A Haunting in Lacey?

Though the former Rite-Aid located on South Main Street in Forked River is now closed, spooky occurrences at the site are well-remembered by former employees of the store, as well as Eleanor Ditton and Virginia Schoenberg, both members of the Lacey Historical Society.

Ditton and Schoenberg both said that a hotel named the Parker House was constructed there in the 1880’s, and was owned by Sheriff Joseph Parker. Sheriff Parker had a daughter named Josephine Parker Applegate, who suffered an untimely demise on Oct. 10, 1903.

Ms. Parker Applegate was laid to rest over a century ago in the Good Luck Cemetery on Haines Street East in Forked River. But it was widely speculated that her spirit continued to pervade the premises of the Parker House – even as it later transitioned into another hotel, the Greyhound Inn. The inn was named for the greyhound dogs raised by the father of Schoenberg’s cousin, Mahala Landrum.

“Guests at the Greyhound Inn would claim that they saw Josephine, or felt her presence,” Ditton recalled. “They would say they saw doors open and close at will, among other things.”

After the Greyhound Inn burned down in a 1968 structure fire, Rite Aid later occupied the South Main Street location. However, employees soon learned that they weren’t the only ones present after hours.

“People who worked at the Rite Aid would say they saw doors open and close for no visible reason, boxes moved, and cash registers opened on their own,” Ditton said.

Schoenberg added that employees who were working late hours at the store stocking shelves were reportedly some of Josephine’s favorite people to play tricks on.

“Objects would move on the shelves with no apparent cause, the phone would ring and no one would be on the other end of the line, things like that," she said.

Both Ditton and Schoenberg think that no matter what business occupies 138 South Main Street in the future, they too will also have a regular, mischievous visitor from beyond the grave.

“I’m sure that she’ll continue to be here. That was her home, I don’t think she’ll leave,” Schoenberg said.

Recently, the to open at the site in coming months.