Circleville UFO!

The Circleville Herald
28 March 1957

Happy World UFO Day!

If you've followed this blog for awhile, you know I love to post a fun UFO-related story every year on July 2nd in honor of this most esteemed holiday, and this year is no exception. But, this post is coming at you from the past; I'm writing it on June 30th because today I'll be recovering from Spectral Research and Investigation's follow-up investigation of the Gregg-Crites Octagon House in Circleville, Ohio. We absolutely had such a great night there a few months ago, that we had to return. 

It's actually the Octagon House, though, that has inspired today's blog. Well, not the Octagon House, exactly, but the town of Circleville, Ohio. Not only is this unique lil' hamlet full of haunted history and ghost stories...it's also known for quite a few UFO sightings. Strange aerial phenomenon continues up through today, but it all started in February of 1948.

C. Bruce Stevenson was a farmer who lived just outside of Circleville. Everyone who knew him attested that he was an honest, hardworking man who would never lie or make up stories. That's why it came as somewhat of a shock to the locals when in August of 1952, the Circleville Herald ran a story about Stevenson. That summer, the country was abuzz with talk of UFOs. 1952 saw a huge UFO flap across the eastern United States, with reports of flying saucers even flying over the Washington, DC. Skeptics and believers were hashing it out over the validity of visitors from other planets and people from all walks of life were following the events.

That's when Bruce Stevenson decided to share his story that he had been keeping a secret for four years out of fear of ridicule. Back in February of 1948 Bruce saw a UFO over his farm.

It was a cold, moonlit night early in the month, and there was snow on the ground. Bruce awoke around 2am, and while getting a drink of water, looked out the kitchen window and saw what he at first thought were flames. Afraid that one of his farm buildings was on fire, he headed outside in that direction. What he saw was way bigger than any fire.

Bruce reported that a strange craft slowly and silently floated over his tool building, no more than 150 feet away from him. The craft was saucer shaped, with a silvery underbody containing portholes or vents. On top sat an 8 foot tall dome filled with a glowing amber/orange light that dulled slightly when he approached. It was the amber light that he originally mistook for fire. The base measured about 60 feet across and something whirled beneath, making no noise and causing no motion on the base itself.  

After watching the craft for a few moments go over the roof of the tool building and a building containing the farm's hogs, it floated on away and into the night. And, for four years, Bruce stayed tight-lipped about what he saw. When he finally contacted the newspaper, he remained adamant that what he saw was not an air pocket, a reflection, or any other natural phenomenon. On his behalf, the newspaper reached out to Wright Patterson Airforce Base to report the sighting, but they simply acknowledged they had received the letter and never followed up. Bruce's daughter would later tell reporters that a retired military officer DID come to visit her dad after he reported it in 1952. 

Over the years, more people would report strange lights and mysterious craft in the Circleville area. One such witness, Pete Hartinger, has had at least four sightings beginning with his first in 1958. Inspired by his own experiences, as well as the Bruce Stevenson case (which is now regarded as one of the best eyewitness UFO sightings in history), Pete took action. In 1985, he and several others formed the Roundtown UFO Society. The society still meets once a month to study, investigate, and document the UFO phenomenon in Circleville and beyond. 

Dipping into the UFO history of Circleville, OH has made me even more anxious for our investigation, and I'll certainly be keeping my eyes to the skies in addition to huntin' for ghosties. 

For more information on this case, please check out the Project 1947 website. It includes a letter written by the Circleville Herald writer, as well as an essay by Pete Hartinger about the Stevenson sighting!