LOST IN THE DARNDEST PLACES:

Grandma\’s Peanuts

A Dublin boy visited his grandmother with his friend. While the boy was talking to his Granny in the kitchen, his friend was eating peanuts from a bowl on the living room table.

When it was time to go, the friend called out: \”Thanks for the peanuts.\”

\”That\’s ok\” said the granny, \”Since I lost my dentures I can only suck the chocolate off \’em.\”

Paul R. Heitman Sr. Longtime Member of the Gloucester City Knights of Columbus Council 674; World War II Veteran; Union Carpenter

Paul R. Heitman Sr., (photo) of Gloucester City, passed away at age 84 on Tuesday, February 27, 2007. Paul was a longtime resident of Gloucester City and served our country proudly in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a carpenter for the Carpenter’s Local # 393.

Paul was very dedicated to his Catholic faith and was a lifelong parishioner of Saint Mary’s R.C. Church in Gloucester City where he served on the Parish Council, Holy Name Society and Past President of the Saint Mary’s Ushers Society. He was a member of the Townsend C. Young V.F.W. Post # 3620 in Gloucester City.

Paul was a longtime member of the Gloucester City Knights of Columbus Council # 674 from 1950 to present and served as Grand Knight, District Deputy and from 1975 to 1977 was State Deputy for New Jersey. Paul was a member of the 4th degree Bishop Eustace General Assembly in Haddon Township.

Loving and devoted husband of 64 years to the late Margaret Heitman (nee Boyle). Beloved father of Paul Heitman, Jr. (Sandra) of Clermont, Florida, Joseph Heitman (Barbara) of Barnsboro, Patrick Heitman (Kathleen) of Mantua and Michael Heitman (Jane) of Gloucester City. Dear Brother of Anna Catri of Lady Lake, Florida. Loving grandfather of 11 and great-grandfather of 4.

Relatives, friends and Brother Knights of Columbus are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Friday March 2 from 6 to 9 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 10:15 am at the McCann-Healey Funeral Home: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City (Phone: 856-456-1142).

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Interment with military honors Monday at 10:30 am at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown.

Family requests no flowers for the viewing. Memorial donations in Paul and Margaret’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Fund c/o New Jersey Columbian Charities Inc.: New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus: 172 Main Street, West Orange, New Jersey 07052. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through the funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Paul R. Heitman.

The Jersey Devil is a legendary creature or cryptid said to inhabit the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey. The Devil is often described as a bipedal flying creature with hooves, but there are many variations.

The most popular version of the Jersey Devil legend hold that a Deborah Smith from England emigrated to the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey to marry a Mr. Leeds in the 18th Century. Mr. Leeds was a very vain man, and wanted many heirs to carry on the family name. This kept the new Mrs. Leeds continually pregnant. After bearing twelve healthy children, Mrs. Leeds was dismayed to discovered she was now carrying a thirteenth. She cursed the unborn child and declared she would rather bear the Devil\’s child than another Leeds. Apparently, her wish was granted when this new child was born with cloven hooves, claws, and a tail. The newborn then preceded to eat the other twelve Leeds children and escape out the chimney to begin its reign of terror. This version\’s major flaw is that Mother Leeds has descendants that, as of 1998, still lived in Atlantic County New Jersey according to an article on the myth in the New York Times on April 26, 1998 (Section 14NJ, Page 8). There are several other variants of the Leeds tale. Another version of the tale claims that when Mrs. Leeds found out she was pregnant with her 13th, she said that if she were to have one more child, \”may it be a devil\”. The belief that a deformed child was the work of Satan or a curse was still common during the 1700’s.

January 1909, however, saw the most widespread period of sightings ever recorded. Thousands of people claimed to have seen the Jersey Devil during the week of January 16 – 23. Newspapers nationwide followed the story and published eyewitness reports. Hysteria gripped the entire state during this terrible week.

