Dr. Humphreys and the Civil War Ape

1920 was an interesting year for those living in Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Monroe Counties. From October through December, multiple newspapers reported multiple eye-witness accounts of what was originally called an 'ape, baboon, gorilla, wild man, or terror' by the Shepherdstown Register. What was believed to be an escaped gorilla with a broken chain around its neck was chiefly seen around Black Mountain, and also around Flat Mountain. Witnesses, including a woman who claimed the beast tried to get inside her house, were pretty sure it was a half-tame gorilla, around 6 feet tall, 350lbs, with reddish-blackish fur. So, nothing paranormal to see here, right?

Right, but the widespread interest in these events sparked a rather interesting story to come to light. On December 31, 1920, the Greenbrier Independent published a very strange tale from the revered Dr. Milton Humphreys. After a lengthy biography of Humphreys, the newspaper reprinted the story as told to the Monroe Watchman. It comes from when Humphreys served the Confederacy with Bryan's Battery and was encamped near Princeton, WV, although the sightings themselves seem to come from an area of nearby Virginia known as the Narrows of the New River. I'm not sure what the heck these witnesses saw, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't an escaped gorilla...

Here's that portion of the article in his own words:

"In the fall of 1863 the 36th and 60th Va. Regiments and Bryan's Battery were encamped at Princeton. Sergeant A.A. McAllister and Corporal James F. Clark, both of whom were from Covington, obtained furloughs. McAllister took his horse with him and they rode time about. When they returned to camp they told me that they had seen a panther. Questioning them as to the details I saw that it could not have been a panther. They stated that they had never seen a panther before and merely inferred that this was one because they had never seen an animal like it. Their description of it will be given presently.

A year and several months afterwards, in the mid-winter of 1864-5 the 13th Battallion Va. Artillery, consisting of Bryan's, Chapmans, and Lowry's Batteries, was in winter quarters just above the Narrows of New River on the Left Bank. There were two men in Bryan's Battery named Weaver----Aylette and John C. One of these, I'm not sure which (not that I have forgotten the men, but only which was John and which was Aylette) was telling ghost stories one night as actual facts. I ridiculed him for even believing in ghosts, and he challenged me to go with him only two or three miles before day and promised to show me a ghost or supernatural being between early dawn and sunrise. I promptly accepted the challenge, but Weaver changed his mind and said he would not go unless there were several men in the party and some arms. There were several men in the cabin and Weaver proceeded to narrate what we would witness if we would go with him. (Just here I should say that he had previously served in the cavalry and had only recently been transferred to the artillery.) Without pretending to reproduce his actual words, I shall give their substance using the first personal pronoun to denote him. 

'You know,' he said, 'down just below the Narrows there begins a stretch of level land about a mile long and maybe a quarter of a mile wide at the middle tapering off to a point at the lower end where the road starts up the mountain. It is bounded on the right by the river and on the left by a mountain or bluff. About two years ago, the cavalry command to which I belonged was stationed here to guard the Narrows and a picket of several men was kept at the lower end of this strip of level land to watch the road where it comes down the mountain. I was several times on this duty and witnessed what I am going to tell. Regularly between early dawn and broad day, and between sunset and dark one or the other of two things happened. One of them was as follows: We would hear a great rumbling up in the mountain and presently a man on a horse would come down through the woods and descend the bluff almost vertically, across the road, pass along by a big log making the earth tremble all the while, until they reached a bunch of alders beside the log and there they suddenly vanished just as a light goes out. The other thing that happened sometimes was this: We would hear the same awful rumbling, and instead of a man and a horse, a beast would appear and pursue the same course till he reached the road, and then he would sit down as a dog sits, in a certain fence corner, always the same one, for fifteen or twenty minutes, then he would go to the log and walk on it till he reached the bunch of alders, when he would suddenly vanish. He was the most terrible thing I ever saw---rough, bony, knotty, of a tawny color, and his head and face just enough like a man's to make him perfectly horrible. Once a large number of men waited for him with loaded carbines; but when he came making the earth tremble at every step, no man dared to fire on him.'

Such was Weaver's story. McAllister was in camp and I am fairly sure Clark was also. I went at once and brought them (certainly McAllister) and questioned them without their knowing anything about Weaver's story, and brought out the fact that the animal they saw was sitting in a fence corner looking across the road and was exactly as Weaver had described him, and that the place was the same. I asked what time of day it was when they passed the animal, and brought out the fact that the sun had just set and they were hastening to reach the ford a mile away before darkness set in. 

