Westfield, New Jersey is a town that many residents compare to the idyllic Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show. Only forty-five minutes from New York City, it’s a nice community in which to raise a family.
For one couple, their dream of living there turned into a nightmare.
On a June night in 2014, Derek Broaddus went outside to check his mail. He had been busy painting at his home in Westfield, New Jersey. He and his wife, Maria, had closed on the six-bedroom Dutch Colonial house three days earlier. They decided to do some renovations before moving in.
As Derek thumbed through the mail, he discovered a white, card-shaped envelope addressed in thick handwriting to “The New Owner.” Curious, he looked inside to find a type-written note. It began with a friendly greeting.
Dearest new neighbor at 657 Boulevard, allow me to welcome you to the neighborhood.
Buying the home was a longtime dream for Derek and his wife. Maria was raised in Westfield, only a few blocks away. Derek grew up in Maine, but worked for an insurance company in Manhattan, working his way up the ladder to the position of senior vice-president. His salary enabled the family to afford the $1.3 million house.
Westfield, New Jersey. Photo by Donald Siano, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
As Derek continued to read the letter, the tone changed.
657 Boulevard has been the subject of my family for decades now and as it approaches its 110th birthday, I have been put in charge of watching and waiting for its second coming. My grandfather watched the house in the 1920s and my father watched in the 1960s. It is now my time. Do you know the history of the house? Do you know what lies within the walls of 657 Boulevard? Why are you here? I will find out.
You have children. I have seen them. So far, I think there are three that I have counted.
Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested? Better for me. Was your old house too small for the growing family? Or was it greed to bring me your children? Once I know their names, I will call to them and draw them too [sic] me.
Derek phoned the police. When an officer came to investigate, he asked Broaddus if he had enemies and suggested moving a piece of construction equipment from the back porch.
Two weeks later, Maria stopped by the house to check the mail. Once again, there was a card-shaped envelope. She phoned the police. By now, The Watcher knew their names.
The workers have been busy, and I have been watching you… Have they found what is in the walls yet? In time they will…. I am pleased to know your names now and the name of the young blood you have brought to me. You certainly say their names often.
The writer indicated he/she could watch and track their movements. Derek and Maria stopped bringing their kids to the house. A third letter arrived asking, “Where have you gone to? 657 Boulevard is missing you.”
Workers completed the renovations within a few months. By that time, Derek and Maria were uncertain about moving in. Letters had continued to come. The Broaddus family hired a private detective and enlisted the help of a former FBI Agent.
For a time, the Westfield police suspected the next-door neighbor who suffered from schizophrenia. However, a DNA sample from the envelopes didn’t match him or anyone in his family. To this day, police have not identified another suspect.
Six months after the first letter arrived, Derek and Maria put the house on the market, asking for more than they paid. However, after they disclosed the letters to potential buyers, each offer fell through.
Some speculated the Broaddus family had sent the letters to themselves, saying they had purchased a house they couldn’t afford. One person said, “How can a couple with a $300,000 house and a $175,000 mortgage ten years ago have a $1.1 million mortgage?”
Finally, in July 2019, the house sold for $959,000—a significant loss for the family, considering they also spent approximately 100K on renovations. But, as one website said, “It’s perhaps a small price to pay for peace of mind.”
It’s unknown if the new owners have received any correspondence from the watcher, and his or her identity has never been discovered.
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29 Responses
I listened to a podcast about this case a few weeks ago! Very, very strange . . .
It certainly is, Liz. Very creepy.
Creepy! I’ve a few experiences with explained and unwanted incidents in old houses. Because of this, I’ve only moved into newer homes with clear ownership histories. Timidity or wisdom, whichever, I can’t live where I’m afraid. Great story, Joan.
Guess I’ve never thought about it, Gwen. Then again, I’ve always lived where I know the history. I sure wouldn’t want to face what this family went through.
I’ve never heard of this one, but it’s intriguing as hell. I’m sure there’s a great novel in this somewhere, but I’d love to find out the whole story.
Stories are all around us. The good thing about fiction is we can create our own ideas. This one is intriguing.
Like Craig, I’d love to discover the whole story! Fascinating and creepy. I feel for the Broaddus family. Thanks for sharing, Joan 💕
One of those “unsolved mysteries.” It makes me wonder if the owners did orchestrate the whole thing, but it seems doubtful. Guess we’ll never know for sure who the culprit was.
How creepy and unsettling, Joan. That poor family. I suspect it was a hoax and a cruel one at that. But who knows? Eeek!
Someone didn’t want them living there, that’s for sure. And you’re right, if it was a hoax, it was a cruel one. Thanks for stopping by, Diana.
Well, I certainly didn’t need to learn about this while I’m looking to move. So, thanks for that.
Kidding. (Mostly.)
What a horrible thing for them to experience. I wonder if they did DNA matching on the home owners as well as the next door neighbors. I want to believe it was the owners looking to get out of a deal they couldn’t afford, but why would they do something that cost them money? What a disturbing tale. Thanks for sharing, Joan.
Moving again? Just don’t move to New Jersey. 😉 If the owners were trying to get out of a deal, it certainly backfired on them.
I’ve heard of The Watcher House. It’s unsettling, isn’t it?!
Very unsettling, Priscilla.
Great story, Joan. Make you wonder what nut cases are living among us.
Unfortunately, they’re all around us, John.
Yeeeeek
I couldn’t imagine moving in after those letters. Creepy doesn’t begin to cover it, but I guess they never found anything in the walls? It could have bern a hoax but what if it wasn’t? It would sure make a good story.
If they did find anything, I didn’t see any references to it. I wouldn’t have stayed in the house, either. If someone is strange enough to send such letters, I sure wouldn’t want to be in the same neighborhood or town.
Wow, is thar WEIRD, Joan! I’ve never heard of this house, but if I had been that family, I would have gotten out of there, too. Part of me leans toward thinking it was a hoax, but if I had lived there I wouldn’t take the chance. Great Mystery Monday!
I came across this story by accident, and it intrigued me. I wouldn’t have stayed around either!
Oh, that is SO creepy, Joan! There is NO way I would have gone through with that purchase. I guess there is no way to know if anything was ever discovered in the walls. Thanks for sharing this one1
I never heard anything about the walls. In my research, I think the current owners prefer to remain anonymous, so who knows if anything strange is still happening.
That’s so freaky. I would have packed up the kids and gotten the heck out of there. But that’s a good question about them being able to afford the house.
Me too, Teri! If this was someone’s idea of a joke/prank, they were a sicko.
What a creepy story! I shared our experience with a buddy yesterday about buying our first house. My wife and I had a budget for what we thought we could afford. Sadly, I soon found out that what was in our price range were dwellings I wouldn’t let our dog live in. Time after time, the realtor tried to sell us on the merits of some dump. They were all hard nos for us. After a couple of weeks, she took us to an old home that looked decent. Was there a catch? Uh, yes. After she had given us a tour, she said, “I have to tell you something. The last owner was murdered in this house.” Uh, thanks, but no thanks.
Ultimately, we raised our budget and got into a lovely starter home.
Yikes! I don’t think I would have bought that house either. Thanks for sharing, Pete.
This is interesting. I would love to know what was in the walls? If anything. Good point about affording the mortgage. It would be interesting to know what happened to the new family. Did the Watcher follow them? Are they cursed for life? Might make for a great mystery book.
As a writer, I can imagine all sorts of things. Apparently, the new owners like their privacy. If they have received letters, it’s not known. At least I couldn’t find anything in my research.