Spooks of New England

A side-blog collection of the strange and unusual found only in New England.

[blogparanormalexpresso2stuff]

Early on the morning of Saturday, March 31, 2018, at Bristol, Vermont, Sandra Mansi, (born November 20, 1943), 74, passed away of cancer. Mansi was especially well-known in cryptozoology as the photographer of one of the Lake Champlain Monsters (“Champ”). Her picture has been declared one of the best pieces of evidence for Lake Monsters. She was an icon in the field. She will be missed.

[newenglandspooks]

Most people are aware of the rumored existence of the Men in Black, though perhaps only from the popular Will Smith movie of the same name. Unlike the film, these men are less like slick FBI agents with memory-wiping pens, and more like inhuman beings whose mission is to terrify individuals from researching or sharing information about aliens. Some people who have met these men recount instances in which the men asked for water at odd moments, took strangely shaped pills, walked mechanically or with extreme caution, were fascinated by everyday objects, and drank Jell-o. The first reported encounter with the Men in Black came from a man named Alfred K. Bender of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In the early 1950s, Bender founded an organization called the International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB). Not long after establishing his organization, Bender allegedly began to experience odd occurrences such as strange phone calls, telepathic messages, UFO sightings, and the inexplicable scent of burning sulfur in his attic. He also began to develop a paranoia about being watched.

In one publication, Bender wrote: “The mystery of the flying saucers is no longer a mystery. The source is already known, but any information about this is being withheld by order from a higher source. We would like to print the full story in Space Review, but because of the nature of the information we are very sorry that we have been advised in the negative.”

Following this, he abandoned his research and walked away from the IFSB. At this time, friends of Bender say they noticed a drastic shift in his demeanor, that he was behaving as if he were lobotomized or hypnotized.

Bender’s reason for his abrupt departure from the area of ufological studies was finally revealed in 1956 by his friend and fellow IFSB member, Gray Barker, in a newspaper article titled ‘They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers.’ In the article, Bender recounts a visit he received by three men in dark suits who threatened to do him harm if he did not discontinue his research. This article first coined the term “Men In Black.” From that moment up to the present day, hundreds of encounters with and sightings of these Men In Black have been reported.

There are many reasons to be skeptical of Bender’s encounter, but researcher Michael D. Swords argues that a few historical events may support Bender’s story. In 1953, an inhabitant of New Haven, Connecticut watched a fiery object put a twelve inch hole through a steel billboard and then return to the sky. One of Bender’s men, August Roberts, managed to investigate the billboard and had some fragments from the sight analyzed. They turned out to be almost pure copper and Roberts sent them to Bender, who then sent them on for further analysis. This happened about a month before Bender turned away from his research.

At that time in 1953, a scientist named H. P. Robertson had been hired onto a team of UFO information analysts by the CIA. Robertson had advised that “all sightings of UFOs be debunked in an effort to discourage public interest and civilian UFO organizations should be watched.”

Although no one can say for sure that the CIA had their eyes on Bender, it is not impossible that the ambitious scope of Bender’s research organization would have aroused their interest.

Sources: x x x x 

Photo credit: x x

[newenglandspooks]

After a very long hiatus

I’m back.

[obscuritiesoffbeat]

Welcome back! :)

[newenglandspooks]

Thank you!

[newenglandspooks]

After a very long hiatus

I’m back.

[newenglandspooks]

The Shelburne Museum of Shelburne, Vermont is a veritable Disneyland of New England history. The museum was founded in 1947 by Electra Havemeyer Webb, a collector of the everyday who strived to make a “collection of collections.” Set on 45 acres, the museum was designed to feel like a small New England village, though an unusual one at that. It boasts a fully furnished steamboat, a hand-carved wooden circus parade that runs 500 feet in length, an operational vintage carousel, 1400 wildfowl decoys, an 1800s blacksmith shop that provides live demonstrations, and many more interesting objects and interactive sites, all interspersed with colorful gardens and unique sculptures.

Source: x 

Pictures: x x x x x

[newenglandspooks]

In 1984, Jerry Cardone of Houlton, Maine died. Almost ten years later, he was returned to earth by God, who wanted him to “fulfill his destiny” as an artist. Not long after rejoining the world of the living, he became a favorite abductee of a group of aliens. They invited him to join them on their ship, but he declined.

This is all according to Jerry Cardone, of course.