A great storm came that night and next day when we were trying our one small arm, an Enfield rifle, it burst in the hands of young John E. Lewis hurting him severely. Before we could procure other arms the drivers (including Weaver) were sent home with their horses. Before they returned, Richmond fell, and the Battalion marched to Dublin. Our guns had been left in Lynchburg. 

I have no theory as to what the animal was that McAllister and Clark saw, nor how the remarkable agreement between the facts and part of Weaver's story is to be explained; only I am sure that there was no collusion among the men concerned.

Milton W. Humphreys

Monroe Watchman"

Greenbrier Independent
31 December 1920

Catching Bigfoot in Oregon

Photo by Lee Juillerat

Decades before the Mountain Monsters crew roamed the Appalachians, building traps and searching for elusive cryptids, such as the Grafton Monster, Mothman, and the Dire Wolves, a group from the Pacific Northwest was hoping it's DIY trap would finally bring proof that the infamous Sasquatch was real!

It started with a miner named Perry Lovell. After finding 18 inch footprints in his garden, he got in contact with Roger Patterson of the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot footage fame. Patterson reached out to filmmaker Ron Olson, who in turn reached out to the forestry service and received a special permit. This permit wasn't for filming, however. It was a permit to build what was presumably the world's first (and only?) Bigfoot TRAP.

The trap, located within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, was built in 1974. It is a ten foot by ten foot wooden and metal box, anchored to the ground with telephone poles. A strong, heavy metal grate acts as a door. The idea behind the design was to bait the trap with a carcass of goat, rabbit, etc. When the Bigfoot would enter the trap and reach for the bait, the metal door would slam down, trapping it inside. At the same time, an alarm would sound in a nearby watchman's cabin.

For six years, members of the North American Wildlife Research Team kept the trap baited and the watchman's cabin manned. Unfortunately, it only managed to trap a few bears, and possibly a hunter and/or a hippie. When the project was abandoned in 1980, the door was bolted into a permanently open position to avoid any people becoming accidentally trapped. 

However, people still made the trek to visit this unique little building, to see a piece of weird history and hopefully have their own encounter with a Sasquatch. Located in southern Jackson County, just a few miles from the California border, the Bigfoot trap continued to receive visitors. After nearly being destroyed by a fallen tree in 2005, plans were made to restore the trap in 2006. Since then, the trap is maintained by the US Forestry Service and continues to receive visitors. Once in a remote area of woods, the trap is now quite accessible, thanks to the building of the Applegate Dam and road. It is a short hike along the Collings Mountain Hiking Trail, which also contains the ruins of the old watchman's cabin as well. 

Bigfoot tourists here in West Virginia have several great outdoor areas to visit where Bigfoot have been seen and heard in the past. For those a little less outdoorsy, there's the WV Bigfoot Museum in Sutton. But, what we don't have is our very own permanent Bigfoot trap! 

Sources and Further Reading:

Bigfoot Trap--Wonderfully Weird, by Lee Juillerat for the Herald and News. 29 September 2017

Oregon Hikers

Roadside America

US Forest Service

The Skin Creek Sasquatch (1976)

The Mysterious Monsters movie poster.
You can watch the documentary on YouTube!

Sometimes life imitates art. That seems to be the case one summer night when two Braxton County teens, Ronald Stark and Clifford Barnes, were driving to see an outdoor movie called Mysterious Monsters.  The Mysterious Monsters, which came out in 1976, was a documentary style film, hosted by Peter Graves, featuring stories and evidence of the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, and other strange creatures from around the world. Neither boy, however, were prepared for having their OWN unexplained experience that evening!

It was August 17, 1976 at approximately 8:15 p.m. They were leaving I-79 at the Skin Creek exit (if anyone knows where this exit is, please let me know. I've never heard of the Skin Creek area before.) when they spotted an 8-foot tall ape-like creature standing in the road. As they got closer to it, it ran off and disappeared into the brush. 

The Braxton County area is no stranger to monsters. In 1952, it was home to the infamous Flatwoods Monster, a strange, metallic figure with a head resembling a spade, which may or may not have emerged from a downed UFO. However, as previously discussed on Theresa's Haunted History, Braxton County has had quite a few Bigfoot sightings over the years, as well, with many of these creatures all getting lumped under the Braxton County Monster moniker. You can check out my series of articles about that here: The Braxton County Monster Wrap-Up . I guess I'll be adding today's entry to the collection, too!