• 16th (Saturday) — The Devil was sighted flying over Woodbury.
• 17th (Sunday) — In Bristol, Pennsylvania, several people saw the creature and tracks were found in the snow the following day.
• 18th (Monday) — Burlington was covered in strange tracks that seemed to defy logic; some were found on rooftops; others started and stopped abruptly, with no origin or destination. Several other towns found similar footprints.
• 19th (Tuesday) — Nelson Evans and his wife, of Gloucester, found the Devil outside their window at 2:30 AM .
  • Mr. Evans gave the following account: \”It was about three feet and a half high, with a head like a collie dog and a face like a horse. It had a long neck, wings about two feet long, and its back legs were like those of a crane, and it had horse\’s hooves. It walked on its back legs and held up two short front legs with paws on them. It didn\’t use the front legs at all while we were watching. My wife and I were scared, I tell you, but I managed to open the window and say, \’Shoo!\’ and it turned around, barked at me, and flew away\”.
  • Two Gloucester City hunters tracked the Devil\’s seemingly impossible trail for 20 miles. The trail appeared to jump fences and squeeze under eight-inch gaps. Sightings were reported in several other towns.
• 20th (Wednesday) — In Haddonfield and Collingswood, posses were formed to find the Devil. They watched him fly off toward Moorestown, where he was later sighted by at least two people.
• 21st (Thursday) — The Devil attacked a trolley car in Haddon Heights, but was chased off. Trolley cars in several other towns began to maintain armed guards. Several poultry farmers found their chickens dead. The Devil was reported to have walked into an electric rail in Clayton, but if this did happen, it did not kill the beast. A telegraph worker near Atlantic City claimed to have shot the Devil and watched him limp into the woods. If so, he was not fazed much because he continued his assault, visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and West Collingswood, New Jersey (where he was hosed by the local fire department). The Devil prepared to attack nearby people, who threw whatever they could find at it. Right as he was about to strike, the Devil flew away. He emerged later in Camden and injured a dog, ripping a chunk of flesh out before the dog\’s owner drove it away. This is the first Devil attack on a living creature that was witnessed.
• 22nd (Friday) — Last day of sightings. By now many towns were in a panic, with businesses and schools closed for fear of the creature. It was, however, only seen a few times that day and did not attack anything.

In addition to the number of major attacks and sightings, the Devil was sighted flying over many other towns. Since the week of terror in 1909, sightings have slowed considerably, but by no means did they end. In 1951 there was another panic in Gibbstown, New Jersey, after local boys claimed to have seen a humanoid monster and heard screams. As recently as 1991, a pizza delivery driver in Edison, New Jersey, described a night encounter with a white, horse-like creature. In Freehold, New Jersey, in 2002, a woman supposedley saw a huge creature with bat-like wings by her house. There today exist many websites and magazines (such as Weird NJ) which catalog sightings of the Devil.

Many different descriptions have been offered by those who have seen the creature. Several eyewitness accounts follow.

• \”I looked out upon the Delaware and saw flying diagonally across what appeared to be a large crane, but which was emitting a glow like a fire-fly. Its head resembled that of a ram, with curled horns, and its long thick neck was thrust forward in flight. It had long thin wings and short legs, the front legs shorter than the hind.\” — E.W. Minster, Bristol, PA. Sighted on January 16, 1909.
• \”It was three feet high… long black hair over its entire body, arms and hands like a monkey, face like a dog, split hooves […] and a tail a foot long\”. — George Snyder, Moorestown, NJ. Sighted on January 20, 1909.
• \”In general appearance it resembled a kangaroo… It has a long neck and from what glimpse I got of its head its features are hideous. It has wings of a fairly good size and of course in the darkness looked black. Its legs are long and somewhat slender and were held in just such a position as a swan\’s when it is flying…It looked to be about four feet high\”. — Lewis Boeger, Haddon Heights, NJ. Sighted on January 21, 1909.
• \”As nearly as I can describe the terror, it had the head of a horse, the wings of a bat and a tail like a rat\’s, only longer\”. — Howard Campbell, who claimed to have shot the devil near Atlantic City (see above). Sighted on January 21, 1909.

• In 1909, in the midst of the sudden burst of sightings in New Jersey, the Philadelphia Zoo posted a $10,000 reward on the capture of the devil. This prompted a variety of hoaxes. One included a kangaroo with artificial wings. The reward still remains to be claimed today.

  A bizarre rotting corpse vaguely matching the Jersey Devil description was discovered in 1957, leaving some to believe the creature was dead. However, there have been numerous sightings since then.

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read what I wrote,
Thank Bill Cleary for putting the poll up, and from the voting on this
page it\’s pretty clear that we can just change the form of government
and put an end to the politics that do nothing, everyone in the city
should be able to vote for anyone running regardless of what part of
the City you live in.

