I’m starting to realize as I meet more and more people from other places that almost every town has a hookman story. I grew up in New Windsor, and don’t really remember hearing of any such stories until I was a teenager and started hanging out with kids from the Town of Newburgh.

That’s when I learned about the Hookman of Huckleberry Turnpike.

I’m not sure if Huckleberry Turnpike is even in the Town of Newburgh. It’s long and winding and runs between Route 32 in Plattekill and East Road in Marlboro. I believe it was my friend Dan the Man who first warned me of the Hookman of Huckleberry Turnpike. I can still remember how his eyes widened and he gasped when I told him I knew nothing of this fabled Hookman. The story, as I remember it, was that a couple’s car broke down on Huckleberry Turnpike. When the guy got out to see what was going on, it was curtains for him.

Frankly, I don’t remember what happened to the girl, but it couldn’t have been good. And even though I didn’t believe it, I kind of did believe it and I wouldn’t drive on Huckleberry Turnpike alone at night. I was even scared if I wasn’t alone. But it was a fun scared.

I figure there have to be a few people from Newburgh that might be able to tell us more about the legend of the Hookman of Huckleberry Turnpike. Or if you’re from somewhere else, what kind of scary stories did you grow up with? I’d love to hear about it.

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