Miller Hall

Here at 14 College Avenue sits the rather unassuming Miller Hall. It currency houses Rutgers University’s Jewish Studies Department. The building has served a number of different purposes for the univesity since its acquisition more than a century ago, including use as a ceramics building by 1911, a carpentry building by 1930, and as the Rutgers Preparatory School by 1939. 

But Miller earns its place on this tour from its pre-acquisition history. In the 1880s and 90s, the building that is now Miller Hall housed the McDede Burial Company. William McDede, an Irish immigrant to New Brunsick, founded and ran the funerary business before his son, William McDede, Jr. took charge. A highly active member of the New Brunsiwck community, McDede, Jr. was a devoted member of several social clubs, and was a prominent member to St. Peter’s Church, just across the street. For some time, he served as New Brunswick’s coroner. Both McDedes were buried at St. Peter’s Cemetary.

The McDedes, or perhaps some of their disgruntled customers, may have left behind a ghostly past - long before the building’s macabre history was uncovered by former dean Marc Mappen, faculty and staff at Miller Hall reported inexplicable “noises, footsteps, whistling sounds and movements,” and reports continue today. Miller routinely makes the news in the Daily Targum when October rolls around, and legends of old McDede can still be heard around campus. A stone with faded markings reading “McDede Burial Company” can reportedly be found somewhere in the building, but be careful when you go looking - you may not be alone!

“Grave of William McDede, Jr,” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195654147/william_j_mcdede

“Haunted Rutgers,” https://www.rutgers.edu/news/haunted-rutgers

“Campus Map, 1911,” https://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/HISTORICALMAPS/CAC_1911.jpg

“Campus Map, 1930,” https://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/HISTORICALMAPS/CAC_1930.jpg

“Campus Map, 1939,” https://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/HISTORICALMAPS/CAC_1939rev1950.jpg

“Stories of Hauntings are Alive at Rutgers,” https://dailytargum.com/article/2015/10/stories-of-hauntings-are-alive-and-well-within-rutgers-campus

“Ghost Legends Continue to Haunt Rutgers Campuses,” https://dailytargum.com/article/2013/10/ghost-legends-continue-to-haunt-rutgers-campuses

“1900 US Census,” https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9FR-VK5