Moravian Book Shop

A Brief History: Located at 1200 Main St. in Bethlehem, PA the Moravian Book Shop was founded in 1745. It is the oldest bookstore in America and the oldest continuously running bookstore in the world. It was originally run by the Moravian Church and operated by Samuel Powell, keeper of the Bethlehem Inn. At one point, the location printed and published books as well, but settled into importing and then selling them.  It operated in several different locations before settling into its current address in 1871, where it still stands and operates today. It also serves as the home to the Moravian College student bookstore. A dying breed, this bookstore manages to survive the changing times and continues to serve this quaint little community. Based on certain accounts, the store may not just cater to the living.

Haunted History: The most famous account of paranormal activity is told by a long time employee of the store. She claims that one night, her and a co-worker saw a dark figure in the back of the store. They followed it into the kitchen where they found the stove and a fan turned on unexplainably. Others have reported seeing and feeling things in that same back hallway of the store. There are also claims of hearing footsteps when there is no one else in the building and the sensation of being watched. And yet another employee described seeing a woman in white running through the store that no one else had seen. The store hosts ghost tours in the fall if you want to attempt to have your own haunted encounter at this historic location.