Ghosts of the Past at Mesier Homestead
Written by Donna Davies
Wappingers Falls, NY – Danielle Masterson, former curator and ghost investigator at the Meiser Homestead in Wappingers Falls, NY, contacted me about occurrences she experienced at the site. I immediately agreed to tour the site and learn more about the happenings that occurred there. I was excited to be back in my old stomping grounds in Wappingers Falls. I was already haunted by my childhood memories of hanging out in the Meiser Park and recalled using the Grinnell Library’s facilities after a night of drinking in the Zion Episcopal Church’s cemetery. Nothing to be proud of, but all these events made me who I am and now have led me back here today. My internal haunts aside, I did not expect to have an eventful afternoon. I was dead wrong.
The History
In 1776, a well-to-do loyalist tea merchant from New York City, Peter Mesier, arrived in Fishkill. He bought the 750 acres of land and the homestead from Nicholas Brewer and opened a small store in the homestead. Mesier angered his customers with high prices and in May of 1777, a number of people broke into his store and demanded tea, refusing to pay the high prices asked. For three days, the intruders beat Mesier and his wife and servants, destroyed his property and raided his cellar.
Peter Mesier and his wife, Catherine Sleight, lived peacefully after the incident and together had eight children, three boys and five girls. Upon the death of Peter in 1806, their son Matthew took over the Mesier Homestead. Matthew and his wife had two sons, Henry and Abram and two daughters, Johanna and Maria. These heirs of Matthew were the last owners of Mesier Homestead.
The Mesiers and the Brewers, along with early settlers of Wappingers Falls are buried in the Zion Episcopal Church burial grounds.
The Tour
Headstone of Nicholas Ganse Died 1866
First Stop – The Zion Episcopal Church Burial Grounds
My associate, Laura Schnecke and I both met Danielle at the homestead. She is a very knowledgeable, energetic and bubbly. She immediately led us to the old Zion Episcopal Church burial grounds where the Mesiers and the Brewers are buried. It is surprising that the stones are still intact given that it was the premier party destination in my time. The photo op was not as successful as I would have liked─ both our cameras had gone dead at the same time. What are the chances of that happening? I was able to finally get mine to work, but not the Laura’s. Odd, but it could happen.
The Grinnell Library
Danielle led us back though the park and pointed out the Grinnell Library, established in 1867, is one of the oldest Libraries in the state. She explained that three police officers saw a full body apparition in the window in the early morning hours of one of their shifts. To get three male police officers to admit a sighting is a feat in itself. Needless to say, I was intrigued. She suggested that this may be a residual haunting and that should be investigated at a later time.
The Tour of Mesier Homestead:
When we entered the homestead, I did feel not as relaxed as I usually do. I felt a little edgy. It could have just been the excitement of the visit, but I don’t think so. I felt as if I took a step back in time. The restoration of this substantial home is impressive given that it was the former police station in my time. As luck would have it, the original structure was left intact. There have been some structural changes made in the process of restoring the home. Danielle shared the excitement of her paranormal experience at Meiser Homestead.
Listen to the sound clip:
We proceeded into the dining room, which was simply decorated with a very basic dining table and chairs. There are photos of the homestead from early times that illustrate what the home looked like in its original state. As Danielle proceeded to give us a historical overview of the restoration and the homes contents, she asked if I would like to take a photo to document the original state of the dining room from the portrait. I commented that I didn’t want to interrupt her discussion and would take photos at a later time.
Photo Courtesy of Danielle Masterson
We navigated through the home entering the parlor. This room looks just like you would imagine an 19th century sitting room would appear. There is a plush green couch and coffee table inviting you to sit for a spell for some conversation over a hot cup of tea that faces the front of a sealed fireplace. There is a gorgeous black period dress on display that may take you back a bit at first glance; especially in a haunted home. Danielle points out the fact that an outline of a person sitting on the couch has been seen in the past and that the onset of activity seemed to occur once the renovation of the home began.
We walked up a tiny staircase to the second level of the home. We entered the slave quarters. This was a very small room that I felt claustrophobic in, and I can only imagine what it would have been like to have to share that small space. It was in this room that Danielle was able to capture a photo of what appears to contain three images in. Where these the apparitions of it’s previous resident slaves?
Danielle explains how she took the ghostly photo:
Continuing through the home, we learned more about the artifacts and family heirlooms left behind as a monument to the past. On the wall of an upstairs room is a lineup of service uniforms. There are books, hats, clothing, Indian arrowheads and other trinkets from the long-ago. Are their spirits attached to these possessions? Danielle shared a strange happening with a pair of glasses that seem to go missing to be found hanging from a book on a shelf that contains a small library. What that book a favorite or is someone trying to communicate from the past?
The Joke is on Me
As our tour was coming to a close, we suddenly heard some strange clicking. A doorknob jiggling? Creaking? There was an instant silence among us. This is very unusual for a group of girls. Mind you, we are locked in the homestead there is no way to get in without us knowing it or hearing it. My heart stopped. I froze. We all stared at each other. We walked into the dining room. Danielle knows this homestead like the back of her hand. She asks, “Was that card table there before?” I swear to you I don’t think so. I am very clumsy and I would have tripped over it. The table appeared right beneath the photo that Danielle had asked if I wanted to take a photo of and I declined. Had I taken that photo, I would have had proof. Was the joke on me? As I stated before, there was very little furniture in the dining room and I stand by that. Laura swears she heard the hinges of a table unfold, but no footsteps. Not to mention, there where muddy tracks on what was once a pristine floor with no tracks in or out and no trail through the house. We covered that house from top to bottom. None of us had mud on our shoes it was a dry sunny day.
I remain skeptical and the mind can play tricks on you, but truthfully I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Yet, I couldn’t get the incident out of my mind.
How to visit Meiser Homestead:
Contact:
Wappingers Falls Historical Society
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