Community Corner

Happy Halloween: Here Are NJ's Top Five Spookiest Urban Legends

We asked Patch readers to rank our most popular and most chilling tales of the unknown. Here are the results.

NEW JERSEY - Anyone who lives in the Garden State has heard rumors of haunted happenings and urban folklore close to home, and we wanted your help in choosing the five creepiest tales.

So here are the top five chosen by you, our readers.

1. Encounters with the Jersey Devil

Is the Jersey Devil real? The people who believe they've heard his screams in towns near the Pinelands would tell you so. And the state Pinelands Commission website? Well, it doesn't completely deny the possibility. Read more....

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

2. The Mystery of the Westfield Watcher

Fans of thrillers, mystery and suspense will find plenty of material in the tale of the Westfield Watcher. The story made international headlines in 2014 when Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased their dream home on the highly-coveted Boulevard in Westfield. But before they were even able to move in, an anonymous letter writer began sending menacing letters with disturbing references to their three children. Read more...

3. The Hookerman on the Long Valley Railroad

As the story goes a rail worker suffered an accident on the line and fell unconscious. When he awoke he found his arm, which was sprawled across the track, had been severed at the elbow. Read more...

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

4. The Ghost of a Child on Burnt Mill Road

It is said that the Atco Ghost resides on Burnt Mill Road in the Pine Barrens, where the little boy was struck and killed by a drunk driver. He appears whenever someone driving down the road honks their horn three times. Read more...

5. The Gates of Hell In a Tunnel In Clifton

According to local tall tales, the tunnels found off Paulison Avenue are the stuff of nightmares. As recently as June, particularly daring urban explorers have created videos exploring the tunnels, hoping to find the gate in question, which is supposedly guarded by "Red Eyed Mike." Read more...

Thanks for participating and have a Happy Halloween!

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