The Devil Tree of Liberty Corner (Somerset County)
This photo was taken in the 90’s. Boy, the area has changed.
Urban Legend 1
Devil Tree – The Tree and the Caretaker
Me and my friends were all contemplating going up to the devil tree. I had been up there one time before, and a truly weird thing happened. It was about November or December when I was first told about the devil tree up in the mountains. I was told “Don’t touch it or something will happen to you or your car.” I had just had my car serviced though, and had a new fan belt installed. We went up to the tree and noticed that all the snow around it was all melted. After we’d touched the tree and gotten back on the road, a black truck with some very bright lights started tailgating me like crazy. I was doing 85 mph down the VERY winding road. I was scared. All of a sudden just as the truck’s lights and the truck disappeared, my fan belt snaps and I had to pull over (reluctantly). I was scared, but relieved that it was all over with.
Kirk Sporman
Then, just last week, we visited the tree with many friends. We all went up and touched the tree. We even took a Polaroid of the tree with a flash. When we got back to the car, the picture had developed. To our astonishment, a lady in a red dress on the right side of the tree was hanging from what looked like a brown noose. We all were so freaked out. We were awe-struck. We plan on going back up there soon.
Personally, I don’t think it could have been used as a lynching tool—the ground under the tree is too uneven—but you never know.
Urban Legend 2
Not far from Chimney Rock is a tree with quite a history. By all accounts, it is at least two hundred years old, and it is striking in both its placement and appearance. It sits at the bend of a long country road. Various legends surround the tree, including that it was once used as a “hanging tree” by the local chapter of the KKK (yes, we had them, and probably still do). It seems impossible now, but the location in the mountains was probably more remote in the past than it is now. Some attempts have been made in the past to cut the tree down – it bears deep scars near its base – and of course legends surround what might have happened to those who tried to bring the tree low. Today, the tree is on private property, but is embarrassingly vandalized. Bottles and cans of all description litter the area. Some joker even put a “noose” around the low branch. Personally, I don’t think it could ever have been used as a lynching tool – the ground under the tree is too uneven. But ya never know…
Colin J. Vozeh
The tale of the devil tree continues as the documentary “Haunted Roots” wins the American Golden Picture International Film Festival’s Best Documentary Short Film award. We’ve gathered 17 videos in a list for your entertainment.
The Muderous Farmer Who Murdered His Family (Liberty Corner, NJ)
According to the locals who tell the legend, everyone near Bernards Township seems to have a story about it. One story was that, at one time, a farmer killed his entire family and then went to the tree to hang himself. According to others, numerous suicides and murders occurred around the tree.
Supposedly, anyone who tries to cut down the unholy oak comes to an untimely end, as it is now cursed. It is said that the souls of those killed at the spot give the tree an unnatural warmth, and even in the dead of winter, no snow will fall around it.
Many attempts have been made over the years to take it down. The tree stands all alone in the middle of a large field. Axes and chainsaws have severely scarred its trunk, and some wounds appear quite old. We cannot say for sure why no one has succeeded in felling the evil oak. Nor do we know what has become of those who have tried.
One local described the Devil Tree this way: “There’s a big field, and right near the road is the tree. It’s the only thing in the field. Supposedly, it’s a portal to hell, and a sentinel guards it. He drives an old black Ford or Chevy pickup truck and will chase you down the road until a certain point. You will see headlights one second, and the next nothing – the car is just gone.”
Another local says that the inherent unholiness of the Devil Tree is the result of the evil that men do and nothing supernatural at all.
The KKK and the Devil Tree
“There is a very evil truth to the mythology of the Devil Tree. At one time, Bernards Township was one of the central headquarters of the KKK in New Jersey – they held many demonstrations in our town and held many meetings throughout the hills. As per KKK policy, often they would ‘lynch’ local African-Americans to set an example, not only to other African Americans but also as an example of their principle and resolve.
The Devil Tree was more secluded in those times before the developments spread across the mountain like a plague. It sat in a very isolated section of woods and fields, far from the prying eyes of the police. The Devil Tree was the site of many of the KKK’s meetings and hangings. The evil energy around the tree comes from the souls of dead men and women who this vile organization killed. If you look at the picture, the leftmost branch extends almost parallel to the ground. This was the hanging branch. It’s pretty freaky and true stuff. When the moon is a complete red harvest moon, and the wind blows just right, it looks like bodies might be hanging from the branch, slowly swaying in the breeze.”
Other Devil Tree Tales
Here are just a few of the tales we’ve heard over the years about the Devil Tree in Liberty Corner:
- Hands turn black if you touch the tree.
- Axes fall from your hands if you try to cut the tree.
- The “guardian of the tree” comes after you in his white pickup truck.
- The stone in front of the tree is a gateway to hell.
- The tree and the stone are warm, and snow never gathers at its base.
- Children have been thrown from the tree’s branches.
- The Klan has hung people from the tree.
- Farmer Nick killed his family at the tree.
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Additional Jersey Tales and Urban Legends
Mike’s Comments:
This is one sinister looking tree. It is on an open field with just the tree. It was probably more secluded back in the day, as there are some houses off the road a little bit. The odd thing was that there was no snow around the tree. We kept going back to the truck every time we saw headlights coming down the road, just in case. John’s hand started bleeding out of nowhere as we approached the tree the second time. And John scared the shit out of me by screaming for no reason.