The Jersey Devil

Apparently this is not news to residents of New Jersey.I had heard the basic story but not with this name and not with the followers involved until a recent radio program.

Author James F. McCloy talked about the history of the Jersey Devil, on the 100 year anniversary of sightings of the strange creature in the Delaware Valley. Originally called The Monster of Leeds, or the Leeds Devil, folklore has it that the creature was a baby born to the Leeds family in 1735, their 13th child. But upon its birth, it transformed itself into a hideous winged beast that flew out the chimney.

Later, reports of a cryptid, of varying descriptions, was said to haunt the New Jersey Pine Barrens region, and it became known as the Jersey Devil. A group called The Devil Hunters tracks and investigates current sightings, he noted.





Quote of the Night:

"Because it's described as a devil or a demon, it does have the ability to change shape, and we've come across descriptions of anywhere from 20ft. all the way to having the ability to shrink itself up and go through a keyhole. The consensus figure is that it has the body of a kangaroo, head of a collie, face of a horse, bat-like wings, it has claws or hooves, a long tail, and can breath a fire and/or bad breath." --James F. McCloy on the Jersey Devil

http://www.amazon.com/eThe Jersey Devil (Paperback)by James F. McCloy (Author), Ray Miller (Author) "The most widely-held belief about the origin of the Jersey Devil is that a woman known only as Mother Leeds was the unfortunate bearer of..."

Interestingly also there are "hunts' scheduled from time to time and sightings are anticipated in this 100 year anniversary period.There is even a group you may join:
http://www.njdevilhunters.com/