As a reminder of the crimes the bodies were buried on a local road – left as 13 bumps under what is now Johnston Drive. Rumor stated that before their death, the girls put a curse on the village, one that would come to be true.
A BUMPY ROAD GIRL TRIAL
They claimed that the “witches” sacrificed the children to pagan gods for the good of their crops.Īfter a long trial the family was found guilty and hanged. Residents took this as an omen and accused the family of witchcraft. They had a local crop field which blossomed each season, even through the most jarring weather. Surprisingly the 13 sisters whose age ranged from 10-26 were doing fine. The town eventually turned all of that focus on one family a kindred of 13 sisters who lost both their parents at a young age. They blamed the murders on devils and demons that couldn’t be seen. Families began to turn on one other, accusing civilians of the heinous crimes.
Fences, traps and trip wires were used, but the killings never stopped. Hunters were sent in the forest to kill bear, wolves, coyotes and other carnivores. Most of the town believed the attacks to be animal related. The town began to grow into a panic, fearing the unknown forces that lie in the woods. Their bodies were always left near the outskirts of town. Over the span of the next 2 years 11 children were captured from the town, mutilated, and left for dead. After only 5 years the town had grown to over 175 residents that’s when tragedy struck. He named the village “Feltville” after himself. In 1845 a man by the name of David Felt set out to build small village near what is now the Watchung Reservation. To top it off, some historians claim that ancient witch covens use to contain 13 members, including the one that existed in what is now Watchung, NJ. Whether it’s religion (Judas was the 13th person at the last supper) or Nordic myths (Loki was the 13th god), its been a known fact throughout history 13 is related to “bad” things. There are a number of reasons why the number 13 is tied to the supernatural.