The Forgotten: New Jersey

Fort Hancock Anonymous Reader?

Hello all,

I recently got a very interesting private message from an anonymous reader about Fort Hancock. I am a dumb dumb and responded via tumblr, not realizing it would post your anonymous message for everyone to see. It was deleted instantly, and I do apologize. 

Hopefully you will see this and if you do, I’d like to hear from you again. And this goes for all The Forgotten NJ readers. If you have a story to share, I’m all ears. Email me at summer_sun0001@yahoo.com. Put The Forgotten in the subject line so I don’t think its spam. 

-Brittney

Marlboro Psychiatric still standing?

I was wondering if Marlboro Psychiatric was damaged by the recent Hurricane. Anyone have any information? If you’ve been lately and want to share, you can ‘answer’ below email me at summer_sun0001@yahoo.com. Please be sure to put ‘TheForgotten’ in the subject line. 

Anyone else watching American Horror Story lately?  Makes me want to see inside that much more (but keep my arms please!).

-Brittney

Sandy Hook: Fort Hancock

Do not enter signs have never been so frustrating…

Hello all!  I haven’t updated in a while, I know. I got pretty busy and then I was out of power for almost two weeks because of Hurricane Sandy. Which by the way, I hope all of you fellow NJ residents (as well as NY residents) are safe and warm and have regained power. For those of you with substantial damage, my heart goes out to you. 

A few weeks ago, before the storm occurred  my boyfriend and I decided to spend the afternoon exploring Sandy Hook. Never having been past the first two beaches (and the nude beach ;) ) I had never realized how long the shore stretches and how much there is to see. There is so much history and definitely worth the trip. We spent 4 hours in Fort Hancock alone (I have been calling it Fort Hammock for days, oops!). 

A little back story first. Fort Hancock is a former United States Army fort and coastal artillery base at Sandy Hook.

According to Wiki:

“In 1893, Fort Hancock installed Battery Potter, the nation’s first disappearing gun battery. It also was important for the defense of the vital New York Harbor throughout World War II, preventing the entrance of German submarines into the harbor. In the late 1950s Project Nike antiaircaft missiles were based there. Fort Hancock was decommissioned in 1974.”

Also within Fort Hancock, are former military homes and the famous Sandy Hook Lighthouse. 

We started at the former military homes. There must be at least 20 houses in a circle around a small field of grass. They have been abandoned since 1974, but sometimes sandy hook tours come through the less dangerous ones. It is illegal to trespass, but It didn’t say I couldn’t look in the windows. It was eerie peaking in. Things were left as if families had just packed up and moved out yesterday. I braved onto the porch of one of the homes (some of the wood had fallen through) and stuck my camera inside the broken window to snap some shots. There was still a lonely apron abandoned on the floor. I was so tempted to just walk right in as this particular unit was left unlocked. There was a cop car parked right near the building  though. As badly as I wanted to go in, I just as badly did not feel like getting arrested. 

You never know what you might find on these tours. I’ve heard people claim the houses were haunted. I’ve also heard of satanic rituals in the basement. I personally didn’t encounter anything spooky. (Except for lots of gross spiders…see pics below).

Unfortunately for us, we came in the wrong season. Tours of many of these locations are given from May through August. Tours of the lighthouse are all year long but, you must reserve your spot 3 weeks in advance. For those Ghost Chasers out there, right before Halloween there is an annual ghost tour you can sign up for. 

It’s a shame, I’ve heard that a lot of these locations might have been destroyed in the hurricane. I fully intend to make a trip back once the beach is open again to the public. Sandy Hook is a true treasure, and I hope the entire Jersey Shore can make a full recovery from the damage. 

To donate to those affected by Hurricane Sandy, click here.

Stay Strong Jersey!

-Brittney

Check out the rest of my pictures below!

Attempt # 1 to visit Runyon Road in Old Bridge

Today while I was out running errands, I was done earlier then expected. I hadn’t intended to go exploring today but I was in Old Bridge already and wasn’t ready to go home just yet. So, after reading other peoples directions on how to get to the ‘Kill Yourself Bridge’ the other day, I found myself heading there without really meaning to. Once you  make the right off of Kearney Ave, it’s like a whole different world. I was instantly scared. The road was so narrow, and there’s nothing in sight but the trees surrounding you, even in mid day. I took a mental note of all of the skid marks heading away from this road. Some one was trying to distance themselves QUICK! I went to park my car, because at a certain point, you have to walk to the bridge. There was a park ranger sitting there, and I really didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I don’t know that it’s necessarily illegal to be there, but the road is no narrow. It just seems dangerous, because believe it or not, its a two way street on Old Water Works Road. But now I know exactly where I’m going. I never realized how close I was to this Weird NJ land mark. Will try again next weekend. Wish me luck!

I would love to hear your experiences at the ‘Kill Yourself Bridge’ or Runyon Road so feel free to share! Follow The Forgotten: NJ for more New Jersey Urban Adventures!

Weird NJ: Reordered!

The Evil Clown of Middletown

I decided to not go town by town, as it seems, I drive by a lot of cool stuff all the time. That being said, on the way to my boyfriends house, I always pass a route 35 landmark, The Evil Clown of Middletown. It is the resident guardian of the Spirits Liquor Store that it’s parked in front of. 

“Calico” the clown has resided there since 1956, when it was originally constructed by Joseph Azzolina’s Food Circus grocery store. As if it wasn’t creepy enough, it used to rotate in circles. For many years, there been talks of tearing him down, and also talk of preserving him. The Independent, a local paper, includes a letter from Middletown resident Tarry Flynn quoting: “There is no beauty or pride associated with a big fat, sinister-looking clown advertising a supermarket that no longer exists…”All in all he is still a town landmark and a weird NJ oddity and we love him. 

The clown was featured in the New York Underground Film Festival movie ‘Middletown’ as well as on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in a Kevin Smith short. In an effort to merchandise ‘Calico’, t-shirts with his sinister mug, will soon be available for purchase as well as other little trinkets. 

Also, he has a facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/EvilClownofMiddletown

May his creepy smile continue to beam down on Liquor store customers, and creep out route 35 drivers for many more decades to come. 

*This picture was taken from The Evil Clown of Middletown Wikipedia page. My own photos will soon replace it. Camera died last time I went :/

Any Suggestions?

Know of cool abandoned ‘Forgotten’ location? An awesome attraction you think should be uncovered? Right now I’m only exploring NJ, but I can always file away for later.

Shoot me a message, and I might just go there next!

Follow The Forgotten NJ to see pics and read about my  New Jersey adventures. 

-Britt