Anyway, this fun little story comes from a newspaper clipping I came across recently. It's from the Independent, dated 25 August 1976. I came across this clipping during a recent trip to the Gray Barker UFO Files in Clarksburg! I'll be writing about that trip soon, but I wanted to share this lil' tidbit. Out of multiple folders STUFFED with Bigfoot sightings and information, I thought this particular story would be of interest to readers of Theresa's Haunted History. And...it's not the only strange story from that trip that I'll be sharing in the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned for plenty of West Virginia Weirdness!

The Independent
25 August 1976

 

Wild Man Near Elkins: Wild Man Wednesday

Back in 2023 I shared a series of posts featuring 'Wild Men' of West Virginia. These stories came from articles found in old newspapers. Some of these wild men were obviously humans who had shunned society to live in solitude off the land. Others seemed to have a more...cryptozoological slant...possibly describing beings that we may consider to be Bigfoot. 

Apparently, I forgot to include today's tale, which occurred near Elkins in the small town of Harman, WV!  Honestly, I'm torn as to the identity of this particular wild man. The fact that he has been spotted wearing tattered clothes implies that he is human, but his "bearish appearance" and body covered in long hair DOES sound a little Squatchy. Geographical Note: Harman is in Randolph County, located in a narrow valley between the Allegheny and Rich Mountains. It's also located extremely close to Canaan Valley, and the Davis/Blackwater Falls area, which are both hotbeds of Bigfoot sightings. 

Salisbury Evening Sun (North Carolina)
13 October 1900

Meditation and Crop Circles and Bigfoot, Oh My! More Fun with St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group

I've fallen behind with my monthly recaps, so today I'll be sharing about the last THREE meetings of the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group! The St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group is an awesome opportunity for like-minded individuals to get together each month and hear a presentation on a wide variety of paranormal topics, with plenty of time after for questions and discussion. The group is open to everyone, and meets on the last Wednesday of the month at the St. Albans Historical Society building.

Adam Good on Meditation

Our February meeting was a little different than our normal routine. My friend, Adam Good, gave a talk about the benefits and process of meditation, and then led the group in a guided meditation. Honestly, I was a little wary. I have tried and tried over the years to utilize meditation for relaxation, but I just can't do it. I either fall asleep, or get so hyper-focused on some aspect, like breathing, or outside noises, or some other distractions that I feel like I don't achieve any sort of meditative state. So yeah, I was pretty amazed that Adam was able to make meditation more accessible. His guided exercise was extremely simple, yet effective. I found myself easily relaxing and being able to follow along with the instructions without difficulty. I thought that it would actually make it harder for me to participate in a meditation exercise with so many other people, but to my surprise, a group meditation just felt easier. Perhaps it was a collective group energy, but I really enjoyed the process and hopefully will be able to incorporate daily meditations into my everyday life. 

Tony Breeden on Crop Circles

Our March meeting brought us author, Tony Breeden and a discussion on crop circles.  What did we learn about crop circles? Absolutely nothing! Actually, I learned quite a bit. I went into this discussion with a certain level of skepticism, and was fascinated to learn that there are plenty of crop circles that have popped up that as of now, have not been proven to be man-made. Back when I was younger, crop circles were constantly in the news...well, at least, the Weekly World News...and now it seems like no one talks about this strange phenomenon anymore. I still don't know whether some of these crop circles are done by extraterrestrials, ultraterrestrials, or even time travelers, but I feel like they are the result of some type of intelligent design trying to tell us SOMETHING. I'll also definitely be keeping an eye out for reports, although our particular area is sadly NOT a hot spot for this particular phenomena, despite our otherwise high instances of high strangeness.

Joe Perdue on Bigfoot

Finally, April was a huge hit with a presentation on Bigfoot with Wild and Weird's Joe Perdue. Bigfoot is always a super fun topic, and Joe definitely has plenty of experience roaming the woods, investigating the hairy creature in the Mountain State. Although there wasn't a slideshow presentation due to technical difficulties, Joe did a great job just talking about his personal experiences, the cases he's researched, and the work of other researchers in the field. He also had with him his extensive collection of Bigfoot track casts. Being somewhat of a Wild and Weird groupie, I've heard most of these tales before, but it was still a fun talk and I still learned a few new things. I especially appreciate that Joe looks at the whole Bigfoot phenomenon with an open-mind, willing to look at all the data, including that which often gets thrown out by others as being 'woo.' 

