This story is a bit creepy! Someone had mentioned this "tale" last night when I was out. I guess they couldn't "transport" to another universe in time when the black ops team came in. Crazy folks in this world... Now let me get back to my chanting.
Great article, Ben; thanks! I remember in the 1980s there was a restaurant (same site as where Apanay's Cafe used to be) -- didn't it have "Ong's Hat" in it's name? Anyway, they made a big hamburger which they called 'The Big Hat' and they sold t-shirts which announced "I Ate The Big Hat" -- I never bought a shirt but wish I had!
I believe it was Ong's Hat Diner you may recall that a branch with a top hat perched in one of its boughs adorned its ceiling.
http://everything.explained.at/Ong's_Hat,_New_Jersey/
http://everything.explained.at/Ong's_Hat,_New_Jersey/
It says the ongs hat diner burned in 1994. Did it burn to the ground? The current appanys cafe building looks much older than 1994. I didnt move to browns mills till 1997.