The Sterling Hill Mining Museum, drawing in over 40,000 visitors per year, is easily one of the biggest tourist attractions in North Jersey. With mining at the site beginning in the 1630s, the Sterling Hill Mine is most commonly known for its large extraction of zinc as well as its fluorescent minerals. With a museum and mine tours starting in 1990 at the location, the Sterling Hill Mine is a place that almost every resident of Sussex County has either been to or heard about at some point. But what happens when the Sterling Hill Mine gets a bit…spooky?

Over the last few years, parents, volunteers, mine employees, and the Ogdensburg eighth grade class have completely transformed the mine into a haunted attraction, also known as the Sterling Hell Haunted Mine Tour. For one weekend in October, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum offers haunted tours, similar to a haunted house or hayride. The lights in the mine become hazy, screams can be heard echoing through the mine, and spooky figures such as dead miners, clowns, and other scary characters can be found roaming the mine's tunnels. 

In previous years, proceeds from the Haunted Mine Tours have gone to the eighth grade class to help fundraise for their Boston field trips. This year, however, Mr.Astor, superintendent of Ogdensburg Elementary School, has graciously agreed to split the proceeds with the Wallkill Valley Performing Arts Program, as choir and theater students will also be helping with the mine this year. This will greatly benefit the Performing Arts Program here at Wallkill, as funding for the theater department and traveling for choir competitions is quite expensive.