Next month, Joe's Wild and Weird partner Ron Lanham, will be the featured guest speaker, giving a talk on remote viewing. This meeting will be held at 6pm on Wednesday, May 24th. The meeting takes place at the St. Albans Historical Society building on Fourth Avenue in St. Albans, WV. Everyone is welcome, and we'd love to have you join us for another fun and educational evening! Please LIKE and FOLLOW the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group Facebook page for more information. 

*January's meeting was a talk on the Rake and Other Ghouls by founding member, Barry Miller. You can read my blog on that meeting HERE!*

The West Virginia Yayho

Paris Hammons c. 1920
b. 1856 d. 1926
Source: WV History on View

Sasquatch. Bigfoot. Wild Man. Hairy Man. Hearing any of these names generally evokes the same image of a tall, large, hairy bipedal humanoid type creature roaming the woods. Although here in the eastern United States, we tend to settle on the name of Bigfoot, the mountain people of West Virginia have historically had their own moniker for this classic cryptid.

If you've ever heard the term yahoo or yayho in reference to a Bigfoot-like creature in the Mountain State, you may have wondered where that name came from. The name most likely is inspired from the distinct howl that the creature makes, echoing over the valleys and sending shivers up the spines of those who hear it. And, one of the earliest witnesses of the yayho in West Virginia is a family known as the first family of traditional WV music!

The Hammons Family came to West Virginia just prior to the Civil War, with many of its members settling in Pocahontas and surrounding counties. And, since that time, the family has been synonymous  with West Virginia/Appalachian music. In the early 1970's, a local musician and WVU graduate student, Dwight Diller, befriended several of the elderly members of the Hammons clan and interviewed them. These interviews became the basis of a documentary two-disc LP and booklet project published by the Library of Congress with the help of Alan Jabbour and Carl Fleischhauer. 

Although the focus of the interviews skewed towards the family's musical genealogy,  plenty of other tales were also shared, including some of a supernatural bent. And, one of those stories involved encounters with a strange and mysterious beast in Pocahontas County!

Two of the Hammons brothers interviewed were Burl and Sherman, who shared a tale about their father Paris and a particular bear hunting expedition. Paris, Paris' father, and a man named Wilburn Baldwin were among those who set out one fall day for a multi-day bear hunt near the head of the Cherry River. They had planned to stay about 2-3 days, but decided to extend their trip another couple of days. The problem was that they had only brought enough food to last them enough for their original plan. So, one of the men volunteered to head into Hillsboro to pick up supplies. He was expected back the next evening, and made plans for the rest of the group to meet him at the designated time and place.

Cherry River
Source: Tim Kiser
Wikipedia

The time agreed upon came and went. It was already after dark and getting darker. Suddenly, the men heard hollering. The hollering came closer and closer, and at first the men thought their friend may be calling out. But, it was Uncle Pete who realized that the hollering was NOT coming from any man, but some sort of beast. Not long after, they did hear their buddy's voice and found that he had dropped all the supplies, including his gun, and had shimmied up a tree, claiming that something big was after him. This thing even tried jumping up at him from below the tree.  The next day tracks were found in the area that appeared like a man's footprints...but definitely not any normal man. 

This wasn't the only time the family would encounter evidence of this strange beast, which they described as huge and hairy and able to jump 25-30 feet. And, while history would remember the Hammons for their wonderful contributions to traditional Appalachian music, especially fiddling, I'll personally remember them for being early witnesses to the Bigfoot phenomena here in West Virginia. Interestingly, the area of Pocahontas County where the bear hunting incident occurred is still to this day one of the places with the most Bigfoot reports in West Virginia....

You can read about the encounter in the booklet, The Hammons Family: A Study of a West Virginia Family's Traditions, available for free download HERE.  

Wild and Weird Bigfoot Workshop 2023

In 2021, I participated in Wild and Weird WV's first ever Bigfoot Workshop at the Kanawha State Forest. It was a day filled with awesome information and learning new skills, delicious food, and fun hanging with friends. I had a great time, so when the 2023 workshop was announced, I signed up almost immediately! And, just like the last one, this was an awesome, educational experience...but with some added WEIRDNESS!