I am sorry if I put Bob Bevan on the spot, but ever since he\’s
explained the subject it just makes total sense. And he has done his
homework on the subject, and he deserves credit, and if I know Bob, if
the residents want it, he\’ll be there to help put out there what some
of the pro\’s and con\’s are.

With all the different forms, we can pick our form of Government, do
away with the out dated Ward System have REAL accountability for what
is or isn\’t done in the City, no more hiding things from the citizens,
taxpayers, business\’ no more politics, this will not only help mend
fences but it will make our City stronger, perhaps bring in candidates
that wouldn\’t normally run because of being viewed as a Democrat,
Republican or Independent. This is so very important, to properly run
our City, I think having a form of Government that WORKS, is well good
for starters.

Referendum, things that when they are explained, we all
have a vote, we all have a stake in Gloucester City, let\’s give a New
System that has done wonders for the rest of the state! Anyone who
voted No in the poll either doesn\’t understand what this can do for
Gloucester City, or they are just plain adamant.

Again, Bob Bevan, I think now is the time to present your plans for
the public question, and new form of government. I\’ll use your words,
Plan the Work, and Work the Plan!

I know that the former governing body put a stop to what Bob was
working on for the better of Gloucester, but see sometimes they just
plain can\’t stand to see someone else succeed or have an idea that
isn\’t there\’s even if it will be for the benefit of Gloucester City,
it\’s time, times are changing.

Bob you know I\’m in your corner, and the City of Gloucester will all
benefit from this. Thank You All Again!

A lot of us have friends from all political parties, let\’s put
Gloucester First, and take Politics out of the equation.

I\’m simply a friend of Gloucester City, & tired of politics!

ALBANESE, ALBERT C.
On February 26, 2007, of Gloucester, formerly of Bellmawr. Age 40.
Long time loving companion of Jenny Pratt. Beloved son of Angeline T. (Nee Palimeno) and the late Matthew Albanese, Sr. Beloved brother of Anthony, Matthew, Jr., Domminic, and David (Dori). Loving nephew of Aunt Rita Litzner. Pop Pop of Lily. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
Albert was a former employee of the Inter State Pallets in Gloucester.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing Friday evening from 6 to 9PM at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Service 9pm at the funeral home. Interment is private at the request of the family.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Albert\’s memory to the Albert Albanese Trust Fund, C/O of Commerce Bank, 129 S. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, NJ 08078. Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to [email protected]

photo by Bill Cleary
The torn, tattered, faded flag that was flying at half-staff on Feb. 20 at Proprietors Park, King Street and the Delaware River, Gloucester City has been taken down and replaced.

A reporter for ClearysNotebook took a photo of the flag last week and posted it on the web site.

We like to compliment the City for taking such swift action to fix the problem.

FEASTER, DORIS M.
Age 75, of Audubon Park died February 23, 2007. Born in Mt Ephraim, she lived in Sewell before moving to Audubon Park. She is survived by her children, John Jospeh Green, James J. Green, Patricia A. Sherwood, Betty Jean Guddo, Shelly Marie Green, Candace Mills and the late Joseph J. Green III, two brothers, Robert Little and Arthur Little, two sisters, Judy Massa and Betty Tighe, sixteen grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Services are private under the direction of NORTON FUNERAL HOME of Williamstown, NJ.

Viewing Sunday, March 4:

Former GCHS Athletic Director Succumbs

Gerry Scharff, age 64, of Audubon passed away suddenly on Wednesday, February 28.

Mr. Scharff , was the former Athletic Director at Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City. He retired in 2006.

Mr. Scharff, also taught economics at Gloucester Catholic and was the school\’s golf coach. Previously he was a teacher and swim instructor at St. Patrick\’s elementary school.

photo and commentary by Bill Cleary

In August 2006 ClearysNotebook posted the following comment along with a photo about the rusted barrier at the foot of Monmouth Street, Gloucester City.

ENHANCING GLOUCESTER CITY’S IMAGE-If the Gloucester City Public Works Department still have their paintbrushes available it would be nice if they put a fresh coat of paint on the traffic barrier at the Little League Field at the foot of Monmouth Street.

Doesn\’t it make you wonder who is responsible for allowing this barrier to rust away? This is an eyesore. If your property looked this bad you would be cited by the Housing Authority.

I am happy to report the barrier as you can see has been painted. Once again I like to thank the City for taking care of the problem.