Haunted North Bergen: Part III

 “Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.”
— Stephen King

The Possession of Frederick German

Frederick German was well, average. Albeit average, Mr. German had a good life. He and his wife, Marguerite, and two sons, William & John, lived happily in a brand new home, 947 Angelique Street, today 28th Street. Frederick owned and operated his own steam fitting business and his life seemed stable. However, there was something lingering in the German household. In the autumn of 1922 Mr. German grew more and more melancholy. His demeanor changed and the Frederick German his family and neighbors knew was gone. He often stood on his porch in the early morning hours, described as one neighbor as, brooding. His tenants, the Olsens reported they heard Frederick often arguing with someone, but would find in alone in the hallway. There was a claim by another neighbor hearing German, as he stormed out of his home, exclaiming "I just can't do this anymore." His wife grew tired of the behavior and had Frederick examined by two doctors. On Halloween night 1922, on the eve before his last visit with Dr. Fineone of West Hoboken, Frederick shot his wife with a .26 caliber pistol before turning it on himself. Police Chief Marcy reported a suicide letter was left but was that of the ramblings of a mad man. Mrs. German survived the shooting and moved from the home with her both her boys. The next resident of the home was Ms. Irene Kolher. Ms. Kohler, very much like Mr. German was, well average. Ms. Kolher would become involved in a love triangle that was the talk of the town in 1924. People believed that her flirtatious nature was the doing of the same mischievous spirt that caused Mr. German to kill himself and his wife. So if you live on 28th Street or ever find yourself walking alone on that not dimly light street beware of a troublesome poltergeist they may just be looking to bother you.

The Wounded Solider of Bull's Ferry

This legend stretch's back some 240 years with its origins in the Revolutionary War skirmish at Bull's Ferry. Several stories exist with one commonality, the wounded soldier. No, the strange part about this story is he is never seen near the battle's location, which for historical sake was near 74th Street and Boulevard East, but in several of the homes along the prestigious roadway. What makes the story even more eerie is that the soldier has been seen in several homes along Boulevard East, and always in the same part of the house, their basements. The residents both former and current all claim to have seen the injured soldier in full form, but they also could tell when he was about to appear as if he was trying not to startle them. He always appears the same as well, a young man, brownish hair in a pony tail, with a darker undershirt under a long coat.

Several residents of the area reached out to the Historical Society and all had the same story. Homes on Boulevard East from 79th to 76th Street all told the same tales. The young man in the uniform, and more often than not he appeared in doorways leading to or from the basement. It seems that this spirit is still looking for aid on the battlefield that has never quieted. The spectral soldier seems to be checking the doorways in search of the field hospital that was never established during the battle. 

Now the interesting thing about the wounded soldier is he did not start make appearances until the 1970s. Why this is interesting is the Park Imperial began construction in 1972. So was the ghost of the wounded soldier's eternal peace disturbed by the construction? Is he looking for aid to his wounds, or simply trying to find a new resting place. We may never know. But what we do know is that the soldier's spirit is still materializing in some of the homes along the Boulevard East. 

The Butcher of Bergen

In 1930 Dr. Frederick Wolf  opened a small drug store at 5567 Hudson Boulevard. It was a prominent site and was one of the only medical offices that served the northern end of town. That said, not much was known about Dr. Wolf, an outsider to the tightly knit communities of Bergenwood Park and the Racetrack. During his time in the area Wolf was as a savior to those communities as there were several epidemics plagued the community; polio, measles, diphtheria, rubella and whooping-cough to name a few. Yet, even with all the good Dr. Wolf was able to provide there was always a shroud of mystery around him. He moved to town and opened his pharmacy seemingly overnight. No wife. No children. But was instantly entrusted with the health of the community. That all changed in 1934 with the death of Mrs. Rose Herbertz. 