The day started off normally enough. Well, now that I think about it, it really didn't. Since I was late for the last event, I left super early. I stopped in at the KSF gift shop for some insect spray and a cold soda, and made my way to where I THOUGHT the shelter was. The signage for shelters in KSF is...lacking...so I started driving around, frantically, trying to find someone I recognized. Finally, I went back to the place I started and realized that I HAD been in the right place, but that the shelter was actually hidden down a path to the side, so that's why I didn't see it. I wasn't the only one who had trouble finding it, so I was still there in plenty of time. In fact, Joe (one of the main guys in charge!) had mysteriously disappeared and not yet returned. But, one of the park rangers was there to let us know that there was no power currently at our section. 

Joe Perdue

Eventually, everyone found there way to the right place, and thanks to a small, portable generator, we were able to successfully get through a small video presentation of some awesome evidence that the Wild and Weird High Strangeness Collective had collected over the years. Joe and Ron both spoke on a variety of topics related to the Bigfoot field, teaching about proper evidence collection, best equipment to use and how to use it, and even delving into the stranger aspects of Bigfoot data. A special treat was Glenn Adkins from the Ohio Squatch Project giving a short presentation, sharing his expertise, and bringing plenty of his world-famous Squatch Sticks to sell!

A thunderstorm popped up, which caused a few presentations to have to stay under the shelter, including making our own plaster casts, but in the long run, it may have actually been a good thing. After a good rain, it cleared up and the group went out on a short hike to just learn some things to look for. My back was hurting super bad, but I was determined to make it out there. I made it about halfway before I started having a panic attack, afraid I'd get out there, but not make it back. So, I turned around and walked back to the shelter that was closer to the trail. I sat awhile to wait for the group to come back. I hadn't been sitting there too long, when I looked up and Joe was booking it towards the shelter at a full run. I thought for sure someone was injured, but he just yelled, "found tracks," and kept going, headed to our shelter for the casting supplies. 

I decided I didn't come this far NOT to see actual Bigfoot prints in KSF, so I forced myself to make it down the path to where everyone was. Sure enough, they had found several prints in the creek area. Since there really wasn't much I could do, except stand, I went BACK to the other shelter to sit for awhile. At one point, I heard what I swear were footprints right beside me, and thought the group was coming back. I started to turn my head, and thought I saw something white run across the path. But, no person was there and it was quite awhile until the rest of the team came out in two groups. 

(Oddly, it was right about the time heard and saw something, that my grandma passed away in hospice. I didn't find out until I left the park and returned to a location where I could get cell service and noticed I had a ton of missed texts telling me.)

Ron Lanham

After the second group had settled back in at the base shelter, we realized that they had quite a unique experience. While coming back down the trail, a large rock had been 'thrown' at them. By that time, it was getting on in the day, and time to start getting ready for dinner, which consisted of hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, Joe's famous slaw and chili and a special treat of Dutch babies for dessert. But, while waiting for dinner to cook, we all had a good scare---a large tree nearby bit the dust. As it fell, it sounded exactly like gunshots going off---gunshots too close to have been coming from the firing range. That was pretty unnerving, but kind of exciting at the same time. Was it just simply a tree, damaged by the earlier storm, falling down, or was it just part of the larger, weirder picture?

Unfortunately, I realized that I had JR's wallet, and he'd need dinner soon, so I didn't stay for the night hike (I probably couldn't physically handle it anyway, lol). I headed back to the apartment and didn't hear much about how the rest of the evening went until that Thursday, when the Wild and Weird WV Radio live stream was devoted to the subject. That's when we all found out that even more strangeness was going on that night.

During the night hike, one of the participants who stayed by herself at the shelter heard what sounded like a larger animal prowling around, so she went and sat in her vehicle. There were some strange anomalies caught, some strange sounds heard, and as we found out, a number of people (including myself) had technical difficulties with their phones/cameras saying that their storage was full. And as a final goodbye to the park that night, one member noticed a strange, albino deer by the side of the road.

So yeah. It was a weird one, and what I've discussed is just brushing the surface. You're definitely gonna want to watch the Wild and Weird live-stream, as well as the Wild and Weird video, What Was in the Woods During the Bigfoot Workshop for a better understanding of what all went on that day.

