By Steffen Klenk
The Jersey Shore is known for having family friendly towns with outstanding beaches, cities full of rich history and fun boardwalks. Yet, there is a scary, spooky side to our area, full of shadowy abandoned houses, creepy cemeteries and chilling legends. Seeing that Halloween is just a few weeks away, I’ve chosen to share some information on our local haunted legends.
How is a place deemed as being haunted? The history of the building or surrounding area is at the top of the list, followed by who lived there and how the house or land was used. “Spirits” may seek some form of justice or revenge or, perhaps, just wants someone to know of their presence. This is especially true on battlegrounds, cemeteries and old, long closed hospitals and prisons. There are countless legends attached to such places; tales of paranormal activities are shared such as unexplained cold spots, odd smells, creaking or slamming doors, flickering lights and sounds of footsteps in the dark.
There are a considerable amount of places that are described everywhere from Smithville to Cape May, all rich with history. Locally, there are several that stand out. South Jersey is known for the Pine Barrens, which encompasses 1.1 million acres of preserved woodland over seven counties and known as the largest haunted area in all of the state. Within this endless forest are former mining settlements and mills, along with tails of numerous ghosts, and another Jersey-native creature.
Often referred to as the Leeds Devil, tales of the infamous Jersey Devil go back as early as the 1700s. Legend has it he is the 13th son of Jane Leeds, and was born as a creature with hooves, wings and a forked tail. Many have reported spotting the creature in various locations throughout Atlantic County, most notably in the Pine Barrens.
Cape May is another town full of paranormal occurrences and sightings of numerous apparitions. The Cape received its name from the Dutch Captain Mey, who came upon the peninsula in 1620, a place where the Native American tribes summered. When the Quakers formed the community in 1688, the whaling industry began and more families relocated to the area. Victorian houses and hotels line the beach front streets along with many stories of hundreds of ghosts.
Just in time for Halloween, several local towns are currently offering nightly Ghost Tour walks, many telling tales of folklore and old haunts. You can join local author Scott Macom around the campfire as he shares spooky Jersey Devil tales from his book, “Devil Leeds.” The event will begin at 7 p.m. on the grounds of the Somers Mansion in Somers Point. Bring your lawn chairs and sit around the campfire to hear the spooky tales.
Additionally the Hamilton Historical Society’s 23rd Annual Ghost Walk returns. Tour groups will be led by a Storyteller Guide, with local history and spooky stories through historic downtown Mays Landing. You can learn more and purchase tickets at hamiltonhistorical.org.
No matter where you may venture this season, have a Happy Halloween.
