Weird N.J.: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets

by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran

Book Overview

Oh sure, Texas is bigger and California is cooler, but for sheer, out-and-out weirdness, no state even comes close to New Jersey. You probably know of the infamous Jersey Devil, but have you heard of the Matawan Man Eater or the Hoboken Monkey-Man? Maybe you'd like to cruise down haunted Annie's Road in Totowa, or take a stroll through Vineland's bizarre Palace of Depression? These are just some of the offbeat and odd, the mysterious and unexplainable,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076073979X
• ISBN13: 9780760739792
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Sterling
• Length: 271 Pages
• Weight: 2.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 9.1" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

This book is friggin great.

This book is definitely a must-have for any borderline-eccentric New Jerseyans who are in to strange / off-the-wall stuff about the Garden State. It's definitely one of those "I couldn't put it down" type of books. Oh yeah, it's a bit creepy too. Enjoy!

That's So....Weird!

Have you ever wondered if there is a pair of dancing underwear out there somewhere in the world?. How about a mattress flying across a road late one night from nowhere?. Have you ever thought about a retired gym teacher who buys your old, smelly socks from you?. If you have, then boy are you in luck!. Those are just the tip of the iceberg of all the goodies and treats that await you in this fun, fascinating, and mind boggingly interesting read. The two Mark's, Sceurman and Moran, are two guys who started the Weird N.J. magazine years ago. A magazine that first started out as a pamphlet of all the oddities and mysteries and what have you in their home state of New Jersey. It became a magazine, and now it has gone into books, spreading their incredible weirdness for everyone to see and get hooked. The books are nicely designed, and have some incredible photographs, as well as some amazing artwork. The authors tell the reader in the beginning that this is not necessarily a book of facts. Things here are not proven or disproven. They are told, and the rest is up to you. It serves as a travel guide, but some places are not given directions too out of the area's privacy, or your own safety. The book is filled with amazing stories from different sections. Here they are. First up is the section "Local Legends", which is a chapter that deals with ongoing legends or myths in certain areas. Stories like Demon's Alley, and The Devil's Tower. After that is a small section on "The Gates Of Hell", places where people believe will lead you to the warm place. Next up is "Ancient Mysteries", a chapter on areas and structures that are shrouded in mystery as to their origin. The next section is "Fabled People And Places", a chapter about interesting people in history and folklore, that includes an albino village and a town for midgets!. Then we have "Unexplained Phenomena", a chapter which I think is easily explainable on it's own. UFO's and other, well, unexplained phenomena. "Bizarre Beasts" details all the odd and scary creatures of unknown origin in the areas of NJ. "Local Heroes And Legends" is a part about people known locally for being weird, odd, eccentric, and/or just plain infamous. This section includes murderer John List. "Personalized Properties" shows you the yards, or homes, of peoples' residences that the owners have decorated. "Roadside Oddities" details those odd and cool little things you find off the beaten path. "Roads Less Traveled" chronicles the weird roads, back roads, and side streets you wouldn't want to travel down at night. "Garden State Ghosts" is a big favorite. Telling stories of ghosts and hauntings. Sure enough to leave you with the light on when you go to bed after reading it. "Cemetery Safari" is an interesting section showing all the weird and interesting final resting places and gravestones of the deceased. "Abandoned In New Jersey" is the last creepy chapter. Telling us about those old, decrepid, worn down buildings, homes, etc

Even if you're not from NJ...

this book is worth a look. While I can't add anything to what has already been said about the interesting contents, I'd like to comment on how beautifully designed the book is. I was really impressed with the look of it. And I wish somebody would do a book like this about my neck of the woods!

Love It

If you like reading the Weird N.J. magazines you'll love this over 200 page book. It covers ufo sightings and local legends like the Jersey devil. There's also sections devoted to unique properties in the state, cemeteries, local heros and villains, spooky abandoned places, and more. There's lots of photos and drawings in here too. I was a little dissapointed that south Jersey isn't covered much in here.

excellent book whether you've read the magazine or not

I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder, so when I tell you I'm into Weird NJ, I mean I'M INTO Weird NJ. I own every issue available, plus all the specials, have had numerous letters and articles published in recent issues, and have a database of nearly 500 places to visit that have been in the magazine.I even run a website about my adventures looking for the things that have been in the magazine. www.lostinjersey.com. I recently asked the Marks at their last book signing if I was their most obssesive fan and they said I ranked pretty high.So I must say I wasn't expecting anything new in the book, I expected it to simply be a collection of their best work. I was half right. It was indeed a collection of the best, most intriguing stories, but to say there was nothing new would be wrong. The book really lays out WHY these stories have meaning, and more importantly why they don't investigate ever story presented. Mark Scuerman said at a book signing that they believe that they (and thus the magazine) function in much the same role as the boy scout campfire might have 20 years ago. The magazine is a place where stories can be passed down to others so that they may be told again and again and live on. Every town has an eccentric local like waving willie, or a house that is abandoned because something strange or unusual happened years ago. We've all heard urban legends, but these are different because these are unique to this area. "There is only one Devil's Tower in the US." Mark S quipped. Are the stories of albino attacks in Clifton in the 60's true? Does it really matter? What matters is the stories themselves and how those stories had a life of their own in the hearts and minds of Cliftonites (and those in nearby towns)Some of the stories in Weird NJ are completely preposterous and yet it doesn't matter. Many times the Marks will investigate if something seems worthy, other times readers are left to decide on their own what to believe. Is the NPDC (aka Skillman) a creepy former mental hospital? Yes. DId one reader find the morgue? His story seems sketchy but I belive from my own experience he did because I almost found it myself. Did another reader get ambushed by someone with an ax while visitng Skillman? I highly doubt it, yet all these tales add to the fabric of our lives. "we all need tales like these" said Mark S. And Weird NJ is the magazine that keeps those stories alive.It was inevitable that there would be a WNJ book, the qurestion was when and would it be a quality product? Well the 2nd question is rather stupid because the Marks dont do anything half-@$$ed so it really was just if and when.The book really is coffee table worthy. A solid beautiful looking book, it's filled with all their most memorable stories and tales, often with new letters or reworked explanations, and all with beautiful graphics and photos. I am proud to have this in my collection (and of course I HAD to have it because of my OCD!) If you've read the magazine i