History, Haunts and Halloween at the Red Mill, Clinton, NJ
The Red Mill is a 4-story grist mill located along the South Branch Raritan River in Clinton, NJ. It was as an industrial mill that has served several roles, including a wool processing plant, a basket factory, and a textile mill. It was historically known as the David McKinney Mill, who purchased the property in 1761. The Red Mill was built by Ralph Hunt, c. 1810, on land he had inherited from his father, Daniel, who had been an early landowner in Clinton and built the Stone Mill across the river in 1763 (now known as the Hunterdon Art Museum).
It was used as a wool processing plant for the first few years, but Hunt’s business eventually failed, and he lost hundreds of acres on both sides of the river. The mill was purchased in 1960 by the Red Mill Five, led by local artist James R. Marsh and Monroe F. DeMott. Marsh also bought the adjoining M. C. Mulligan & Sons Quarry in 1964 and donated it to the Clinton Historical Museum, which fully opened in 1965.
The mill it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 for its significance in agriculture and commerce. It is now part of the Red Mill Museum Village, an open-air museum.
Each year the Mill opens to the public as a “haunted” attraction for the Halloween season from on weekends from late September through October. The 45-minute Haunted Red Mill tour includes mazes, a vortex, a terror trail, and a hayride along the river, proceeds go to support historic Red Mill Museum.
Over the years there have been many stories of the Red Mill allegedly being haunted for real – like the one that follows, which was reported to Weird NJ by one of our readers.
Black Mass at the Red Mill
I am a practicing attorney and a lifelong NJ resident who considers himself to be a rational person. My wife and I enjoy traveling extensively around the state on the weekends and we have personally explored many of the places that you have featured in Weird NJ. In the fall of 2003 we went to the infamous Red Mill in Clinton. It 
was a cold, rainy day. While paying our admission, the two ladies at the front desk warned us not to go to the fourth floor. My wife and I were the only ones in the place, aside from the two women who worked there.
We went up to the third floor (not the fourth) to look at the displays. I spent a few seconds looking out the window at the river. My wife was on the other side of the room. She shouted my name, I was slow to respond. Afterwards, I saw her trembling in fear. When I asked what was wrong, she said that she saw a “black mass,” which she described as a headless torso, in a woman’s dress, that appeared in the air in front of her. The mass then moved across the room and disappeared. My wife has spoken about this incident several times with the utmost sincerity. I have no doubt that she saw something, but what? She absolutely refuses to return to that mill ever again. I’ll admit, it is sort of creepy. –David from Bayonne
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The preceding article is an excerpt from Weird NJ magazine, “Your Travel Guide to New Jersey’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets,” is available on newsstands throughout the state and on the web at www.WeirdNJ.com. All contents ©Weird NJ and may not be reproduced by any means without permission.
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