Glenn Adkins

Overall, it was a hell of an experience! Even without all the crazy stuff we experienced, it was a great event. Participants were given flashlights, notebooks, pens, and an awesome art print by the late, great Wayne Barnes. We were treated to top-notch information from some of the best researchers/investigators in the field and given the opportunity for hands-on learning. We had a delicious dinner. And, best of all, we got to all hang out and talk about our experiences. It's always a really special time when you get to meet and learn from people with similar interests. Everyone was so kind and so accepting of the different theories and the different stories people had to share. It felt more like a family reunion  than a workshop of strangers, and that's one of the things I love about the Wild and Weird events. I laughed a lot and I learned a lot, and am now eagerly awaiting the next one!

If you'd like to get in on the strangeness, please follow Wild and Weird WV!

WV's Canyon Monster

Blackwater Falls State Park

This upcoming Saturday, I'll once again be joining Wild and Weird WV at the Kanawha State Forest for a hands-on Bigfoot workshop! (Click HERE for my blog on the 2021 workshop.) I'm looking forward to a day filled with food, friends, and fun, learning all about Bigfoot and how best to document any explorations into his existence. Therefore, I've spent the summer doing a lot of reading, watching, and listening to any and all media I can find concerning Bigfoot. But, I've yet to actually WRITE anything about Bigfoot...until now. I thought today would be the perfect time to share a little about West Virginia's Canyon Monster. 

Much of West Virginia has had its fair share of Bigfoot sightings and reports, but between 1960 and 1975, a major flap of encounters were coming out of Tucker County, located in the northeastern part of the state. Many of these sightings were located in or near the town of Davis, particularly an area near the Monongahela National Forest and Blackwater Falls State Park. The monster (or monsters) were named the Canyon Monster after the Blackwater Canyon, an eight-mile gorge containing the Blackwater River. 

Things seem to have gotten their start with an incident occurring during the summer of 1960. Several young men were camping in a wooded area just outside of Davis, when one of the guys was tasked with chopping some firewood. As he was working, he heard a noise and felt a jab to his ribs. Probably pretty perturbed that his buddies were messing with him while he was laboring over the firewood, he turned around and came face to face with what he described as a 'horrible monster.' Standing in front of him was a creature with "two huge eyes that shone like big balls of fire." The eyes were very far apart, and the creature, standing at least 8 feet tall, was covered in shaggy hair. 

We found these "Bigfoot" structures at Blackwater 
Falls State Park on vacation in 2020!

After staring at each other in shock for a moment, the creature ran off into the woods. The witness, although pretty shaken, decided along with his buddies that it would be better to go ahead and spend the night there, rather than try to trek out in the darkness. It's hard to say whether or not the young man's friends initially believed his fantastical story, but at first light, the group found large footprints in the mud, leading into the woods going the same route as the creature was reported to go. 

The same, or similar creature, was spotted around Parsons, WV that summer as well. And, even though sources say the 'flap' ended in 1975, the area around Blackwater Falls is STILL getting Bigfoot reports. In 2007, a footprint found off the Canaan Loop Road was investigated by Cliff Barackman and shown on the television program, Finding Bigfoot.

Blackwater Falls State Park and the surrounding areas are absolutely beautiful and tranquil, and I can see where Bigfoot would enjoy living in the area. If you or somebody you know has had a Bigfoot encounter in this area, I'd love to hear about it. Please let me know in the comments below, or find m over on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State Facebook Page! 

Happy Squatchin'!

Bigfoot Researcher Mike Familant at the So. Chas. Public Library!

Bigfoot Mobile Command Center

The South Charleston Public Library has one heck of a summer reading program for adults! All summer long, patrons can enjoy various cryptid craft activities, trivia, movie night, and...on June 21st, a lecture on Bigfoot by researcher, Mike Familant.

Mike, a New Jersey native, has been researching and investigating the Bigfoot phenomenon all over the eastern United States for quite a number of years, following his own experiences during a public Bigfoot Hunt in Florida. Now, as the owner of the YouTube channel, Sussex County Bigfoot, he shares his knowledge both through his 'In the Shadow of Big Red Eye' docu-series and website, as well as his lectures at various public libraries. 

Mike Familant

The activity room was packed with curious Bigfoot enthusiasts who listened attentively to the hour-long talk. It was a well-informed, humorous, and interactive look at the Bigfoot phenomenon and the scientific data backing up the suggestion that a large, relic hominid actually does exist. Mike displayed some of his own track castings, as well as shared some audio recordings and photos of suspected footprints. His stories about his own investigations and experiences was really interesting, but he also covered a lot of more objective info, such as investigation equipment, what to look for when trying to distinguish a footprint, and various other facts about the suspected diet and characteristics of our beloved cryptid. 

