The Fort Delaware Ghost Cat

As you know from our previous post about an overnight investigation at Fort Delaware, it is a historic site located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River. The fort was built in the mid-19th century and served as a Union prison during the Civil War. Today, it is a popular tourist destination known for its rich history and paranormal activity.

I first joined the Diamond State Ghost Investigators (DSGI) in October 2017 and had never led tour groups before, had never been to Fort Delaware AND I have never even conducted an investigation until then. I was so nervous; my palms were sweaty, and my heart was racing, which had nothing to do with ghosts!

Fortunately, I got paired up with Ken Newberry, and my nerves dissipated quickly. Ken has such a calm demeanor that I instantly calmed down as he showed me the different tools he uses to investigate. This was my first time learning about REM pods! The investigators associated with DSGI are all great people, and I’m so grateful for their mentorship, sense of humor and kindness. Especially to Ken, because he settled me and thus began my exciting journey of becoming a paranormal investigator.

Fort Delaware Kitchen

Ken and I were stationed in the area portrayed as an officers’ kitchen near General Schoepf’s office, where officers’ meals would have been prepared. Fort Delaware staff provided some history on how a kitchen would have functioned during the war. Then Ken reviewed some of the occurrences he had experienced while investigating in the kitchen. There are many stories I could tell about the pantry and the things that happen when men go into Ms. Susan’s pantry, but this story is about something a little bit different.

Now sometimes, the groups from the mainland who come over for these tours are excited to move around and investigate on their own. Other times they are unsure what to do and stand around waiting. A few people decided to stand around the kitchen table with Ken and me while Ken asked questions to the room, like, “Is there anyone here with us?” or “Ms. Susan are you upset that there are men in your kitchen?”

The ghost cat

It didn’t take long before I had my very first paranormal interaction. No, it wasn’t with Ms. Susan, the cook. It wasn’t with a soldier or their family. No, it was with a cat. The pantry door opened just a smidge by itself, as though something had pushed against it softly, not enough to make it fully swing out. I heard the meow of a cat and then I felt it. There was a slight physical pressure or weight against my left ankle as if a real cat had brushed against my leg.

According to legend, the ghost cat is the spirit of a feline that belonged to a soldier stationed at the fort during the Civil War. Cats were often kept on ships and in forts to manage rodent populations, which could damage food supplies and spread disease.

But wait, was there a cat?

YES! A newspaper clipping from 1998 says the cat’s name was Bill. The same article mentions the Fort having two dogs at one time. The dogs are a story for another day.

A separate newspaper clipping from July 1976 claims that when the Fort Delaware Society acquired a “treasure trove of Civil War photos,” they received photos from Lieutenant A.G. Wolf. Wolf was a Union officer in charge of Confederate prisoners. The article below says that Wolf was not well-liked by prisoners at the Fort, but he did love his cat. **meow**

Cat height K2 spikes

I wasn’t scared by the sensation, nor did I feel threatened. I was amazed. To this day, I always recommend our guests hold their K2 meters down by the floor, cat level, just in case the Fort Delaware ghost cat is lingering near the kitchen.

As a side note: K2 meters, also known as K-II meters, are commonly used in paranormal investigating. They are handheld devices that measure the environment’s electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The theory behind their use is that spirits or entities in the paranormal realm may manipulate electromagnetic energy, and these devices can detect and display changes in EMF levels.

Don’t forget to pay attention when you enter the kitchen at Fort Delaware this October during our Paranormal Adventure Tours with the Delaware State Parks. The small cold spot you feel or the slight brush against your leg might just be the spirit of one friendly feline; Bill the ghost cat. Meow.