Phone Calls From the Dead with Angie Breeden

It took her two years, but Angie Breeden, the founding force behind the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group, finally took to the podium herself and gave an OUTSTANDING talk about a topic that has personally fascinated me for years. As the group's regular year wound down, the focus on September's meeting was Phone Calls From the Dead!

Ever since telephones have existed, there have been calls received by very confused individuals who have wondered just who or what was trying to reach them. Short, static-filled communications with the voice of someone you know is deceased, talking in a far-away, monotone voice. Long conversations with family and friends, only to find out later that the person who called couldn't have---because they were already dead at the time. Even phone calls from LIVING persons, giving very specific information despite the fact that it was proven they never picked up the phone and dialed. All of these types of cases and more are explored in the 1970's book, Phone Calls From the Dead, by D. Scott Rogo and Raymond Bayliss. 

The work of Rogo and Bayliss made of the basis of the presentation and examples of their cases found in the book were shared and explored. Angie talked about the different types of paranormal phone calls, and even some theories about just how or why these things could be happening. But, as phones evolved from the standard land lines that most homes had when the book was written, into cordless, and then cell, and then smart phones, the types of communication evolved, too. And, of course, we had to discuss some recent cases as well. We learned about the case of Charles Peck, a man who was killed in a horrific train accident in 2008. His cell phone continued to call his family for a staggering 11 hours until his body was found.  A REALLY spooky case, complete with audio, that we discussed was the 2018 case where 911 call came in from a funeral home in Colorado. The operator called the number back, and someone actually answered, but the only thing that came across was an eerie man's voice, seemingly asking for help. 

Just as the phone technology and types of communication have evolved over the years, so have the research and man's quest to actively create a way to call back! From Thomas Edison's Spirit Phone to Gary Schwartz's modern work with the Soulphone, it seems as if we aren't really too much closer in understanding how a being without a physical voice box can manifest a voice through our available electronics. 

These two books were recommended. 
Luckily, I have them in my personal library!

As Angie wrapped up the presentation, she asked the group if anyone had any personal phone calls from the dead. It took a few moments for someone to speak up, but after that first story, the related stories continued to flow. Although it doesn't seem like anyone had a classic, textbook example of one of these phone calls from the dead, plenty of people had experienced other unexplained phone anomalies, and other instances of spirit communication, through dreams and a variety of ITC methods. I even got to share my own experience of a dream of a phantom phone call (Gary's Phone Call). 

It was a great presentation on a really cool topic, and has probably been one of my top 3 favorite talks so far! I'm sad to see the year winding down. September was the final 'lecture' meeting of 2023. Our annual Halloween Party will be held on October 25th, and we'll be taking November and December off for the holidays. I can't wait to see what great new speakers and subjects are in store for the new year, and look forward to meeting even MORE fellow paranormal enthusiasts and having some great conversations!

Please come follow the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group on Facebook for more information on the upcoming schedule. The group meets at the St. Albans Historical Society building on the last Wednesday of each month. We'd love for you to join us for the Halloween party. Come in costume, bring a dish to share, and have an evening of spooky fun...and then come back in January! 

Isaac Yates: A WV Penitentiary Story

Former site of the Death House and Gallows
at WV State Penitentiary. After the death penalty
was abolished, the space was turned into
basketball courts for the North Hall rec yard.

The second half of 1909 was a roller coaster of a time for Isaac N. Yates, a black man from McDowell County, West Virginia. That summer, he was arrested and convicted for the horrific crime of rape against his own 14 year old daughter. It took no time at all for a jury to convict him, and for him to be sentenced to hang at the West Virginia State Penitentiary on June 18th.

Around the same time, another black man from McDowell County---Arthur Brown---was convicted for murdering another man, and was also given a death sentence, to be carried out on the same day. Together, the two were transported to the penitentiary in Moundsville to await their fate in the dreaded Death House.

