Hi,all at Moonbase. From time to time I hear mention of the Weird NJ publication. I am very familiar with it and I often find things even I, a New Jersey native,wasn't aware of.
A few months back ,a very familiar face appeared on the Magazine's cover.(see photo).This giant gorilla is the greeter to Mighty Joe's Market,a rest stop and convenience store not far from where I live,and this past weekend,I took a drive to see it.
He towers over a gas pump island near the parking lot.There is a plaque on his chest(see photo) telling a touching story about a young man who was known to his loved ones as "Mighty"Joe and had passed away at a young age.
The huge ape,and the family business are dedicated to his memory.I snapped a photo of him myself.The simian squinting away in front is me!-Brian in(Weird) NJ.
Brian F.
Brian F.
It is a great magazine Brian. I've read my only copy from 2006 from cover to cover. I was sent it by a friend as I'm in it oddly enough. New jersey must be one helluva interesting place to fill that magazine each and every month. Not sure the whole of England could do that! Great article about Mighty Joe. Hope you've sent that snap in of yourself to the magazine as well! They love readers' photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool memorial to a young fella!
ReplyDeleteNew Jersey is a strange place for sure.It's one of the smallest states in the U.S., yet has a very high population.To make things even stranger, so much of the state is made up of huge stretches of mostly wild exanses such as The Pine Barrens or the Dwarf Pines of the South.I've spent a lifetime on the lookout for that Jersey Devil, but I have seen no trace of him or anything cryptic out there.Well,the search continues!
ReplyDeleteWhat do people think the Jersey Devil is Brian?
DeleteFolklore would have you believe it was a supernatural event.there are others that think perhaps the 13th Leed's child was born deformed and mistreated,feared by ignorant members of the community.Then there are the cryptozoologists,who suggest a mutated form of local animal.If you look at illustrations people have been making for generations now,you can see traits of common New jersey animals;Deer,owl,dog,bat...I have spent much time in the woods and have yet to see anything that I couldn't logically explain.I do,however remain curious...what IS out there?
ReplyDeleteI think you said there was a movie filmed near you about the Jersey Devil too. is that right?
DeleteYes indeed.The Thirteenth Child.A rather low budget film,but entertaining nonetheless.
ReplyDelete