The Devil's Tree

40°37′48″N 74°34′59″W / 40.6300°N 74.5831°W / 40.6300; -74.5831

The Devil's Tree in 2006

The Devil's Tree is a solitary oak tree, with some dead limbs, growing in an undeveloped field on Mountain Road in the Martinsville section of Bernards Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, across from a private housing development. Local legend suggests the tree is cursed: those who damage or disrespect the tree (usually by urinating on it, or making disparaging remarks about it while nearby) will soon thereafter come to some sort of harm, often in the form of a car accident or major breakdown as they leave.[1]

Claims

Various legends surround the tree. A common claim is that Bernards Township was one of the central headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey and that the tree had been used to lynch Africans and rebellious slaves since Colonial times.[2][3][4] Another claim is that a farmer hanged himself from the tree after killing his family and that anyone trying to cut the tree down will "come to an untimely end".[5] Other legends surrounding the tree allege that visitors who get too close to the tree will get chased by a black Ford pick-up truck that will then disappear at a certain point, or that anyone who touches the tree will find that their hands have turned black if they try to eat at a restaurant.[4][6]

In winter, the ground beneath the tree is allegedly free from snow, no matter how much has fallen or how recently.[1] A nearby boulder called "Heat Rock", and sometimes the tree itself, are said to be warm to the touch regardless of the season or time of day,[7] and is claimed to be a portal to Hell.[1]

Protection

Chain-link fence around the trunk.

The township's plans to develop the land where the tree is located might have required its removal, but the township decided to protect the tree and keep it intact. In 2007, a sign was posted at the site stating when it is open to the public. The Devil's Tree was surrounded by a chain-link fence following vandalism.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Moran, Mark and Sceurman, Mark; Weird NJ: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best-Kept Secrets, Barnes & Noble, 2003; 14-16.
  2. ^ "Day 81: The Devil's Tree". nj.com. New Jersey On-Line LLC. August 25, 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2009. It is said that during colonial times, unruly slaves were hanged from the branch that runs almost parallel to the ground
  3. ^ "Tales from the Devil's Tree", Weird NJ, May 2006.
  4. ^ a b c "The Devil's Tree". Weird NJ. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  5. ^ Genovese, Peter (2011). New Jersey Curiosities. Globe Pequot. p. 247. ISBN 978-0762764495.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ Patricia A. Martinelli, Charles A. Stansfield (2013). The Big Book of New Jersey Ghost Stories. Stackpole Books. p. 130.
  7. ^ Nutt, Bill (October 7, 2001). "Lost Souls: The Spirits of Central Jersey Live On". Courier News. Gannett Company. If you put your hand on it, even in the dead of winter, the tree itself is warm.