But, fate would be on their side. After a plea to WV Governor Glasscock, both men were granted a stay of execution until August 27th. This is where Brown's luck would end; he was hanged on that date after a full confession of his crime (I'll be posting another blog about him). He went to the gallows with as much dignity as a man who had killed a fellow man could muster. He was said to have an outstandingly cool, calm demeanor.

Meanwhile, Isaac Yates was also displaying behaviors not usually exhibited by a doomed man. Between June and August, the 117 pound man ballooned up to a weight of 171 pounds. He was all smiles, cheerfully chatting and laughing with guards. He even composed a song about his plight. In it, he praised Governor Glasscock for saving his life, but also blamed his own daughter for lying about the attack and getting him arrested. 

By order of the governor, Yates was examined by Dr. L.V. Guthrie of Huntington and Dr. A.J. Lyons of Spencer. Both men agreed that Yates was mentally irresponsible for his actions if not downright insane. As a result, August 27th only saw one man going to the gallows, while Yates was granted another three month reprieve. His new tentative execution date was set for December 3rd. Meanwhile, he would be watched closely to see if he really WAS mentally unsound, or simply faking it to avoid death. 

In late November, Captain Dawson of the WV State Penitentiary made a statement that he believed Yates was truly of unsound mind. As the state would not execute a man of unsound mind, he predicted that Yates' sentence would be commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment. This is the last time that Mr. Yates pops up in the newspaper archives that *I* have access to. I wasn't able to find any additional information on him, including any sort of WV death certificate. What is important, though, is that Mr. Yates' name does not appear on the list of the 112 state sanctioned executions carried out at the former WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville. 

Was he guilty of the crime? If so, was he of sound mind, or was he faking it? And what was his fate? It's possible he lived the rest of his days at the penitentiary. It's also possible that he was granted parole at some point. A further possibility is that he was transferred to one of the state hospitals for the mentally ill. What I personally want to know is how anyone in 1909 could pack on an astonishing 54lbs in just a few months, eating nothing but prison rations! 

*MORE WV State Penitentiary Articles*

Sources:

Yates Will Not Hang. 24 November 1909. The Point Pleasant Register.

Isaac Yates Granted Respite. 26 August 1909. The Independent Herald (Hinton, WV).

Respite Granted. 24 June 1909. The Clarksburg Telegram.

Composes Song. 14 July 1909. The Point Pleasant Register.

He Grows Fat. 25 August 1909. The Point Pleasant Register.

The Bleeding Tombstone of Appleton, Wisconsin

Photo by Find-a-Grave Contributor 
Matthew J. Preissner

It's Spooky Season here on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State, but also in my own home. Well, it's Spooky Season for me year-round...but beginning in mid-September, I'm finally able to get my kid on-board. One of the ways we 'celebrate' is to take advantage of the 10-15 minutes we have each weekday morning waiting in the school drop-off line to watch a quick video about a spooky legend or story. We really like the videos of Jessii Vee, who recently did a story on a cursed tombstone located in Appleton, Wisconsin! 

The tombstone in question sits down a secluded path in the Riverside Cemetery of Appleton, WI. The plot sits by itself overlooking the river, but the tombstone is a large, beautiful piece of art which was undoubtedly quite expensive in its day. If you're lucky enough to stumble across this tombstone, you've stumbled across the final resting place of Kate Blood. 

There are those in town who swear that by the light of a full moon, blood will drip down the face of the tombstone, oozing over the engraving of Kate's name and birth/death dates. Others will say this stone gives off an eerie heat, even  in the coldest weather. Some have even sworn to see an apparition of a woman crouching behind the tombstone, as if hiding from the prying eyes of anyone who dares approach the grave. 

Like many cursed tombstones around the country, the grave of Kate Blood comes with an accompanying back story that tries to validate the activity. In the most popular version of the legend, Kate was a murderous witch. She killed her husband and three children with an axe, before taking her own life. As a result of her misdeeds, she was buried away from the rest of the cemetery. In an alternate version, Kate's husband murdered HER, and presumably, the bleeding tombstone is a reminder to all of the tragedy that took her too soon. 

While actual history doesn't line up with either versions of the legend, it is true that Kate was a young woman who was taken from this world too soon.

