Boston Crypt Tour Now Includes Stolen 'Cursed Brick' Returned After Bad Luck

A New Spooky Element at Boston’s Old North Church

Boston’s Old North Church, one of the city’s most historic landmarks, is now offering a new and intriguing experience for visitors. This season, the church has introduced what it calls the “Cursed Brick” — an unusual addition that has sparked both curiosity and mystery.

The story began in March when officials received an unmarked package containing a stolen brick from the church’s historic crypt. The package came with a typed note that read: “My husband took this from the crypt. We have had a string of bad luck and we want to return the brick.” According to Emily Spence, director of education at Old North Illuminated, the note was enough to prompt action.

“We’re not sure what kind of bad luck they had, but we decided the right thing to do is return the brick to the crypt and give it a lot of respect down there,” Spence said. The brick was placed on its own pedestal and box, making it a part of the church’s exhibits.

Old North Church, located on Boston’s Freedom Trail in the North End, was built in 1723 and is famous for its role in Paul Revere’s midnight ride on April 18, 1775. It was the site of the “One if by land, and two if by sea” signal that helped start the American Revolution.

The mysterious package was postmarked from California, but no other information about the sender has been revealed. Officials don’t know when or how the brick was stolen, and they didn’t even realize it was missing until the package arrived.

“We were sort of mystified,” Spence said. “We had all these questions about, ‘Is the crypt haunted?’ But what a great story about the crypt. We were like, ‘Is it true? Is it not true?'”

Each year, about 150,000 guests visit the church. Visitors can choose from several self-guided tours, including a look at the dimly-lit and narrow underground crypt where approximately 1,100 people are buried, including notable figures from the Revolutionary War such as Captain Samuel Nicholson and Major John Pitcairn.

In June, the “Cursed Brick” was returned to the crypt and is now featured in the guided After-Hours Crypt Tour, which takes place annually during September and October.

“It was too great a story not to share,” said Spence, noting that guests often ask if there are any supernatural stories from the crypt. This addition helps to satisfy their curiosity.

Adding to the intrigue, something strange happened when the brick was installed in June: the lights went out twice. Officials called in an electrician to fix the problem, but the timing of the power outage felt uncanny.

“It was not something that I had had happen in my years here at Old North, and it certainly kind of felt like a bit of a message from the Cursed Brick,” Spence said.

Officials have asked the sender of the brick to come forward, writing, “All is forgiven. We just want to know the truth” about the brick, but so far, there has been no response.

“I believe that the people who took the brick really suffered some bad luck and I get a sense of a real fear too,” Spence said.

The crypt houses 37 brick tombs, some sealed with slate or wooden doors. During the 45-minute tour, guests learn why the church has a crypt, how crypt burials worked, who is buried in the crypt, and the restoration of the crypt that took place in 2023.

Before the restoration, there was a lot more loose debris in the crypt, so Spence wonders if the brick was taken before the restoration. “There weren’t any obvious holes in the tomb, so it’s not clear where they took it and how they snuck it out,” she said.

However, visitors this season should keep this in mind, according to Spence: “Purchase your souvenirs and do not take them from the crypt because the crypt has feelings about it.”

Old North Church, located at 193 Salem St., Boston, offers the After-Hours Crypt Tour from September 18 to November 1. Admission is $20, and tours take place Thursday through Saturday at 5:30 and 6:15 p.m., extending to nightly beginning October 16. Tours are capped at 20 people and are not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Guests can reserve their spot online.