The Devil's Tree -- Somerset County, New Jersey

In an open field in Somerset County, New Jersey, stands a centuries old tree that is has built up an ominous reputation over the years.  It began it's notorious history back in colonial times.  Legend has it that when slaves became unruly for some locals, they made examples out of them by hanging them from this tree.  Thus began a history that would tarnish this unworldly looking oak for all time.

Some decades later, folks tell of a man who went insane.  One dark night, he went about murdering his entire family.  Realizing what he had done, he went to the hanging tree and proceeded to hang himself from it.  During the post Civil War era, the Klu Klux Klan members were s no stranger to the hanging tree.  Their favorite activity?  Lynching a number of African Americans from a very large branch that stuck out of the side of the tree at the same time.  After this horrible era, and the KKK was on the decline, the lynchings pretty much came to an end.  However, the reputation of what would become known as The Devil's Tree had just begun.

The Devil's Tree along Mountain Road in Somerset County, New Jersey is thought to be haunted by former slaves and others who were killed there over the years.

Many would visit the tree, knowing of it's torrid reputation.  Many who would touch the tree would report that whatever part of their body they touched the tree with, would turn black.  A black substance which could not be identified and would not come off easily.  Now it would be understandable if it were a walnut tree, but this is a mighty oak.

Then, some visors to the tree would see a faint out line of a noose hanging from the large branch where many met their deaths.  Except when they approached closer, there would be nothing!  Over time some folks began to believe the tree was really possessed by the Devil.  Attempts were made to cut down the tree, but they failed in some way or another.  One vandal, did manage to cut off the large branch that was known as "the hanging branch".

Many visitors say the tree possesses some strange energy which causes strange and bizarre things to happen when people are around it. The tree still stands today, protected by wire mesh so as to not only protect the tree from damage, but to protect those who may attempt to touch it so that they may not absorb it's evil!

Location:
120-156 Mountain Road
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
N 40° 37.810 W 074° 34.979

View the Index of Haunted Places

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Tree
http://weirdnj.com/stories/devils-tree/

Clinton Road - One of the Most Haunted Roads in America in West Milford Township, New Jersey

In northeastern New Jersey there lies a ten mile road that many people consider the most haunted stretch of road in the United States.  Stretching from Highway 23 in Newfoundland, New Jersey up to Upper Greenwood Lake ten miles north with not much in between, the road is very remote and dark, passing through many miles of forest.  This desolate stretch of road has the infamous distinction of being one of the dumping grounds for victims of the Iceman.  Many claim that the ghosts of these murder victims haunt Clinton Road to this day as well as many other strange occurrences.

Clinton Road in West Milford Township, New Jersey,  is said to be one of the most haunted stretches of highway in America.

Victims of the Iceman

Richard Kuklinski, was a professional killer who prowled New Jersey and New York in the 1950s through the 80s.  He got his name by freezing his victims so that the time of death could not be determined.  Police examiners actually caught onto his scheme after he dumped a body on Clinton Road that he did not let thaw enough and chunks of ice were found inside the body. This later led to his arrest. 

The road's notorious past as it relates to The Iceman, may have only helped Clinton Road's reputation for being haunted, because stories of strange encounters on this road date back to the early 1900s long before The Iceman's time. There have been many sightings of shadowy figures randomly standing along the road as travelers pass by at night.

Phantom Rangers of Terrace Pond

There are hiking trails and a camping area near Terrace Pond along Clinton Road.  Some hikers who decided to camp near the pond claim to have been visited by Park Rangers who politely chatted with the group for a while.  After their camping trip was over, the learned that there were no park rangers out and that two rangers meeting their description, had died in an accident in 1939.  So when you are hiking the Terrace Pond Loop in West Milford Township, and you encounter a forest ranger, you may want to keep moving!

A view of the pond from Terrace Pond Loop in West Milford Township, New Jersey near haunted Clinton Road

Phantom Lights

Many travelers on Clinton Road have reported being harassed by "ghost" lights.  These lights appear to be head lights of a vehicle behind them.  However, when they slowed down to let the vehicle pass, the lights would slow with them.  And when they reached the end of Clinton road, the lights would suddenly disappear.  There some who believe this is a phantom vehicle, not just lights, that randomly appears behind you as if to chase you off of Clinton Road.