Kate Marcia Blood was born on May 4, 1851. Her parents, Colonel Henry L. and Theresa Blood, were some of the earliest settlers in the area, responsible in part for laying out the town. Kate, or Kitty as she was known, was one of the first children born into the new fledgling community. As she grew into womanhood, she would marry George Miller, editor of the local newspaper, the Appleton Post. She was described by all who knew her as beautiful, accomplished, sweet and amiable. She came from a good, Methodist family, and was beloved by all who knew her.

Unfortunately, she would take ill with the dreaded consumption (which we call tuberculosis today). In an effort to try to cure her disease, her family took her on a trip. She became one of thousands in those days to head for Colorado, believing the state's fresh air had a curative effect on consumption. She never made it. While making a stop in Lawrence, Kansas, Kitty Blood Miller passed away. Her date of death is listed as either December 28th or December 29th, 1874. 

Kitty's body was brought home by train and the town mourned her death. She left behind a young daughter of two years of age, as well as her husband, George. She was only 23 years old. 

The town moved on, and George moved on, remarrying and living another 40+ years. But, by the river in Riverside Cemetery stood a stone monument with the name Kate BLOOD boldly emblazoned on it, sparking a legend that would endure for decades. But, Kate isn't the only BLOOD  who has had an unfortunate claim made about them based largely, if not solely, on the idea of their name alone. While Blood is a common English surname, it can be a little...jarring...seeing it on a tombstone.

West Virginia has its own bleeding tombstone legend, located in Huntington's Woodmere Cemetery. Here, near the main entrance, is the grave of Edith Blood, known as Mother Blood, a rumored midwife with a penchant for murdering babies. Again, there is no historical basis to the legend, and a perfectly reasonable explanation for the rust colored stains that actually do mar the surface of the tombstone. You can read all about THAT legend here: (Legends of Woodmere Cemetery: Mother Blood)

Sources and Further Reading:

Collar, Jim. Kate Blood: The Woman Behind the Urban Legend. Post Crescent (October 28, 2015)

Appleton Post
7 January 1875

Did Members of the Flatwoods Monster Fleet Make it to Raleigh County?

Source

1952 was a BIG year for ufology, especially here in the Mountain State! By now, most of my readers are going to be pretty darn familiar with the September 12th sighting in Flatwoods (Braxton County) by a group of school boys, National Guardsman Eugene Lemon, and mother of two of the kids, Kathleen May. What they encountered up on a hill on the Fisher farm would forever be known throughout the world of high strangeness and eventually into the mainstream, as the Flatwoods Monster. 

Skeptics will just say that the boys followed a meteor, and were surprised by an owl sitting in the tree branches. And, while its true that reports of a meteor were reported that night over several states (including West Virginia) what they saw was no owl. It was a spade-headed, red-faced monstrosity with glowing yellow eyes, stick-like arms, and what can only be described as a lower half shaped like a pleated skirt. 

Sounds pretty far-fetched, right? Despite the documented physical effects from the encounter and the fact that none of these witnesses had any reason to lie...or to NOT be familiar with what an owl looked like...it's a super strange story. It just doesn't FIT in with more common UFO reports. But because of all that, that's why I think this story has continued to fascinate so many people over the years. However, the story doesn't end in Flatwoods...

Following the Flatwoods encounter on September 12th would come the Frametown Monster incident the next evening, when a couple with a young baby driving along State Route 4 between Frametown and Gassaway had their car engine stall, and witnessed a reptilian creature before finally being able to drive off. There was also the Bashful Billy incident in Wheeling, WV on September 15th where a 'meteor' crashed near the Vineyard Hills housing development, but disappeared...not before the rumors started flying though. I'll be covering both of these cases in future blogs, but for today, I wanted to focus on two reports from Raleigh County that came out in the days following the Flatwoods sighting.