From 1995 to 2011, Cardone covered his ten acre property with sculptures, paintings, signs, and other art pieces made from the recyclable materials that also covered his property. He called his attraction the “7 Wonders of God Creatures.” The disorganized appearance of his artwork and art supplies caused much controversy within the community of Houlton. Cardone recognized the clutter for what it was, but argued that it was out of his hands: "God says, ‘You need that piece of wood,’ or 'You might need that.’ I say, 'I don’t want to lug that s–t around…I’m just doing my job, and if they bulldoze it like they say they want to, God will get even. He could change the moon a little bit, change the sun. They won’t think it’s funny.” In 2011, the town conducted a clean up of Cardone’s property, leaving his art intact but disposing of his materials. It would seem that the 7 Wonders of God Creatures remained open until at least 2013. Records of the attraction are difficult to find past that date. Jerry Cardone may also have died in 2016, though the only easily accessible source for this is this site.

But perhaps he will be back again.

Sources: x x x x

[obscuritiesoffbeat]

Exeter, NH, UFO Festival. 2017.

[labete-du-gevaudan]

Desert of Maine

[newenglandspooks]

The Plum Island Pink House stands abandoned in a salt marsh in Newburyport, Massachusetts. It was the result of a divorce agreement in 1925. The ex-wife demanded that her ex-husband build her a house that was the exact replica of the home that they had shared. However, the ex-wife and her lawyer forgot to include one small detail in the agreement: where the house should be built. The ex-husband used this loophole as a way to spite his former spouse, and built the replica in this isolated area without access to fresh running water. 

The house has developed quite a fanbase, and currently there is a group working to save the house from demolition. You can find more about that here: x.

Photo credit: x

Source: x

[newenglandspooks]

The abandoned village of Dudleytown, Connecticut has become known for its history of suicides, murders, vanishing children, and madness. The town was founded by the Dudley family, whose ancestors had immigrated from England. The immigration had been a choice following the beheading of their father, Edmund Dudley, for treason. It is said that a curse was placed upon the rest of the family as further punishment for the betrayal against their homeland. This curse would settle with the Dudley family in Connecticut and spread like a sickness.

Keep reading

[newenglandspooks]

Knight’s Spider Web Farm began when craftsman Will Knight noticed that he had an abundance of spiders on his farm. He became fascinated by the uniqueness of each web and began collecting them to make equally unique items. He achieved quite a bit of success in this odd business–even managing to be recognized by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. Knight refers to his farm as “the original Web Site.” 

Unfortunately, in the fall of 2016 a fire broke out on the farm, destroying Knight’s spiderweb barn. Undeterred, Knight and his wife plan to rebuild and be back in business by the summer of 2017. You can donate to them here.

Sources: x x x

Photos: x x x x

[labete-du-gevaudan]

My advice for people that think their location has few or no cryptids:

- Look into lesser known things. Not all Cryptozoological wonders are well known, the most interesting ones are sometimes not known outside a certain area!

- Look in your local library at old newspaper articles or ask around for local stories of “monsters” and “urban legends”. A lot of times people don’t know the difference between Cryptozoology and Urban Legends and might mix them up.

- Don’t dismiss some cryptids just because they are not interesting. Was there a mystery animal (ex. A hyena was spotted in Cape Cod long ago) in your area that doesn’t belong there? That’s still a cryptid. There are still many questions to be asked about that sighting.

- Can’t find much information on a lesser known creature? Dig dig dig! There’s probably some information out there. Sometimes there isn’t. When I found out about the aforementioned hyena, there was only a single poem from the time that seemingly was mocking the event.

- Washed up dead “thing” where you live? That’s still a cryptid - it’s called a Globster!

Using these things, I went from knowing about 1 Cryptozoological mystery in Massachusetts to knowing about 15.

[newenglandspooks]

Tim Burton’s 1988 supernatural comedy Beetlejuice was partially filmed in the small town of East Corinth, Vermont. The bridge scene, the exterior shots of the house, and all of the shots of the town in the film were filmed there. Although the house was dismantled after filming and the false signs removed, the covered bridge was left behind. Unfortunately, it was unable to withstand the true test of a Vermont winter and was eventually removed. However, the local buildings which were spruced up for the film do still remain. For more production photos: x

A local woman’s account of having her home used for the film: x

[newenglandspooks]

Obscura Day 2017 in New England

Every year, Atlas Obscura (the online guide to “the world’s wondrous and curious places”) marks a day for global celebration of the unusual called “Obscura Day”. Around the world, various bizarre and unique events are offered for anyone interested. I have compiled a neat list of participating locations and happenings going on in New England. Obscura Day is on May 6th this year. Connecticut:

Taphophilia x Bibliophilia (New Haven) - “An insider’s tour of New Haven’s Grove Street Cemetery and Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.”

