In the past, many intended to cut down the 200-year-old oak tree, also known as the “Tree of the Devil,” but their attempts were unsuccessful.
Trees have become a symbolic motif since the dawn of humanity. From the legends of the “Tree of Knowledge” in the Bible and the “Yggdrasil, the World Tree” in Norse mythology, to the Bodhi tree in Buddhism and ancient tales of humans being transformed into trees, most of these stories are primarily positive and captivating. Therefore, the following story will become one of the darkest tales associated with a tree.
In the town of Bernards, located in Somerset County, New Jersey, there stands a majestic oak tree that is over 200 years old, dubbed the “Tree of the Devil.” This name stems from its incredibly frightening history and dark legends.
Situated on Mountain Road, the oak stretches its gnarled branches challengingly, as if threatening the faint-hearted and warning the ignorant. In the eyes of the locals, the “Tree of the Devil” is cursed, haunted, and even considered a gateway to hell.
The 200-year-old oak tree with a deadly curse.
There are many stories surrounding the Tree of the Devil, one of which involves a farmer in the early 1990s. At that time, the fields were being cultivated, but a failed harvest left everyone feeling disheartened. In a moment of desperation, the farmer suggested that his entire family camp under the oak tree before he brutally murdered them with an axe. It is believed that the perpetrator was suffering from depression at the time. Feeling guilty, he reportedly committed suicide at the crime scene just hours after the act.
Moreover, the dark power of the Tree of the Devil is said to be linked to the Ku Klux Klan – the white supremacist movement. In the 1920s, New Jersey was a hotbed for this controversial movement. Many accounts suggest that farmers in the area who did not participate in the movement would be executed right under this oak tree. As a result, the leftmost branch, close to the ground, is believed to be where those opposing the Ku Klux Klan were hanged. With so many deaths associated with the Tree of the Devil, locals always feel an oddly gloomy atmosphere whenever they pass by. Many claim to have heard chilling sounds emanating from the oak.
Locals always feel an oddly gloomy atmosphere whenever they pass by.
The “reputation” of the Tree of the Devil has been passed down through word of mouth, attracting much curiosity. People from all over come to cross the fields to get closer to the oak, all admitting they feel a chill down their spine, as if someone is staring at them even though no one is around. Among them, a man known as “Old Nick” has taken it upon himself to protect the Tree of the Devil from a distance, ensuring that no one disrespects or intends to harm the tree.
However, even without Old Nick’s protection, the Tree of the Devil is believed to be indestructible. In fact, snow does not fall in this area during winter. Many have brought axes to cut down the Tree of the Devil, even going so far as to set it on fire, but none have succeeded. The Bernards town authorities, on the other hand, have erected a fence to protect the Tree of the Devil from human attacks and vandalism.
Not stopping there, it is also believed that the Tree of the Devil is connected to the underground world. Many demonic symbols appear on its trunk, but their origin remains unknown. Near the oak is a stone known as the “Heat Rock”, which radiates warmth regardless of the season. Therefore, it is considered a gateway to hell.
The Bernards town authorities erected a fence to protect the Tree of the Devil from human attacks and vandalism.
Despite the many legends surrounding the Tree of the Devil, not everyone believes in its supernatural powers. Those who intentionally test the rumors about the old oak do not end up well. Once, a teenager who dismissed the tales about the Tree of the Devil drove there and climbed up its trunk. Shortly after, his car suddenly started and sped forward, ultimately crashing into another tree at the end of the road. Although there were no casualties, this incident showed that one should not joke with the Tree of the Devil. Subsequently, all car accidents, murder cases, suicides, and severe storms resulting in deaths in the area have been attributed to the Tree of the Devil.
The authorities in Bernards once intended to develop the land where the Tree of the Devil stands, but later, this plan changed, and they shifted to protecting the century-old tree and the surrounding area. Today, a sign placed near the Tree of the Devil designates the field as a public park, which closes every day at sunset.
Many tourists come here to see the Tree of the Devil for themselves, but climbing the tree is not a good idea. A man named Steve K. had a very unpleasant experience while sitting on the tree.
“We were sitting on the tree when we heard noises coming from it. The sounds grew louder, and then a loud explosion occurred, accompanied by a massive energy from the tree that blew me and my friend into the air. After landing, I had fractures in two different places on my body,” Steve recounted.
