In an open field near Bernards Township, New Jersey, is an old oak tree. The tree when it stands with a lesser gown of leaves in the colder months takes on quite a sinister appearance. Legend has it that this tree, cursed with the souls of the many who died from its branches, is not to be trifled with. Around the trunk is a chain link fence that prevents people from making their mark. If you look through the fence you can see the many cuts, scarred into the bark and wood from the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of axe swings by those tempting fate. Some of these cuts are quite deep and more than once it looks like the teeth of a chainsaw has bitten through to the heartwood, yet no one has succeeded in cutting it down, the tree still growing strong despite its wounds. A story, a legend, exists that states that anyone who attempts to cut down the tree will be cursed - injury and death coming for them in the form of a car accident. The other penalty for marking the tree with a blade concerns a black pick up truck that chases the offender down. People believe this vehicle to be driven by a demon or perhaps the devil himself. The truck appears from nowhere, chasing those who dare defile the tree, out of the paddock and down the road, before disappearing to lay in wait for the next group of courageous (or foolish) people. It sounds like the stuff of a classic horror movie but there are many who take parts of the legend seriously, especially the stories concerning how the tree became cursed. Earlier in its history Bernard Township was said to have quite a large number of KKK members. As with the style of the organization, at times they would lynch men and women (possibly children) from the African-American population. In those days the area near the tree was much more secluded and set away from the population center of the town. It was from the boughs of this old oak that people would be hanged by their neck till they were dead. As the tree was so far out of the township, the bodies may not have been cut down for some time, slowly swinging backwards and forwards in the breeze, until the police were informed or a kind passer by set to the work. Psychics believe it is the dark energy from these events that have given the tree it’s curse. Several suicides have also said to have taken place in the trees branches including that of one man who murdered his entire family then hanging himself. The hanging branch that grew horizontally out from the tree existed until recently when it was removed in a effort to lessen the want of people trespassing onto the field to visit this macabre piece of local lore. Many times dummies and mannequins have been strung from the branch creating a very disturbing site for the passer by, especially in those who have heard the stories. Some people who have taken the risk, usually on a dare, to climb the tree say they have heard sounds as if people trying the scratch and pound there way out from the inside. Those who have taken a souvenir from the tree, breaking off a piece of bark and chopping a chunk out, tell of even more curious events, waking up to find a old man standing at the foot of their bed, seeing shadowy figures out of the corner of their eyes or worse still their hands turning black for a time before returning to normal.

The township’s plans to develop the land might have required the tree’s removal, but it 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 is currently surrounded by a chain-link fence due to vandalism.

Source: https://m.ranker.com/list/devils-tree-curses/hugh-landman?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=creepy&pgid=1011190218967434&utm_campaign=devils-tree-curses

The Devil’s Tree may or may not have seen its share of death, but local legends state you must show it the utmost respect. If you damage it in any way or make disparaging remarks with in earshot, you open yourself up to harm, often in the form of a car accident. Some have reported being chased away at nighttime by a black phantom vehicle thought to be driven by the Devil himself. As you approach a major road, it mysteriously disappears in to the night. We may never know if the stories surrounding The Devil’s Tree are merely myths or just a representation of the evils of men. If you want to see this legend up close, you must ask for permission. Otherwise, you risk being arrested for trespassing. 

The Devil's Tree - Basking Ridge, NJ (The above pictures are ones that I took on January 13th, 2016) Across from a fairly new suburban neighborhood on Mountain Road in Basking Ridge is a unkempt field. One thing stands out in the patch of land, a large oak tree with gnarled branches protruding against the sky. It is impossible to miss when rounding the corner of Mountain Road. The Devil's Tree has a long history that is known by most locals. Back when the area was mostly farm land, a farmer murdered his family on their property and then immediately hung himself from the trees long branches. It is also believed that during colonial times farmers in the area would torture and lynch their slaves on the tree if they had attempted to escape. This reportedly also occurred later on when the tree became a favorite lynching site for the local KKK. The tree is widely believed to be cursed. It is said that if someone disrespects the tree they will encounter vehicular troubles ranging from a flat tire to a fatal car accident on their way from the road. The area around the tree is believed to be a portal to Hell and people report that no snow falls on the land around the tree and that no matter the weather the tree is warm to the touch. Visitors also tell stories of being chased by a black pick up truck after seeing the tree only to have the truck's headlights disappear suddenly. Another curse associated with the tree has to do with the farmer who allegedly murdered his family and then himself. It is believed by locals that he said anyone who attempts to cut down the tree of sever its limbs will come to an untimely end. Today the tree is protected by the town, but visitors are not allowed after "one hour past dusk". The trunk of the tree is wrapped in a chain-link fence to keep vandals away, but the marks of chainsaws and axes still mark the base of it. When I went to visit The Devil's Tree for the first time ever on January 13th, 2016, I started to become anxious as soon as I was within about 4 miles of the road. My breathing became shallow and I felt uneasy. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to find the tree since there is a little forest on the road as well, but I could feel it before I saw it. It's hard to miss, to say the least. There's a little shoulder on the road across from the tree to park and a short path leading from the road to the base of the tree. There were broken beet bottles on its roots and a crushed soda can wedged between the bark and the fence surrounding it. The tree is harrowing, tall and sinister. Some branches have been cut off and the stumps are flat and thick. I touched the tree's roots and though it was 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside, they weren't cold. I wouldn't say they were warm, but they weren't cold. As I started at the roots I had a mental flash of feet hanging just above where I was kneeling. I stood up, mentally thanked the tree for letting me approach and touch it, walked back to my car, took one last picture of it, and headed down the road. I can't say I was sad to go, I got much calmer and I felt safer the further down the road I got. I can't attest to any of the history of the tree, but I can say that SOMETHING happened there and something is still there.

I just got home from visiting The Devil's Tree. It was an overwhelming experience that I'll be posting about on @occultpassion later tonight.