"One Book Bernardsville" Gets Underway in October at Bernardsville Library

With the beginning of October comes the third annual "One Book Bernardsville" organized by Bernardsville Public Library. This year features a short story by Oscar Wilde: "The Canterville Ghost," a gothic tale about an American family who moves into a British mansion, Canterville Chase, much to the annoyance its tired ghost. The story was published in 1887 by the Irish playwright, poet and author of numerous short stories who became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day.

Throughout the month, adults and children will celebrate ghosts, discuss the story, watch movies starring ghosts, and study our own local ghost, Phyllis, of the old Vealtown Tavern. There will be two opportunities to talk about the story in book group discussions: Saturday Samplers on Saturday, October 1 at 3:30 pm, led by Evelyn Fischel, and Memoirs & Coffee on Tuesday, October 25 at 10:30 am led by Pat Kennedy-Grant. No sign-up is needed for either discussion.

For children, there will be a showing of the PG rated movie, "Casper," about everyone's favorite, friendly ghost, on Friday, October 7 at 4:00 pm.

On Saturday, October 8 at 2:00 pm, there will be a program on Phyllis Parker who may still haunt the Old Library building which, in Revolutionary days housed in the Vealtown Tavern on Route 202. As legend has it, Phyllis, the innkeeper’s daughter, fell in love with a doctor who was revealed to be a British spy. She reportedly went mad when she learned he had been hanged, and has haunted the building ever since. Learn what we do and don’t know about Phyllis, historical background, and sightings, from the volunteers in our Local History Room. The room will be open for visitors after the talk.

Join us for a dramatic reading on Tuesday, October 11 at 7:00 pm by local actors of selected parts of the original story which is, according to Wilde, “An amusing chronicle of the tribulations of the Ghost of Canterville Chase when his ancestral halls became the home of the American Minister to the Court of St. James.”

The 1944 movie, based on “The Canterville Ghost,” stars Charles Laughton, Robert Young and Margaret O’Brien. There will be a showing on Friday, October 14 at 7:00 pm. Afterwards, we’ll chat about the differences between the original story and the movie which was adapted to a contemporaneous, wartime setting. In this interpretation, Laughton plays Sir Simon de Canterville, the 17th century British aristocrat who, after proving himself a coward on the field of honor, is doomed to haunt the corridors of Canterville Hall until one of his descendants performs a conspicuous act of bravery.

Listeners in Grades 2 and up will be in for some thrills and chills on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00 pm when they hear some spooky, kooky ghost stories.

The month will close out with a fundraiser held by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library at The Bernards Inn on Friday, October 28 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Paranormal investigator L’Aura Hladik Hoffman, will speak about her book, “Ghosthunting New Jersey.” It will be a spooktacular evening with a book signing, ghost stories, dancing, 50/50 and a silent auction. Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, steak, pasta and dessert. Proceeds benefit library programs. [Attendees must be 18 or older.]

Detailed information on all the events is available at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, or call the library at 908-766-0118. All the programs are free. No sign-up is needed for the children's programs; advance sign-up is requested for the adult programs. To sign up for the programs, go to www.bernardsville.library.org or call 908-766-0118.