Weird NJ - Weird New Jersey

01/19/2025

In the latest issue of Weird NJ we offer a rare glimpse behind the security gates and barbed wire fences that surround Picatinny Arsenal at sights seldom seen by civilian eyes.

“Deep in the heart of a dense uncharted forest, yet still within earshot of Route 15, lies a well-camouflaged military installation with an air of mystery. Its presence is unmistakable, with distinct signage and a hulking 215-foot testing tower visible from most surrounding roadways. But beyond the barbed wire, is not your typical military base with barracks and training fields; Picatinny Arsenal is an insulated fortress of cutting-edge technology, with a rich history that dates back to the covert operations of a bygone era.

“Originally constructed as a depot for storage of (gun) powder and other armaments, today, the post serves as a center for research, development, testing and production of munitions, weapons systems and related technologies for various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, primarily the Army. For some, the arsenal is a place to work, for others it’s a way of life. For those obsessed with ruins and rare artifacts, the arsenal is a fascinating and well-preserved historical playground.”

Read the full story in Weird NJ issue #63. Available in stores now and online at WeirdNJ(dot)com. Story and photos by Cheryl Ann Marino.

01/13/2025

Dempsey House in the Leonardo section of Middletown sat quietly in the woods for many years as the legends about it grew. The abandoned foreboding looking stone building is one of the last remnants of the vast Dempsey estate, which once occupied the surrounding grounds. Those who have grown up near it tell tales of its dark and disturbing past.

Today the Dempsey House sits on one of the last parcels of undeveloped land in Leonardo. The township has been clearing the surrounding foliage in an effort to make trespassers and potential vandals easier to spot for neighbors and the police. At the time of this writing, there were no definite plans on what the eventual fate of the property might be.

When Weird NJ spoke with a township worker at the site this past summer, he told us, “They could try to preserve it, because they consider it to be historically significant, or they could demolish it and build a parking lot.” Police maintain that none of the stories about a murder at the house are true. “There were all kinds of rumors, it spiraled out of control. But there was never a murder there.” Nevertheless, the legends still live on.

Read all the dark legends of the Dempsey House at WeirdNJ(dot)com.

01/07/2025

Weird NJ Presentation – Union County
Just two days left to make your reservations!
On January 14 at 11:15am the JCC of Central New Jersey will host a presentation by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, creators and publishers of Weird New Jersey magazine. Participants will explore the unique, mysterious and peculiar side of New Jersey through an enlightening presentation focusing on the uniquely strange aspects of the Union County area. In addition to the featured program highlighting little-known N.J. legends, folklore, ghost sightings and other fascinating stories.

This event is open to the public and advance reservations are required by January 9, as seating is limited. For reservations/tickets, please visit the link in comments or contact Wendy Connolly at [email protected] or by calling (908) 889-8800.

JCC of Central New Jersey
1391 Martine Ave
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

01/01/2025

According to this article, New Jersey's drone mystery was "only just the beginning," but a "huge announcement will be coming within the next 30 days." Happy New Year New Jersey!

Several pundits predict that early 2025 will see dramatic developments in the New Jersey drone saga - with everything from war on Iran to an alien invasion

12/13/2024

There's been some speculation recently that the drones we've been seeing each night in New Jersey are actually being launched from somewhere offshore. We just received the following message from longtime Weird NJ staffer Ryan Doan, a Monmouth County resident, who filed the following report that might (or might not) have some connection to that theory:

"This drone stuff is insane, but I got some intel today and am not sure what to do with it. My dad is friends with a bunch of old chaps that hang out at the park. One owns a fishing boat and was out with his friend 100 miles or so off the coast (tuna fishing). They came across a ship that had high tech surveillance equipment (two of the guys on the boat were United Airlines mechanics and said they hadn’t seen anything like it).

"Anyway, they took the included photo and my buddy and I cross-matched it on the web and learned it is the US Fort Lauderdale – a warship. The only marking they saw was something about Florida so that checks out. My Dad also said something about another fisherman being out there and detecting what he says are mines on the depth finder. With all the activity do you think there could be a threat and that the drones we’re seeing are actually counter measures? It would explain the sensitive places they are monitoring. Clearly something is going on!" –Ryan Doan

12/12/2024

WEIRD NJ DRONE WATCHING GEAR
Have you seen the mysterious drones that have been buzzing around the New Jersey skies at night? Now you can watch them in style with our official Weird NJ Drone Spotters' gear! Available in just about any garment, size and color you could want to make your late night drone watching more comfortable. Link in comments. (Artwork by Mark Moran)

12/12/2024

Mysterious Drone Sightings Still Causing Concerns Nightly Throughout NJ.

