Mothman in Charleston: Richard West Encounter

1588 Lee St. Charleston, WV

During the height of the 1966-67 Mothman flap in Point Pleasant, West Virginia's favorite winged humanoid really got around! While seemingly based in Mason County, reports came in from around West Virginia and Ohio, mainly concentrated in towns along or close to the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. The capital city of Charleston, WV was no exception.  While on a recent trip to the Gray Barker UFO Files in Clarksburg, I found an article dated 29 November 1966. Unfortunately, it was just a clipping with the name of the newspaper omitted. I'll add a photo of the clipping, but below is a transcription, followed by some further commentary from yours truly!

MOTHMAN (BATMAN?) MAKES VISIT TO THE CITY

Batman, or Mothman, it depends on who is seeing him, made his first appearance in the city of Charleston Monday. 

Richard West of 1588 Lee St. called the Charleston Police Department at 10:15 p.m. to complain about the creature staring into his apartment window.

West talked to Patrolman D.L. Tucker, who said the conversation went something like this:

West---"You're going to think this is silly but I've seen Batman."

Tucker--"Really? Where?"

West--"He's on the roof next door. Just sitting there looking at me."

Tucker--"Describe him for me."

West-- :Well, aren't you going to get excited. I see Batman! I see Batman!"

Tucker--"I have to get this information, that's why I'm so calm."

West--" It looks just like a man. It's about six feet tall and has a wingspread of six or eight feet. It has great big red eyes."

Tucker--"Did it fly?"

West--"Straight up, just like a helicopter."

Tucker--"Can you see him now? Is he still there."

West--"No, I pulled the drapes."

There have been many sightings of a creature such as the one described by West. They originated in Mason County near Point Pleasant and the creature has been commonly referred to as Mothman or the Mason County Monster. 

29 November 1966

It's interesting that West never refers to the creature as Mothman...only as Batman. It's possible that West wasn't familiar with what was going on in Point Pleasant at the time, or didn't make the connection that the 'big bird' (as many articles were referring to it) that was being seen over an hour away could have anything to do with the winged MAN he was seeing on his neighbor's roof. However, it's important to note that in September of that year, paperboys in Charleston were being harassed in the early morning hours by some weirdo reported as being dressed up like Batman. West was probably a little more familiar with this story, as it was something of a local sensation of the time. (See my article, Batman in Charleston)

I also find it hilarious that he simply pulled the drapes after observing this creature fly straight up and presumably away. It's like he said to himself, "Not today, Batman!" I do wish I had a little more information about what neighbor was lucky enough to have the monster perch upon their roof. As you can see from the picture above, today, there is only the brick house, but there is an empty lot on the other side, which may not have been empty at the time. The apartment at 1588 itself has been renovated over the years, so it's not a great representation of what the area looked like in 1966. As a side note: I didn't realize it at the time, but this address is literally less than two blocks away from my apartment! So, it's possible that many decades ago, Mothman flapped his way across the moonlight directly over where I live today. That's kind of fun to think about! What's not so fun was trying to get a photo of the address where this went down. I swear, every time I went by to take a photo, there was someone sitting on the front porch or out on the sidewalk in front of the apartment. I finally found a stealthy moment to snap a quick picture out my car window, with hopes that no one thought I was some weirdo, or worse, become part of a new legend myself....

Anyway, this wasn't the only time Mothman was sighted in Charleston. A week before the article above was released, another article from an unnamed paper (found also in the Gray Barker archives) dated November 21, 1966 mentioned that Charleston city patrolman, Carl L. Bender received a report from a couple driving a truck near Ferry Branch who spotted a "huge bird with a wingspread wider than the truck" which swooped at them, then landed briefly in a tree before flying off up Ferry Branch Hollow.

This occurred on the Sunday before the article was published, which would have been on November 20th. That same day, a large bird was also seen in Nicholas County. 

UPDATE: I've found a third sighting of the mysterious Mothman in the Charleston area! On November 19, 1966, Lyle Atkins reported seeing a 'monkey-faced' bird with wingspan of 6-7 feet on Homewood Drive! This is a day before the Ferry Branch encounter, happened within just a few miles of it, and is eerily similar in description---well, much more similar than Batman flying straight up off a neighbor's roof! You can read about the Monkey-Faced Mothman in my newest blog: Mothman in Charleston Part 2! 

The Charleston Daily Mail
21 November 1966