THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The Winterwood Gift Shop occupies a historic Cape May building associated with reports of paranormal activity. Employees and visitors have described unexplained footsteps, moving objects, ghostly figures, and strange sounds after hours.
A ghost named Hestor is said to haunt the Winterwood Gift Shop, once known as Hildreth House. The historic 1772 structure was originally built by Joshua Hildreth; it was sold to the Sawyer family in 1978. It has long been thought to be haunted, with apparitions, flickering lights, moving objects and footsteps, and a plaque by the door warns folks not to be afraid of the ghost. “Hestor” is named for a spinster who once lived in the building. She died in 1949.