguing grave and whether or not Matawan was home to a real life zombie.

5. It's Haunted

Ok, ok - so we don't actually have any proof that it's haunted. But visitors have made some spooky claims, like having their camera battery die every time they try to film Lester Stillwell's grave. There's no way to find out except to visit yourself!