A Way of Life at Wild Bill's (Middletown) - A chance to “explore the 45 acres of collectibles and curiousities” at Wild Bill’s Nostalgia with Wild Bill himself. (Personal Note: I have been to Wild Bill’s myself and can vouch that it is a truly enjoyable place to visit.)

Behind the Scenes with the Barnum Museum (Bridgeport) - “A curated viewing of the Barnum Museum's collections followed by a hard hat tour of the historic building's restoration.”

Maine (no officially participating locations/events, but check out these):

International Cryptozoology Museum (Portland)

The Desert of Maine (Freeport)

Eagle Lake Tramway (Northwest Piscataquis)

Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies (Deer Isle)

Massachusetts:

Artistic Critique at Museum of Bad Art (Somerville) - “Bring your treasured art in [whether you made it yourself or not] for an informal evaluation.”

The Scenery and Stone of Mount Auburn Cemetery (Cambridge) - Take a 1.5 mile tour of one of the first “garden-style” cemeteries in America.

Edward Gorey’s Cabinet of Curiosities (Yarmouth) - "Explore Gorey's home and eclectic collections on a special access Obscura Day tour!”

The Abandoned Utopia of Brook Farm (Boston) - “Join three scholars of utopian communities and the literature of New England from the Brandeis University English Department to walk through what is left of the site.” Inside the Ether Dome (Boston) - “Tour the Massachusetts General Hospital and the 19th-century operating theatre in which the very first use of ether was demonstrated!”

New Hampshire (no officially participating locations/events, but check out these):

Mystery Hill: America’s Stonehenge (Salem)

Betty and Barney Hill Archive (Durham)

American Classic Arcade Museum (Laconia)

New Jersey:

Northlandz Model Train Tour and Talk (Flemington) - “Experience the world's largest model railroad with the man behind it all.”

Behind the Scenes at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (Princeton) - “Learn about PPPL's research about nuclear fusion— the process that powers the sun— and how we can use it as a source of energy on this special access laboratory tour!”

Vermont:

The Museum of Everyday Life (Glover) - “Lend a hand at MOEL's Community Participation Weekend and play a part in creating the museum's 2017 exhibit, ‘Bells and Whistles’!” The Main Street Museum (White River Jct.) - “Explore the eclectic displays and quirky collections of the Main Street Museum, an experiment in new taxonomy.” The Forgotten Village at Greenbank’s Hollow (Danville) - “Explore the long-abandoned remains of a 19th- century company town in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.” Source: Obscura Day Information Pages

[newenglandspooks]

In 1984, Jerry Cardone of Houlton, Maine died. Almost ten years later, he was returned to earth by God, who wanted him to “fulfill his destiny” as an artist. Not long after rejoining the world of the living, he became a favorite abductee of a group of aliens. They invited him to join them on their ship, but he declined.

This is all according to Jerry Cardone, of course.

From 1995 to 2011, Cardone covered his ten acre property with sculptures, paintings, signs, and other art pieces made from the recyclable materials that also covered his property. He called his attraction the “7 Wonders of God Creatures.” The disorganized appearance of his artwork and art supplies caused much controversy within the community of Houlton. Cardone recognized the clutter for what it was, but argued that it was out of his hands: "God says, 'You need that piece of wood,' or 'You might need that.’ I say, 'I don't want to lug that s--t around...I'm just doing my job, and if they bulldoze it like they say they want to, God will get even. He could change the moon a little bit, change the sun. They won't think it's funny.” In 2011, the town conducted a clean up of Cardone’s property, leaving his art intact but disposing of his materials. It would seem that the 7 Wonders of God Creatures remained open until at least 2013. Records of the attraction are difficult to find past that date. Jerry Cardone may also have died in 2016, though the only easily accessible source for this is this site.

But perhaps he will be back again.

Sources: x x x x

[labete-du-gevaudan]

The Come-At-A-Body is a Fearsome Critter that is only found in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. It is reported to be a small innocent-looking animal that is about the size of a woodchuck with very soft fur like a kitten. Its name comes from its habit of rushing out from behind bushes to scare people. It stops a distance away and hisses and spits like an angry cat. The Come-At-A-Body will then spray its scent like a skunk and run off.

[labete-du-gevaudan]

This amazing creation is called the Paper House; it was build in 1922 and is located in Rockport, Massachusetts. The Paper House has the basic timber roof, floors and frame but its creator, Elis F. Stenman, decided to build the rest of the home out of something different: newspaper. About 100,000 newspapers actually. However, not only are the walls made of newspaper, but everything inside is as well. The walls themselves consist of over 200 layers of newspaper and homemade glue. Maintenance to this house is only a bit of varnish time to time but many of the newspapers can still be read. The house is a museum now and can be toured from spring to fall and admission is only $2.