By Holly Fertsch
It’s the time of year when we tell ghost stories and dress up as monsters. Here are some unique creatures and apparitions that legend says are local to South Jersey.
1. The Black Dog
While many European cultures have folklore about a phantom black dog, the Pine Barrens has a unique version of the legend.
Most European tales depict a black dog as a harbinger of death. However, the New Jersey legend has it that the black dog that haunts our shores is a harmless spirit looking for his master.
The story goes that pirates on Absecon Island attacked a ship and killed its crew. Among those killed by the pirates were a cabin boy and his black dog. The ghost of the black dog is said to roam the Pine Barrens and Absecon Island beaches in search of his owner.
2. The Jersey Devil
Perhaps the most famous monster listed here, the Jersey Devil was named the state demon in 1938. However, the 20th-century publication that first reported that news may have been joking.
Before the early 1900s, this creature was referred to as the Leeds Devil. The story goes that the Jersey Devil is the 13th child of a woman named Mrs. Leeds.
The creature is described as having the face of a horse, hooves and a tail. The Jersey Devil walks on his hind legs and flies with bat wings.
3. The White Stag
The white stag is a ghostly figure that is said to help travelers in the Pinelands. The story goes that a stagecoach was about to cross a bridge when the driver noticed a white stag standing in the road. The white stag frightened the horses, and they stopped abruptly. The driver then saw the white stag disappear before his eyes.
The driver looked for the white stag but couldn’t find it. Then he discovered the bridge he had been about to cross had collapsed. The white stag had saved his life.
It is now considered good luck to spot a white stag in the Pine Barrens.
4. Emily
A historic hotel in South Jersey (that shall go unnamed here) has a secret. I worked there for a short stint and was warned to not speak of the ghost around guests.
This apparition is known as “The Lady in White,” but I never heard that title during my time at the hotel. We referred to her by her name in life: Emily.
Luckily, this spirit was said to be more mischievous than malicious. My coworkers told me stories of the staff elevator not working and light bulbs flickering as evidence of Emily playing tricks.
There is a beautiful portrait of Emily in one of the ballrooms. Painted by Tony Troy, he based Emily’s likeness on descriptions of the ghost. The portrait depicts a young woman with long hair standing next to a piano. She wears a long white dress.
While I did not encounter Emily during my time at the hotel, I was careful to avoid eye contact with her portrait just in case.
That said, Emily is a well-beloved ghost who is not said to be dangerous to anyone in any way. The hotel even named its restaurant after Emily to celebrate her.
5. The Ghost of Captain Kidd
Captain Kidd was a pirate rumored to have buried treasure at the north end of Brigantine or on Little Beach. Other potential burial sites include Barnegat Beach and Cape May Point.
After being executed, Captain Kidd has occasionally been spotted walking along Barnegat Beach with the Jersey Devil. In these legends, the ghost of Captain Kidd is often headless.