Have you seen them yet?

Read more at WeirdNJ[dot]com.

12/11/2024

This Saturday, Dec. 14, Weird NJ will be taking part in the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market: WRECK THE HALLS Holiday Shopping Extravaganza, and we’ll be bringing all kinds of cool merch like; books, T-shirts, stickers, patches and posters. Get all your holiday shopping done in one day at this one-of-a-kind market.

The TPRFM returns for our annual Wreck the Halls Holiday Market at the Cure Insurance Arena on South Broad Street in Trenton. Featuring more than 450+ different small businesses, artists & makers each day with indoor vendors, live music, food trucks, celebrity guests, live tattooing and more!

12/11/2024

R.I.P. The Amazing Kreskin...
Even Now, He Knows What You’re Thinking!
We are saddened to learn of the passing of our friend The Amazing Kreskin, who died yesterday at the age of 89. A native of Montclair, Kreskin was born George Joseph Kresge, of January 12, 1935 and was a mentalist who became popular on television programs like the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in the 1970s. He always presented himself as an “entertainer,” never as a psychic, who operated on the power of suggestion, not the paranormal or supernatural.

Not all of Kreskin’s predictions turn out to be so amazing, though. Like the one he made 2002, when he prediction that there would be a mass UFO sighting over Las Vegas on June 6 between the hours of 9:45 PM and midnight that would be witnessed by thousands of people. He also said that if there were no sightings, he would donate $50,000 to a charity. Hundreds of people camped out that evening hoping to witness the event, yet no sighting occurred.

One prediction that Kreskin had made that we knew for sure would come true was that of his own passing. Kreskin himself seems pretty confident that this was a sure bet too, as he had invested in having his own tombstone carved in anticipation of the event years before it eventually came to pass. The stone is located in the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover and bears the inscription, “Even now, I know what you’re thinking!”

Just a few plots away from Kreskin’s grave you’ll find the final resting place of another Montclair legend, baseball great Yogi Berra. Berra was known for his impromptu pithy comments, malapropisms, and seemingly unintentional witticisms, which would come to be known as “Yogi-isms,” one of the most famous examples of this being, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” And now, for the Amazing Kreskin, it’s over. R.I.P.

12/10/2024

The Technicolor Trees of Christmas
Weird NJ correspondent Anastasia Morris recently paid a visit to Wyckoff’s Christmas Tree Farm in Belvidere, Warren County, NJ and filed the following report:

Wyckoff’s is New Jersey’s original colored tree farm. Weird, because these colors, so vibrant, are not typical tree colors. There are various colors to choose from, such as pink, purple, dark blue, light blue, turquoise, magenta, red, black, white, or red, white, and blue. The trees are real but are sprayed with a latex-based paint. Cool to see and the only farm in NJ that does it.

This year the colored trees were at the top of the mountain and the view from the top of the surrounding area was stunning.

Wyckoff’s has been an eight-generation family-owned farm since 1839, with over 250 acres of land all along a mountain and crossing over County Road 519. They started growing Christmas trees in 1958 and seem to be very popular – they actually sell out every year.

We visited just a few days after Thanksgiving and the owner of the farm told us a lot of the colored trees had already been purchased. It was still pretty cool to see what was left but the best time to see these trees is right after Thanksgiving.

These are first come–first served and saws are provided to cut your own.
–Photos by Anastasia Morris /.places.pics /

12/09/2024

Weird Wear Never Goes Out of Style…or Out of Stock!
Now you can have any of our Weird NJ designs on all kinds of cool new apparel and accessories: Men’s Wear, Women’s Wear, Kids, Tee Shirts, Sweatshirts, Long Sleeve Tees, Hoodies, Tanks Tops, Tie Dyes, Hats, Mugs, Backpacks, Stickers, Buttons and more! All are available in all sizes and a variety of colors.
Represent Jersey!