Flatwoods Monster

The first sighting comes just the day after the initial Flatwoods encounter, on Saturday September 13th. Around 11pm, 16 year old Franklin Smedley and two other boys witnessed what looked like gallon-bucket sized orange objects flying over an area of Raleigh County called East Gulf. Franklin initially saw two of the objects, which moved faster than any airplane he'd ever seen, but didn't say anything because he didn't believe in flying saucers. However, when four more of the objects showed up, he alerted his friends, and all three got a good look at the objects.

The next morning, Smedley's father would tell the tale of the flying saucers during Sunday school. It was then that Mr. Shelby Deaner felt brave enough to confirm that he and his wife had also seen the objects the previous night. The couple was out watching for meteors, but shortly after going inside to get ready for bed, Mrs. Deaner looked out the window and alerted her husband. They both saw two orange objects at the same time the boys' had seen them and noted that they appeared to be moving at least twice as fast as an airplane that had passed overhead thirty minutes earlier.

The Smedley/Deaner report of East Gulf was documented in the Tuesday, September 16th edition of the Raleigh Register and reported without bias. However, an article appearing a few days later in the same publication would be a little more...tongue-in-cheek. It shared the story of Mrs. Earl Hutchinson of Skelton who reported 'something shiny' seen in the sky near the Greenbrier Dairy (Interesting side note: My grandfather was working at the Greenbrier Dairy at this time!) This thing didn't zoom across the sky like the Smedley/Deaner objects. Rather, it hovered. Mrs. Hutchinson initially believed it was a man with a parachute, as the object appeared to swing back and forth and jump up and down. That article expresses the idea that maybe the Flatwoods Monster was en route to Beckley to meet up with some other monsters? (Check out my Beasts of Beckley blog!)

So just what was going on in mid September of 1952? Why were all of these UFO/Monster sightings reported across the state within just days of each other? It simply could have been monster mania brought on by a recent meteor shower and a series of misidentifications and hoaxes. Or, it could be something else. In his book, The Braxton County Monster: The Cover Up of the Flatwoods Monster Revealed, author Frank Feschino poses a very interesting theory. Feschino believes that there was actually some sort of 'invasion' of the east coast by flying saucers.  In the case of the Flatwoods Monster, perhaps it was either shot down or crashed and subsequent sightings were follow-up rescue missions, other crafts that crashed/were shot down, etc. I can't possibly do this theory justice within a few lines, so definitely check out the book for a better understanding. 

What's important to remember is that the Flatwoods Monster is just the tip of the iceberg. That's the story that everyone seems to know, and for good reason. It has solid witnesses who stuck to their story, a unique creature unlike any other, and has been well-documented and shared throughout the years. But, the Flatwoods Monster was not the only strange thing reported in West Virginia that week! 

Keep your eyes to the skies and your heart and mind open! 

The Raleigh Register
21 September 1952

The Raleigh Register
16 September 1952

The Two Doctor Saltons at Old Hospital on College Hill

Dr. Russell A. Salton, Sr.

One of my favorite haunted locations here in West Virginia is Williamson Memorial Hospital, now known on the spooky circuit as the Old Hospital on College Hill, located in Mingo County. Spectral Research and Investigation (SRI) has already investigated this fascinating spot a handful of times, and plan on more visits in the future! And, similarly to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the former WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville, the stories and history of the hospital are far too numerous to be limited to just a single blog post. Therefore, I'm slowly working on documenting as many stories from Williamson Memorial as I can---both the haunted history as well as the day to day stuff.  Today, I'll be showcasing two of the doctors that were integral to the hospital's inception, as well as it's continued reputation as a premier medical facility in southern West Virginia.

So, there's a GREAT story that is told to visitors of the hospital. It is said that one of the founders of Williamson Memorial, Dr. Salton, Sr., was an animal lover. When his horse needed surgery, instead of entrusting its care to a local veterinarian, Dr. Salton brought the animal to his own hospital and personally escorted the beast up the elevator to the fourth floor surgery suite. Patients and staff on the third floor kept hearing what sounded like hoof-steps above them, and were shocked to learn that indeed, there was a large, hoofed animal above them. To this day, there are those that strain to listen for the phantom 'clomp, clomp' coming from the fourth floor or a disembodied whinny echoing from the old elevator. (Source: Old Hospital on College Hill Website)

One might ask himself, 'who in their right mind would bring a HORSE into a people hospital?' Honestly, I cannot vouch for the authenticity of the tale, but let's take a look at the doctor behind it!

