Built in 1784, the historic Old Salem Tavern is one of the oldest surviving public buildings in North Carolina. For generations, travelers passed through its doors seeking food, shelter, and a warm fire while making their way through the Moravian settlement of Salem. Statesmen, merchants, laborers, and strangers all spent the night beneath its roof, leaving behind stories that became woven into the history of Old Salem itself.

Yet one visitor left behind something more than a story. According to a legend that has endured for generations, a mysterious stranger arrived at the tavern under circumstances that would spark one of Old Salem's most enduring tales. Part local history, part folklore, and part ghost story, it is a mystery that continues to captivate visitors nearly two centuries later.

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