Mike holds the opinion that Bigfoot is a living, breathing creature, not unlike any other form of wildlife found out in the woods. Personally, I enjoy delving into the possibility of a supernatural element to the Bigfoot and relish in the woo...but I totally respect looking at this phenomenon from a strictly scientific standpoint and presenting more...measurable...types of data to support those claims. But, overall, it was a fantastic talk and I learned a few new things (for example, did you know the average Bigfoot sighting only lasts 5 seconds?). I also just had fun being with 'my people.' Not only was my good buddy, Ike, in attendance, but so was Amber and her daughter, from Amber's ParaWorld. There were also a ton of other like-minded folks who were genuinely interested in this subject and eager to learn more. One lady bravely stood up and told of her encounter, but I was surprised that more people didn't share publicly. 

Bigfoot Footprint Castings

I'm sure they made up for it afterwards, as Mike was swarmed following the lecture with people eager to take a closer look at the casts he had brought, pick up a keychain, or just talk to him and hopefully share their experiences! I managed to snap a quick picture with him (thanks, Amber!) but time was short, and the library was ready to close. But, I walked away completely happy knowing that there are so many people right here in this area who are open-minded and eager to accept the possibility of Bigfoot...and maybe a few other unexplained things.

As an added bonus, while outside talking with Ike and some new paranormal buddies we met, I got to witness a little raccoon emerge from the sewer and boldly approach the trash can we were standing beside! It was cute, but we gave it a wide berth just in case! A large part of Mike's message was to just get out and enjoy nature as much as possible, but I wasn't expecting to get that close to nature out in front of the library's main entrance, lol. 

Me and Mike Familant

Anyway, make sure you follow Mike at the links provided above, and if you missed his lecture at the library, don't worry! He'll be speaking this Saturday at the West Virginia Bigfoot Festival in Sutton! There's an awesome lineup of speakers and events, as well as plenty of vendors and activities on Saturday, and a special banquet on Friday night (sorry, but as of this writing, ticket sales on Friday's banquet have closed, but check with the event organizers for more info!)  And, for you Kanawha Valley folks who are itching for MORE Bigfoot learnin', Wild and Weird WV is once again hosting a Bigfoot Workshop at Kanawha State Forest! Tickets are $40, which includes a ton of hands-on activities, food, and a small Bigfoot hunt in an area with plenty of known sightings. This year's event will be July 15th, and ticket sales are limited, so hop on over to the Wild and Weird website to sign up. 

Happy (Bigfoot) Hunting, Y'all and Stay Spooky!

Our lil' raccoon friend!

Bluefield Wild Man

 

Happy Wild Men Wednesday! I thought today I'd bring you the article that actually inspired this series of post about wild men running amok in West Virginia. Back at the beginning of the year, the West Virginia High Strangeness Collective posted that they had been chosen as Bigfoot Research Group of the Year by The Bigfoot Forums. That awesome accolade led me over to the forums myself to poke around. 

There was an entire section, much to my delight, called Tirademan's Historical Newspaper Archives. According to the description on the site, this is a historical archive of newspaper clippings compiled by member, Tirademan---or Scott McClean. Unfortunately, Scott passed away, but before he did, he donated this collection of old newspaper clippings to the website. 

Broken down by state, West Virginia had two entries. One article was about the Braxton County Monster sighting of 1961, involving a Bigfoot-type creature (not to be confused with the 1952 Flatwoods Monster incident), which I've already blogged about pretty extensively. You can find out more about that from my post, The Braxton County Monster Wrap-Up. However, the other entry was one with which I wasn't familiar and was about a wild man spotted by hunters in Bluefield, back in 1895. This particular article came from the Newark Daily Advocate, an Ohio newspaper, and is dated November 9th, 1895. 

If you're interested in the Bigfoot phenomena, definitely go check out the Bigfoot Forums, linked above. There's a ton of great information, and a ton of knowledgeable individuals on there sharing their research. And, of course, there's a great collection of historic newspaper articles! 

The West Virginia Bigfoot Museum in Sutton

After my recent trip to Sutton, I realized I have never dedicated an entire blog post to the WV Bigfoot Museum! Sure, I've shared photos on my social media platforms and mentioned going there a few times, but I never gave this awesome spot the attention it deserves. So, today I'll hopefully remedy that.