Dr. Russell Arthur Salton, son of Robert and Margaret Salton, was born in Hamden, New York on  August 12, 1887. In 1911, Dr. Salton graduated from Baltimore Medical College and shortly thereafter, married his wife, Ella Robertson. After completing an internship at a hospital in Welch, WV under Dr. Henry D. Hatfield, he opened up a practice in Big Sandy in McDowell County.

By 1914, Dr. Salton found himself in Williamson, WV where he opened up a joint practice with Dr. George Conley (watch for a future blog dedicated to Dr. Conley!), which would later become the basis for the first hospital in town the two would open together. When that hospital was destroyed by fire, Dr. Salton and Dr. Conley would embark on a journey to create a state of the art facility, well ahead of its time, known as Williamson Memorial Hospital, opening to the public in 1928.

From all the accounts I've read, Dr. Salton was an absolutely brilliant and progressive surgeon who was able to save countless lives over the years. One story that sticks out to me is documented in the Matewan Oral History Project interview with Charlotte Sanders from 1990. Mrs. Sanders shares that Dr. Salton was able to save her mother's life and her fertility from a tubal pregnancy when she was a young a girl. Unfortunately, nine years later, her mother became pregnant again with a tubal pregnancy, and while Dr. Salton again saved her life, at this point, both fallopian tubes had to be removed. 

Dr. Salton himself had three children with his wife, Ella. Their daughter, Virginia was born in 1913. A son, Robert, came in 1915, but unfortunately died in 1919. Finally, Russell Arthur, Jr. came along on March 7, 1921. Russell, Jr. would follow in his father's footsteps and also become a doctor.  In fact, it would be Dr. Salton, Jr. who would eventually take over Williamson Memorial. More on that in a few...

On January 20, 1941 Dr. Salton passed away from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 53. He passed away in the very hospital where he spent so much of his life. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Williamson. At the time, his son, Russell Jr. was in medical school, preparing to carrying on his father's legacy.

Dr. Russell Arthur Salton, Jr.
Source: Find-a-Grave user MLDS

As stated above, Dr. Russell Arthur Salton, Jr. was born on March 7, 1921 in Williamson, WV. He attended Williamson High School, where he played varsity football and later gave back by serving as the team physician. In 1942, he graduated from the University of Virginia. He met his wife, Cornelia Thomasson there; she was an RN in charge of the newborn nursery at University of Charlottesville Hospital.

Dr. Salton, Jr. also served three years in the US Air Corps and was Chief Surgeon at Suisun AFB in California. His love of aviation continued his entire life as he continued to pilot his private plane and serve as Chairman of the Mingo County Airport Authority. 

In 1949, Dr. Salton, Jr. assumed ownership of the Williamson Memorial Hospital along with Dr. Woodrow W. Scott. When Dr. Scott left, he was replaced with Dr. Robert J. Tchou, who was unfortunately killed in a plane crash in 1977. A year later, Salton was ready to retire from the medical field and sold the hospital in 1979 to Health Management Associates of West Virginia, who would later build a new hospital a short ways a way from what is now known as The Old Hospital on College Hill. 

Dr. Salton was a member of the local Presbyterian Church and served as the President and Medical Director of the R.A. Salton Clinic, named for his father. He passed away on December 20, 1992 and was buried in Mountain View Memorial Gardens. 

I think that its really interesting that the old Williamson Memorial Hospital 'stayed in the family' for pretty much it's entire existence as a hospital. Almost everyone in Mingo and the surrounding counties has had their lives touched by either one or both of the Drs. Salton in some way or another. These two men dedicated so much of their time and energy to their work, saving lives and unfortunately watching others slip away. Dr. Salton, Sr. himself passed away right there in the hospital that he helped bring to fruition. It makes me wonder...do either of them walk among the many spirits that still call the Old Hospital on College Hill home? The next time you're investigating this awesome location, maybe ask a few questions tailored to the Salton Family. You never know what responses you'll receive!  

