There are a number of reasons why the number 13 is tied to the supernatural. 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. 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. Those witches now make up 13 bumps road.

In 1845 a man by the name of David Felt set out to build small village near what is now the Watchung Reservation. He named the village “Feltville” after himself. After only 5 years the town had grown to over 175 residents; that’s when tragedy struck. Over the span of the next 2 years 11 children were captured from the town, mutilated, and left for dead. Their bodies were always left near the outskirts of town. The town began to grow into a panic, fearing the unknown forces that lie in the woods.

Most of the town believed the attacks to be animal related. Hunters were sent in the forest to kill bear, wolves, coyotes and other carnivores. But the killings never stopped. Fences, traps and trip wires were used, but the killings never stopped. Families began to turn on one other, accusing civilians of the heinous crimes. They blamed the murders on devils and demons that couldn’t be seen. 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. Surprisingly the 13 sisters whose age ranged from 10-26 were doing fine. They had a local crop field which blossomed each season, even through the most jarring weather. Residents took this as an omen and accused the family of witchcraft. They claimed that the “witches” sacrificed the children to pagan gods for the good of their crops.

After a long trial the family was found guilty and hanged. 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. In 1860 David Felt left his own town to retire in New York and stranded many of the villagers. Over the next few years illness and famine swept through and those who remained either died or deserted the town. Today some of those houses still remain, and the town goes by the name “The Deserted Village”.

Johnston Drive has since been paved multiple times, but the bumps continue to mysteriously re-appear. Some locals say that the bumps were used to slow horses and buggies who were traveling downhill, but that doesn’t explain why they would appear after the use of modern paving techniques. A majority still believe in the legend. To see the spirits stories state that you must travel down the road (going uphill) and count (out loud) all 13 bumps. Once you reach the last bump, turn around because the 13 witches will be standing behind your car. Attempts have been made to remove the bumps, but the witches refuse to be forgotten.

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Jim

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I grew up only a few towns south of Watchung in the 70’s-80’s but had always heard that the 13 bumps were buried Indian Chiefs.
Currently, I live close by the Deserted Village at Feltville and never knew the story behind the village either. I will certainly think differently of it when driving on Johnston Dr, or walking the trails of the Reservation.. Pretty creepy.
2 months ago
Lynn DAmicis

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My family owned the mansion and carriage house at the top of Johnston drive, the mansion wasn’t lived in but my aunt uncle and to adult cousins lived in the carriage house! I used to play on the tennis court if the mansion, we had many picnics on that property, this was the 1950 s and early 1960s , my Uncle sold property and the Mansion became Mountain top Nursing home, all of this side of the family passed away, we never knew of any of these stories!!!
4 months ago
Robin

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AND we used to count them on the way up! But we never turned around.
7 months ago
Robin Barrett

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I remember there were 13 of them from when I lived there on top of Johnson Drive in 1966! But we thought they were leftover from horse & buggy days and that the horses called them “thank-you man”s. I was in 6th grade but I’m glad I didn’t know about the witches then!
7 months ago
Cherlyn

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I’m in shock
3 years ago

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Haunted Places, Legends and Ghosts

13 Bumps Road : Watchung, NJ

13 Bumps Road : Watchung, NJ

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