While traveling Clinton Road in New Jersey, you may be followed by strange lights that suddenly appear

Ghost Boy Bridge

At the area where Clinton Road crosses Clinton Brook, there once was a town which is no longer.  This town was of course, the village of Clinton, New Jersey.  At the bridge that crosses the brook, legend has it that a young boy was playing on the bridge and encountered a passing vehicle and tumbled over the side and downed in the brook.  Some believe that if some visitors to the bridge have been pushed over the side by the phantom child in order to save them. Reportedly, the boy can be summoned by placing a quarter on the yellow line on the bridge.  Many say that if you throw a coin into the water, the ghost of the young boy will throw it back!

A view from below "Ghost Boy Bridge" on Clinton Road where a boy supposedly drown after falling off of the bridge

Phantom Camaro of Dead Man's Curve

There is a dangerous curve on Clinton Road where many have been killed.  Some say that a phantom Camaro driven by a young girl that was killed on the road years ago can be seen driving the highway late at night.  Many eyewitnesses have seen this vehicle driven by a girl pass them by, only to disappear into nothing.

Bizarre Animals

Another bizarre occurance that often occurs on Clinton Road is the sighting of strange animals.  Some claim that there was an exotic animal park along the road that shut down and instead of being relocated, some of the animals were released into the wild and bred with local wild animals producing some strange species of animals that have been seen in headlights of cars. Some speculate that some of these encounters may be with the New Jersey Devil which is also legendary in the area.  These things do not however, explain why there have been so many sightings of different types of animals that are all white in appearance.

Mysterious Stone Structures

Adding to the mystic of Clinton Road, there are rumors that a stone druidic temple and castle ruins along the road have served as a place for devil worshipers and other cult activities.  Although, people may have used it as some sort of temple, the stone mound that many believe has Satanic purposes, is actually an 18th century furnace which was used to smelt iron during the Revolutionary War.  This structure is located just south of Clinton Reservoir on the east side of the road where it intersects with School House Road.

Clinton Furnace, a 18th century smelting mound along Clinton Road in New Jersey believed to be a druid temple by many passers by

Cross Castle which was built in 1905 by a man named Richard Cross in the hills along Clinton Road  was a mystical place during it's existance, and even more so after it was destroyed by a fire.  Supposedly, it became a favorite site for Satanic rituals and eventually the structure was demolished and all that remains is the stone foundation and a few walls.  The castle is also near Clinton Reservoir located near School House Road and Van Orden Roads and is accessible by hiking trails.  Many say that visitors to the site experience very strange feelings as if there is some unseen presence there.  Visitors have also have seen unexplained visions as if something was altering their mind.  Some people have actually claimed to have bruises appear on their arms and legs put there by some paranormal force after visiting the ruins.

The New Jersey Devil

The legend of the New Jersey Devil has lived on since the time of the Lenni Lenape Indian tribes who dwelled in the area of the pine barrens in southern New Jersey.  The New Jersey Devil is said to have the characteristics of various types of animals.  The most widely accepted version of how the devil originated is as follows:

"It was said that Mother Leeds had 12 children and, after giving birth to her 12th child, stated that if she had another, it would be the Devil. In 1735, Mother Leeds was in labor on a stormy night. Gathered around her were her friends. Mother Leeds was supposedly a witch and the child's father was the Devil himself. The child was born normal, but then changed form. It changed from a normal baby to a creature with hooves, a horse's head, bat wings and a forked tail. It growled and screamed, then killed the midwife before flying up the chimney. It circled the villages and headed toward the pines. In 1740 a clergy exorcised the demon for 100 years and it wasn't seen again until 1890."

Artist's rendition of the New Jersey Devil

 It is due to this story that the New Jersey Devil is sometimes referred to as "Leeds Devil".  There have been many sightings of the creature over the years throughout southern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.




Reference: Wikipedia - New Jersey Devil