Dr. Salton, Sr. Obit
21 January 1941
Bristol Herald Courier

Further Reading and Sources:

*Much of the info for this blog post came from bios submitted by 'Sabrina' to Find-a-Grave*

Find-a-Grave for Dr. Salton Sr.

Find-a-Grave for Dr. Salton Jr. 

The Old Hospital on College Hill Website

The Old Hospital on College Hill FaceBook

Theresa's Old Hospital on College Hill Collections

SRI Old Hospital Video #1

SRI Old Hospital Video #2

Dr. Salton, Sr.'s Death Certificate

True Ghost Stories From Elkview High School

True Ghost Stories from the 

Students of : 

Photo from Elkview High School FB

For its Wednesday, August 16th, 1961 edition of the Hinton Daily News, the Summers County newspaper ran an interesting column. Noting how popular ghost stories were with their readers, they printed a collection of true ghost stories that were submitted by students from Elkview High School in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The school ceased being a 'high school' a few years later and undoubtedly some of those who sent in their stories have either moved far from the area or are no longer with us entirely. But, their legacy is alive and well, thanks to the spooky tales that were recorded in the newspaper and which will now be shared on Theresa's Haunted History! If you recognize yourself or a family member as one of these authors, please drop by and say hi!

A Locked Door, by Dottie Davis:

About two years ago we lived in a house that everyone said was haunted. They said that a girl who had lived in the house before we did had died, and that a person could hear her making noises every night. After we moved there, we found the upstairs of the house, the part the girl had died in, was locked. 

Every night about the same time, we could hear noises that sounded like someone walking. One night I decided to sleep at the bottom of the stairs. I went to sleep. Later I was awakened by something. I looked around the room and saw standing before me a vapory mist shaped like a woman. So I covered my head with quilts. When I finally got nerve enough to look again, it was gone. The next morning I told Mom about it, and she said she had seen it too.

A Night Visitor, by Betty Jane Pauley:

My brother Jim was born one month after my father died. Jim never asked about his father. He did not recognize his pictures. One night Jim awoke my mother and told he that he had seen his daddy. Mother looked amazed and she questioned him further. Jim said his father told him nothing. He said he had brown eyes, was tall, had wavy black hair, and wore glasses. Mother told him to go back to sleep. Mom knew that Jim had not seen any color pictures of his father, but he had described him as if he were right in the room. 

One night a month later, Jim awoke and said that his father had talked with him. Jim just walks away when he is asked about the conversation.

The Creature, by Sam Burdette:

One time in Ritchie County, West Virginia, there was certain haunted grave. Close to the grave, a boy lived alone with his mother. One night his mother became sick. There were two routes to the doctor's home. The boy could go the long way by-passing the grave, or short cut past the grave. Since he was in a hurry he chose the shorter route. As he was riding by the grave, something screamed and jumped on the horse's back. The boy had a large knife and immediately made a stab in the dark at the creature behind him. As the knife sank into the creature, the boy gave a long hard pull. The creature fell to the path and the boy rode on.

The next day the boy and some men returned to the grave. There in the path lay a large panther, the terrifying haunt of the graveyard. 

My Great Grandfather, by Jimmy Anderson: 

My great-grandfather was a jack-a-leg lawyer; and as the tales go, he was fair to midland. On one incident he was attending a church service. There was very little response in the form of "Amens" and the like, from the congregation. So the preacher asked why some one did not say "Amen." No one said a word. About five or ten minutes later a drunk rose and said "Amen." This made the preacher and the congregation so angry that they threw him out of the church.

For some reason, my great grandfather took the drunk's case to court and won it. Of course this made a lot of friends for him.

One time my great-grandfather got in an argument with some poor man who read in his Bible about the 'publican and the sinner.' He thought this meant he was supposed to vote Republican. My great-grandfather was evidently a strong Democrat. As a result, there was a big argument and my great-grandfather lost a friend.

