Folklore | 
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Folklore |
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This story was reported in the July 5, 1934 issue of the New Jersey Courier.
Frank Freeman, the general manager of the Phipps Estate, was seated comfortably in
his Island Beach home on a foggy Sunday afternoon. Suddenly a monstrous shape emerged
from the water just outside the living room window.
He yelled to his wife who entered the room ostensibly to calm him down. She screamed
as she saw the monster writhing just a few yards away. She didn't faint as her husband
sprinted from the house. He had suddenly remembered that he had given some officers
from the Lakehurst Naval Air Station permission to have a picnic along the beach. He
had ghastly visions of the serpent devouring part of the Navy while they were swimming
He brought his car to a sudden stop near the picnic grounds and ran breathlessly
toward the group of officers, their wives and children.
He stopped horrified as he saw the ugly monster among them leering maliciously
with shining eyes. Freeman thought he saw smoke coming from its nostrils. He turned
slightly and saw Lt. Commander Reichelderfer fondling the monster, pulling playfully on its tongue.
Leaning against a nearby tree was Commander CE Rosendahl, convulsed with
laughter and Lt. Commander G.H. Mills was rolling in the dirt violently laughing.
Manager Freeman's questions were soon answered when the serpent was dragged
up on a shore. Members of the dirigible crew had made it from odd pieces of rubberized cloth
discarded from blimps and balloons. Thus ended the tale of the Sea Serpent of Barnegat Bay.
This story was reported in the January 21, 1938 issue of the New Jersey Courier.
Recently I found another story about a lady who was buried in quite a different manner.
Annette, the human icicle, would appear soon at the Community Theater in Toms River.
She would attempt the hazardous feet of being frozen alive in 1,400 pounds of ice.
Annette was attempting to break the world's record for the event of 21 minutes and 40 seconds.
She would be wearing only a bathing suit and was not allowed to protect her body with grease or oil.
She would carry a flashlight to signal that she was all right. If the light went out she was to be
chopped out immediately.
She was accompanied by a nurse and trainer along with a combination manager-announcer.
If Annette was able to break the record, she would be assured of a contract to appear at the New York
World's Fair. No record could be found telling whether Annette was successful or not.
The first Toms River Halloween Parade was held 80 years ago on October 31, 1919.
It was sponsored by the Toms River Fire Company No. 1.
There were over 500 participants in the parade which followed an exhausting route
around town ending at the ball field where the prizes were given.
Dr. E.C. Disbrow was the grand marshal. The parade led off with the Lakewood Fire
Company with their big truck. They were followed by the members of the George P.
Vanderveer Post No. 129 uniformed and carrying a huge American flag. The Reliance
Band and the drum corps of the local Red Men followed. Then came other Red Men and
Pocahontas groups all in Indians costumes with was paint.
Next in line was Steiner's factory. They had a large truck designed like a
bedroom with a small child being put to bed. Behind the float were the employees
dressed in pajamas made by the factory. They carried lighted candles.
The Boy Scouts were next in line and were followed by a long line
of entrants in various costumes.
Following the parade there was a dance at Veeder hall with an orchestra from Lakewood.
I can attest that the following story is true because I was there although I was only about six years old.
My father pulled his car into the parking lot at George Olsen's road house which was
located opposite the Central Avenue entrance to Island Heights. There was a high sign, "Woman Buried Alive".
She was in a coffin-like box six feet underground. Her name was Rebecca Johnson
of Island Heights and was said to have been there most of the week. Her only method of
communicating with the surface was through an eight-inch iron pipe.
