What is the Jersey Devil?
The Jersey Devil is a monster said to live in the Pine Barrens, a vast pine forest in southern New Jersey. It is said to have the head of a horse or goat, bat-like wings, hoofed legs and a forked tail, and to fly through the air with a shrill scream.
The legend of the thirteenth child
According to legend, in the 18th century a woman named Leeds living in the Pine Barrens, pregnant with her thirteenth child, cursed it, saying “Let it be the devil.” The child was born, turned into a monster and flew up the chimney. In January 1909, numerous sightings were reported in New Jersey and nearby states over about a week, causing such a panic that schools and factories closed.
What is the Jersey Devil really?
Explanations include misidentified birds such as owls or sandhill cranes, or a story mocking a political rival that grew into a legend. Today it is an iconic symbol of New Jersey and gave its name to the ice hockey team the New Jersey Devils.
