This Day in History: 1951-08-16
The Ramsey Journal reported that a thorough investigation had disproved the widely believed story that a girl had died of a copperhead snake bite received at Sunset Lake in Mahwah. The story had been circulating for about two weeks. Inquiries to all police stations and hospitals in the area proved negative. Although everyone had heard the story no one knew who the girl was supposed to be, who her parents were, or where she was supposed to have lived. There were various versions of the story, including one in which the mother had killed the snake with her bare hands after her baby had been attacked in her carriage. Tony Stabile, the owner and manager of the recreation facility and adjoining tavern, was at a loss to explain how the yarn got started. The Journal urged its readers to kill the story “just was you would a snake” if you heard it again. (Bristow)