Herbertz, a housewife and mother of three was taken to North Hudson Hospital and gave a deathbed confession. The dying woman told the tale of visiting Dr. Wolf and being operated on in a makeshift operating room behind the pharmacy. She never felt right again, several days later Wolf gave her a deadly medicinal cocktail which sent her to the hospital. It was then that several other mysterious deaths in the northern end of Hudson County began to point to Dr. Wolf. Until Herbertz identification most of the deaths deemed naturally or by drug misuses with no foul play suspected. Needless to say, Wolf was arrested for manslaughter and a trail followed. It seemed that the good doctor would be facing a long stretch in the clink. However, during the trail a juror fell ill. It was at this point the jury adjourned and the case dismissed. The trial now smeared with rumors that Dr. Wolf himself had also prisoned the juror, Charles Hunt of Jersey City. Wolf would immediately sell his business and liquidate everything in it as well. Wolf then left North Bergen as fast and unassuming

 as he arrived leave only one question, how many victims did Dr. Wolf actually poison?

The Wild Beast of North Bergen

Believe it or not, at one point the Township of North Bergen was considered to many as the country. The last time that was thought was just before the turn of the 20th century. During autumn of 1880 the area we know today as Woodcliff was seemingly under attack from a hell born beast. A dangerous wild like animal lurked the naturally wooded area with sightings here and there along present day Bergenline and Park Avenues. Robert Rennie claimed his dogs fought off the beast as it attacked and killed one of his horses. The horse bitten and scratched across it's back and found with a piece of its neck torn from its body. Word of the events on Rennie's farm spread and caused wild speculation and terror among those in the area. The town told resident the beast was most likely a panther or large cat, but there was never such an animal in these parts. The hellion struck again, this time ravaging a calf and sheep, both partially devoured. 

By this time women and children became afraid to go through the north end of town, let alone cut through the area known as Woodcliff. Mary Ward, whose home is located today on Woodcliff Avenue, refused to walk to Woodcliff Spring, the original source of Woodcliff Lake, alone. She told her husband, James, that she often saw the sinister creature lingering in the thicket near the waters edge of the spring. That she felt the presence of evil as if it was stalking her. Based on the words of Mrs. Ward, school children stayed home, as the fear of the rogue beast grew. Men from across the state and New York City descended upon the now sleepless town on North Bergen in pursuit of the barbarous beast. No monster was ever found. The sportsmen claimed no signs of any large animal and local trappers were left bewildered by the lack of wildlife in the area. 

It seems that North Bergen may have only been a stop for the this creatures devilry. During this time there were many sighting of beast throughout the state. Yet, the legend of the wild beast of North Bergen slowly faded away as the streets and avenues of Woodcliff  were laid out. However, one should beware. For the woods near Woodcliff Lake still hold many nooks for such a demonic critter to hide. Perhaps in knolls of Braddock Park or along the quiet cliffs along Boulevard East. It is not unimaginable that such a beast still lays in wait, or  destined to make a return. There were rumors that it was the devil himself, perhaps. Perhaps the legend most relevant to our state, tried to make his home in North Bergen, perhaps it may try again.

Harold Roberts Long Walk

"Suicide Bridge." It would be impossible to not mention one of the many tales surrounding the infamous place of self-immolation. One such story of the Woodcliff Arches as they were once known before the macabre colloquial we know it today is that of Harold Roberts. Roberts story is one of heart-break and anguish. On September 23rd, Roberts left his home at 213 33rd Street, today 77th Street, and walked somberly toward the Woodcliff Arches. Despondent over his separation  from his wife, Harold leap to his death. 

Harold Roberts may have left this world back in 1936 but his spirit is still lingering down 77th Street and his former residence. The current residents of the old Roberts home believe that Harold is still there. They claim to hear footsteps on the stairs and find no one there. Windows and doors close and open seemingly when Harold wants to do so. They feel Harold isn't there to harm them, but perhaps awaiting the return of his wife as visitors often comment on the somber feeling in the home. There are also residents of 77th Street who claim to see a shadow man strolling among the shade of the trees along the street, or feel as if they are not alone when they walk the street at night. It may be Harold Roberts, or one of the other many helpless souls that controlled their fate on the long walk to "Suicide Bridge."