12/06/2024

Drone sightings have spread to South Jersey and the Shore, and so have rumors that police and the military are chasing the aircraft down.

12/05/2024

Looking for the perfect gift for that hard to shop for weirdo on your holiday list? Weird NJ has you covered! We're your one stop shop for all your weird needs: Gift Cards, Magazines, Books, T-Shirts, Posters, Magnets, Patches and Stickers. Plus SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFERS for the Holiday Season!
https://store.weirdnj.com/

12/05/2024

Residents,

You may have observed or become aware of the various reported drone sightings, in the airspace above Morris County, in recent weeks. Morris County law enforcement, in conjunction with our State and Federal partners, have been attempting to determine the launch point and landing location of these drones, as well as the people or entities responsible for their presence in our airspace. Several drone sightings have been reported above critical infrastructure such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments and military installations. Members of the local law enforcement community have been pressuring our partners for answers regarding this activity as their presence around our critical infrastructure is concerning. While we currently have no evidence or information to indicate these drones pose an imminent threat at this time, their presence appears nefarious in nature.

We are asking that all residents be vigilant and report any drone sightings directly to the FBI at the phone number or email tip lines listed below. Photographs and video are specifically requested and can be uploaded to the email address tip line.

The FBI has asked all citizens to report drone sightings directly to the FBI Tip-Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at [email protected]

The sightings have been occurring nightly for the past two weeks beginning just after sunset and lasting well into the early morning hours. Please be mindful that not all low flying aircraft are drones as we have the Morristown Municipal Airport, on our western border, and Newark International Airport in close proximity.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Stay safe!

Joseph Orlando
Chief of Police
December 4, 2024

12/03/2024

“Weird New Jersey cofounder Mark Moran, who knows a thing or two about New Jersey mysteries, isn't quite sure what is going on.

‘They're flying at odd times, in the middle of the night, and it kind of makes you wonder,’ Moran said. ‘Generally, the private drone users do their activity during the day so they can film things and see things. You're very limited at night. Not only is it difficult to fly a drone when you can't see it, but also, what are you going to be looking at other than just darkness or random lights?’

Moran said he could only speculate, ‘But there might be something more here than meets the eye.’

‘It seems there may be some technology at play that's beyond the capability of just a private citizen flying a drone,’ Moran mused. ‘Perhaps they have some infrared or low light capability that the standard drones don't…Stories like this are great, they're exciting regardless of what the explanation is,’ Moran said. ‘It gets people talking and why not? Makes life more interesting.’”

FBI continues to investigate and the public continues to report drone sightings in the night sky over North Jersey. Who is behind the drones?

12/02/2024

Following reports last week of unusual drone activity over Morris County — and more sightings over the weekend — the FBI has taken an interest in a mystery that has drawn wide interest on social media.

Recent drone sightings also have been reported in Warren County.

11/29/2024

Since today is Native American Heritage Day, here are some photos of a couple of sites in New Jersey that our state’s indigenous people might (or might not) have a connection with. Nobody really knows for sure. Who do you think created these curious carvings?

The Carved Rock of Little Falls
Located on the edge of a high bluff overlooking a deep wooded ravine in the town of Little Falls sits a large boulder above the Passaic River across from the Little Falls Dam. The rock, which weighs several tons, bears an artistic inscription, a petroglyph, the origins of which are a mystery. Carved into the stone is the well-rendered image of a bird, which resembles a hawk or falcon, perched upon a large stone.

M’ke Helbing, who tipped Weird NJ off to this little-known site, told us “Some claim it’s a real Native American etching, while others say it was done later by settlers.” The boulder is located on a side trail off a paved path in the Morris Canal Preserve, which runs parallel to Main Street along the river where the Morris Canal once ran. There are no markers pointing the stone out as a point of interest or plaques posted that try to explain its existence. Most hikers stroll right by and never even notice the potentially ancient inscription on the stone.

This is not the only mysterious carved stone to be found along the Passaic River. There is another rock in the town of Garfield, just down river from the Dundee Dam that bears the engraved images of a bear paw, a fish and a phallus. This stone too has long been the subject of debate as to whether its inscriptions are of Native America origin or were carved sometime later. There is really no way of knowing for sure. Both sites however, Little Falls and Garfield, are known to have been favored fishing spots among local Indians, the Lenni Lenape tribe.