Raining Frogs in Texas

 

07 October 1915
The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)

One thing Charles Fort, the infamous archivist of all things strange, loved to report on was a good rainfall of things other than your normal precipitation! And back in 1915, one of these rains (now sometimes called 'Fortean Falls') happened over McKinney Texas. 

In October of 1915, newspaper readers in Clarksburg, WV would have been treated to the article above, claiming that during a recent downpour in McKinney, millions of tiny frogs, no bigger than the head of a match, dropped from the sky. The tiny amphibians covered the streets, sidewalks, and porches and seemed physically stunned by their trip through the clouds. Most were trampled as they could not or would not move from underfoot. 

Interestingly, those who said they actually saw the frogs fall from the sky refused to go on record with their observations. However, today we know that it IS possible for small creatures such as frogs or tiny fish to get sucked up in waterspouts and transported to where they 'rain' down from the sky. And, it has happened in West Virginia a number of times, too!  You can find my collection of Mountain State Fortean Falls AT THIS LINK. Keep your eyes to the skies..you never know what you'll see around here!

April Showers Bring May...FROGS?

Tiny frogs are easier to be transported by 
air currents and deposited during rainstorms!
Photo Source

In a normal world, the old saying goes as follows: "April showers bring May flowers!" But, Theresa's Haunted History is NOT a place for the normal. Here, we cover all things ranging from the paranormal to the more mundane abnormal, and today, we're covering some abnormal weather. 

Usually when it rains, the only thing falling from the sky is, well...water. But, in rare cases, other strange things may descend from the clouds, including but not limited to fish, frogs, and even indistinguishable MEAT. Called 'Fortean Falls,' these strange weather phenomena were a favorite of Charles Fort, the king of documenting weird stuff. (Article on Fortean Falls by David Darling)

Over the years, West Virginia has experienced quite a few instances where FROGS or other small animals fell from the sky. Through a quick search, I was able to document six separate incidents between 1871 and 1964. May, June, and July seem to be favorite months for these strange falls to take place. Let's take a look...

Huntington Area (1898): A Guyan citizen reported to the Huntington Advertiser that there was a frog fall, resulting in so many frogs that it was impossible to walk without stepping on one. 

The Weekly Register (Pt. Pleasant, WV)
22 June 1898

Hancock County (1964): Dwarf frogs, believed to have been swept up by air currents, rained down during a rain storm in the Weirton area, with many citizens experiencing the strange phenomenon. 

The Weirton Daily Times
15 June 1964

Moundsville (1871):  Tiny frogs, again so thick that you couldn't walk, fell during a rain storm in Moundsville. 

The Wheeling Daily Register
22 June 1871

Fairmont/Morgantown (1906): The local citizenry was discussing a recent frog fall...but apparently the Parkersburg Sentinel had a snarky explanation for them!

The Fairmont West Virginian
9 July 1906

Mercer County (1909): The area of Camp Creek in Mercer County received a fall of 'good-sized' minnows during a heavy rainstorm. As these minnows were from a different variety of minnows native to the area, it was theorized that they had been carried by air currents from quite a distance away!

The Point Pleasant Register
21 July 1909

                                                 


Lake Shawnee Area (1926): Lake Shawnee may be known for its haunted reputation and being the site of a tragic massacre of early settlers...and now it's known for a rain of frogs! 

The Independent Herald (Hinton, WV)
13 May 1926