The Hanging Tree of Orchard Grove

There is a section of town that most resident don't even know is North Bergen. At one point it was known as Orchard Grove, for some time, unironically, dubbed the Neck Section of town, but today it is most notably called Bouncammino Park. But today near 95th Street and Railroad Avenue rests a tree with a dark history. Over the course of North Bergen's history the tree has been the site of many suicides by, well hanging. Countless reports of locals and out of towners all deciding to take their lives there, an unassuming and frankly unknown area to anyone. Yet, there was an oddity about each and every body found hanging from the tree, they were all severally decomposed as if they'd been hanging there for months, when in reality they'd only been there a day or two. There was also wild speculation about why people decided to take their lives there, the calling of an ancient spirit or the work of a malicious devil. To make this legend even creepier, the early residents of the area would simply bury those found on the tree in unmarked graves near Fairview Cemetery or send them to Jersey City Morgue via the rail line that cut them off from the rest of town. For those brave enough to inspect the tree, you will find several marks that depict the trees destructive past. Rope scars are found on several of the larger more sturdy branches. Today, the tree is still there, waiting for the next lost soul to answer its bellow of death, some say the trees victims are still hanging around, so to say, in a last-ditch effort to stop those from meeting a similar fate. 

Town Hall's "Ghost"

It only seems fair that there be a ghost in Town Hall. It is one of the oldest buildings in town and has seen its fair share of civil servants who dedicated their lives to the township. A yarn that made its way through town happened in the winter of 1922. An unnamed watchman claimed he was visited by a ghost. Not just any ghost, but a full-bodied apparition, complete with a bowler hat. The night watchman claimed that the ghost taunted him and even laughed at him as he climbed the stairs desperately trying to escape the specter. He reported what happened to two police officer who head screams from the old auditorium that was once in Town Hall. He exclaimed, "It came nearer!" and continued "There was a horrible leer on its face," that made his "Flesh creep." He continued telling the officers, as it got within a foot of him the ghost vanished. The officers took two empty spirit bottles out of the night watchman's overcoat and sent him on his way. 

Sources:

The Possession of Frederick German

Associated Press. “Shoots Wife, Kills Self: Mystery in Motive in North Bergen Murder.” Evening Public Ledger, November 1, 1922.

"Sons in Next Room Sleep Soundly As Shots Are Fired" The Jersey Journal, November 1, 1922.

"Flirtation Began Affair That Ended in Divorce." The Jersey Journal, December 24, 1924.

The Butcher of Bergen

"Druggist Held as Woman is Dying After Operation," The Jersey Journal, February 24, 1934.

"Operation Kills Woman; Druggist Under Arrest," The Jersey Journal, February 27, 1934.

"Autopsy Performed In Illegal Operation," The Jersey Journal, February 28, 1934.

"Druggist Denis Guilt in Death," The Jersey Journal, March 23, 19334. 

"Stanton Death Was accident Corner Finds: Jury Accuses Druggist In Woman's Fatal Operation." The Jersey Journal, October 2, 1934.

"Juror Is Ill, Operation Case Is Adjourned," The Jersey Journal, October 9, 1934

"Didn't Know Victim of Illegal Operation, Druggist Swears," The Jersey Journal, October 10, 1934.

"Druggist Held in Death of Woman Freed," The Jersey Journal, October 11, 1934. 

The Wild Beast of North Bergen

""Wild-Beast" Stories in the Country," The Evening Journal, September 23, 1892.

Harold Roberts Long Walk

"Man Is Found Dead After Drop From Palisades," The Jersey Journal, September 24, 1936

"Relatives Deny Man Leaper from Suicide Bridge," The Jersey Journal, September 25, 1936

The Hanging Tree of North Bergen

"Find Missing Man Hanging From Tree," The Jersey Journal, October 21, 1958

Town Hall's "Ghost"

"New Ghost Story," The Jersey Journal, January 8, 1925.