Folklore is defined by Dictionary.com as the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally. It is our hope to record our local folklore and share it with others. Remember, folklore may contain historical inaccuracies! For example, did George Washington really cut down the cherry tree? Did Ben Franklin really fly a kite in a lightening storm?
Captain Kidd's Treasure
Captain Kidd, the pirate, buried treasure on many inlets in New Jersey. He beheaded one of his crew mates, and left the spirit to guard his treasure, and the ghost befriended the Devil. Many people claimed they saw the Jersey Devil and the apparition walking on Leeds' Point Beach, and in many marshes. Local people continue to search for the gold doubloons in Kidd's treasure. Researched by Frank Minio.Additional source is Mr. Richard Henkels stories and inverview.
Ear Ache Remedy
There were alot of home remedies. Mrs. Broomell and Mrs Newsome reported a remedy for earaches. "My grandfather would puff on his cigar and blow smoke in my ear and then put cotton in the ear. The warm air would make it feel better. There were no heating pads so you had a hot water bottle. It wasn't really a bottle…it was made of rubber. You filled it with hot water.
Jersey Devil
The Jersey Devil is a horned, almost dragon-like creature that haunts the land of the Pine Barrens. Rumor is that a woman didn't want to convert her faith and says her new born will be a baby of satan. Other rumors say a woman Mrs.Leeds has twelve kids and that she wants her next born to be cursed because she has so many. The third rumor is that Mrs. Leeds had twins, one deformed in a devil form, both were mischievous. She kills one but the devil formed baby escapes. The Jersey devil is a Horned terror of a creature but we will never know how it was originally made. Researched by Kyle Martelli.
Lousy Harbor
During the Revolutionary War, several ships were intercepted and brought into Great Egg Harbor inlet by the colonists. One of particular note was the Bellview, which had a British crew of whom all were filthy with lice. The vessel was towed into Steelman's Bay through a small channel, which thereafter was named Lousy Harbor. Source: Weymouth Township, NJ Website Another version of the Lousy Harbor story attributes the lice to British sailors captured during the War of 1812 or sailors who came in peacetime. See Mrs. Baum, Mrs. Miller and Mrs Risley interview.
Sand Fort
The sand fort was located on Bay Avenue. It was built during the War of 1812. It was said to have been carrying "quaker guns." This was because it was said that a canon ball was shot into the Quaker meeting house. Local residents remember a story of volunteers placing logs in the sand to look like real cannons. It is said that, until the army troops arrived there, all of the men, women, and children in the area brought broomsticks, quaker guns, and anything that resembled a gun. This would make an uproar that sounded like they were preparing to fire. Some ships would retreat into the sea before the army arrived because they thought that they were getting ready to fire. Researched by Amy Plantarich. Sources: NJ Pinelands and Down Jersey website and local stories reported by Mr. Richard Henkels.
Somers Mansion Tunnel
Docents at the Somers Mansion continue to refute the local stories about a secret tunnel leading from the mansion to the bay. Yet, the story will not die! Some people think it might have been used for smuggling during the Revoluntionary War or to avoid local customs agents. Others speculate it might have been used for the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War. We do know the Somers family were Quakers and Quakers were against slavery. Another theory is a tunnel may have been used during Prohibition by rumrunners smuggling illegal alcohol. Source: Mrs. Marion Hyde and Richard Henkels interview
The Cruel and Strange House
It's been almost forty years. Forty years that is, since a family that lived here in Somers Point was arrested on animal cruelty charges. The family had lived here forever. They owned just about all of the land over near Dawes Avenue School and had sold it all over the years. You think that the family would be rich and wealthy; well they sure didn't look it. The neighborhood children could tell you some wild things about this family; almost anything they said could be true. On the way to school, when you got near the house, you could smell the overpowering odor of animal waste. The family consisted of one older woman and a younger woman who looked like it could be her granddaughter. The granddaughter wore a black cape and wore her hair like Dracula. Her hair came down to a point in the middle of her forehead. The grandaughter also carried around a cane-- the cane had a dog's head on the top of it. She told the neighborhood children that, if she didn't keep the head clean, the dog would eventually die. The grandmother you ask?! Well, after a while people didn't know where she went; they say she died or was fed to the dogs. When the family was arrested, the police and animal control say that there were cages built into the walls. There were exotic animals every place imaginable, including the toilet and bathtub, and animal waste piled to the ceilings. In the end, the family went to jail. What state is the house in you ask? It looks beautiful! There is a new family that lives there and it is all fixed up. Hopefully they don't act like the other one! By: Jacqueline G. Information from: The citizens of Somers Point and prior knowledge
World War II and submarines
Local residents had blackouts during World War II to protect against the light shining on the ocean and revealing our ships to the German submarines. Mrs. Baum reports: "We painted the lights black toward the ocean. We had heavy curtains because they thought there were submarines out there in the ocean.The lights were painted half way so they wouldn't shine out in the ocean. The car had half of the headlights painted black. One of the teachers at the high school went to the Music Pier to watch for ships and planes. She went every afternoon after school until midnight. She said there were problems out there. She often saw a ship or something." Other residents reported rumors of German submarines coming ashore either to spy or by accident. Some residents worried about an invasion!!