My great-grandfather was never a man to back down. He once commented, in the presence of some people, that one of his neighbors was the biggest liar in the county. Word got back to the neighbor's husband. My great-grandfather and the husband met. The husband said, 'I hear you said my wife was the biggest liar in the county.' My great-grandfather promptly said, ' I don't recollect whether I said county or state.' That ended it all.

On one occasion, my great-grandfather found himself traveling through a town that had a notorious graveyard. People had seen ghosts in it. One evening after dark, my great-grandfather was riding his mule by the graveyard. He came upon a white clad figure sitting on a tombstone, but he was not about to back down from the ghost which he did not believe in. He got off his mule, pulled a pistol and thought, "By gum, I'll shoot it." He started to move up before he shot.

Upon investigation he found an old woman in a white dress waiting on a ride. 

Hinton Daily News
16 August 1961

Beans Mill Monster and UFO Sighting (1976)

Eyewitness Sketch
Source: West Virginia UFO's by Bob Teets

In July of 1994, Willis 'Willie' Spence contacted West Virginia UFO researcher/author Bob Teets about an encounter he had back in 1976 while working as a night security guard. Spence worked the 6pm to 6am shift at Crown Creek Coal Company's Beans Mill mine in Upshur County. One evening, a group of local boys approached his guard shack with quite the story. They said they had just heard that a woman living nearby had called the police department because there was a gray, hairy monster on her porch!

Despite the outrageous claim, apparently the authorities did do a check. It is said that they also saw SOMETHING, which they shot and wounded as they chased it back into the woods. Two days later, Spence would have his own sighting. As he was leaving work and returning home one morning, he caught a brief glimpse of some type of creature hiding behind a tree. He didn't get a great look at it, but noticed that it had a humped back, similar to how the woman had described the creature on her property.

Things seemed pretty quiet for awhile, but two weeks later, Spence would have an experience he'd never forget. He was chilling out in his guard shack, listening to the radio and sipping on a cup of coffee. He was interrupted by what sounded like two pieces of metal slapping together. He looked out and saw what he assumed at first was a helicopter. A bright light came over the trees, and into view popped what appeared to be a spinning top-shaped craft, 40 to 50 feet in diameter and flying at a 60 degree angle. The main body of the craft was gray, but it was covered with rectangular windows in shades of red, green, orange and purple. The lighted rectangular windows would dim and brighten back up, each time making a 'va-room, va-room' sound. It was surrounded by a grated deck with a five foot high railing. A light came down, and a section of it turned orange as it stopped spinning.

Eyewitness Sketch of the
bottom of the craft
Source: WV UFOs by Bob Teets

Spence watched this craft for about three minutes, noting how beautiful it was, and how it evoked a happy feeling for him. Eventually, the craft went up and over a nearby mountain, out of sight. After this encounter, there were no additional sightings of that particular craft, nor the gray, hairy beast.  As seen in various other UFO cases (notably the Flatwoods Monster case of 1952), this case begs the question as to whether there was some sort of connection between the creature and the UFO. Was the creature an inhabitant of the UFO, either out exploring the West Virginia country-side (or perhaps even ESCAPING)? Did the occupants of the UFO send this creature down as a recon to see how it would react to our atmosphere? Or, were the UFO occupants sent to study this strange beast that happened to just be here naturally?

There could be no correlation at all between the sightings of the UFO and the sightings of the monster. It could all be a coincidence. But, after years of studying this phenomenon, I tend to believe that there is some over-arching force that links all this high strangeness together. Even today, many Bigfoot reports are accompanied by mysterious light anomalies and nearby UFO reports. I'll let you decide what to believe. Keep your eyes to the skies! 

**The information for this blog post comes entirely from Bob Teets' 1995 book, West Virginia UFOs: Close Encounters in the Mountain State.  There was a brief mention of this case in the West Virginia UFO Newsletter Volume 2, Number 11 (1996), but no additional information was given and unfortunately, I haven't found anymore substantial info on this case anywhere else.