In regards to the other popular museums throughout WV dedicated to the fringe sciences (The Mothman Museum, The Archive of the Afterlife, and the Flatwoods Monster Museum), The West Virginia Bigfoot Museum is fairly new to the scene. However, it's been awesome seeing how quickly they've grown and become another great resource for those interested in exploring and learning about WV's unique (and sometimes spooky!) history.

Back in 2019, Louis and Laurel Petolicchio opened up the Mountain Laurel Country Store, located at 400 4th St. in downtown Sutton. The building dates back to 1900 and was built by William Hampton (W.H.) Lee and was used as the home of the W.H. Lee Wholesale and Retail Hardware and Furniture Company. The shop is a cozy, welcoming space filled with one of a kind, handmade gifts and crafts from local artisans. There's jewelry, toys, books, home goods, indoor and outdoor decor, soaps and munchies, and so, so much more. Recently, they've also added a little on-site cafe, Main Street Coffee, serving up coffee, sandwiches, and lots of different goodies. It's an ideal spot for picking up unique gift items and supporting local business/local artisans, as well as just being a wonderful addition to Sutton's growing revitalized downtown.  But, within two years, it would become so much more. 

A local woodcarver who sold pieces through consignment at the shop brought in a HUGE 6 foot, 300lb carving made from a solid block of hemlock. The carving was of a Bigfoot. The Stone Man, the Yahoo, Sasquatch---he goes by many names, but the hairy man of the woods has long been sighted throughout West Virginia, with plenty of reports coming from right in the area around Sutton! Locals and visitors alike visiting the store would see this beautiful wood carving of a Bigfoot, and it would spark their own stories and sightings. Now, not only was the Mountain Laurel Country Store a gift shop, but it was quickly becoming a repository for Bigfoot reports! 

That seemed to suit Louis and his son, David, just fine, as both had an interest in the phenomenon. Around the same time, researcher and investigator, Les O'Dell of WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters was needing a spot to showcase his personal collection of plaster casts of Bigfoot tracks found in the state, as well as his massive collection of reports, spanning back decades. At the same time, more and more reports, including RECENT reports, of Bigfoot activity from the Sutton area were coming to light...and thus, the idea for the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum was born.

Opening officially in May of 2021, the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum's GRAND OPENING would wait until July to coincide with the First Annual  WV Bigfoot Festival! The event was a huge success, and has become an annual event, featuring awesome speakers and vendors showcasing all sorts of Squatchy goodness. But, you don't have to wait for the festival or any of the other Bigfoot-related events happening in Sutton---the museum is open year round! 

And, it's definitely a cool spot to check out, whether you're a complete skeptic or whether you relish in the idea of an unknown primate lurking about. The collection focuses on West Virginia sightings, reports, and evidence, but a general overview of the Bigfoot phenomenon is displayed. You'll find information on famous cases, such as the Patterson-Gimlin footage, as well as information on Bigfoot's cold weather cousin, the Yeti. It's a neat space filled with Bigfoot artwork (including some new wall murals featuring hidden Bigfoots), plaster casts, and photographs. There's also a HUGE gift shop featuring books, T-shirts, jewelry, home decor, and every manner of Bigfoot novelty you can think of. 

Unfortunately, Louis passed away in 2022, but through the rest of the family and support from the community, the WV Bigfoot Museum is still going strong with plans for new exhibits and upcoming events. I cannot recommend this little gem of a museum enough, and even though I've been there a handful of times now, the warm, welcoming atmosphere and hospitality from the owners never changes. They truly want to make sure you enjoy yourself and feel right at home. And, I always happen to see or notice something new, whether in the museum itself, or the gift shop. Definitely add it to your itinerary if you're coming through the area! 

Know Before You Go:

This museum is completely FREE to visit and is family-friendly! If you'd like to help support their continued work in the preservation of Bigfoot memorabilia and the education of this fascinating subject, they do accept donations. There is also an extensive gift shop with really cool souvenirs in all price-ranges.

The WV Bigfoot Museum is open year-round. Their current hours are:

Wednesday-Friday: 10am to 6pm

Saturday: 10am to 4pm

(Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday)

WV Bigfoot Museum Website

WV Bigfoot Museum FaceBook

WV Bigfoot Festival FaceBook (June 23-24, 2023)

Theresa's Travels: Sutton, WV 2023

On Wednesday, February 15th, my husband and I had to make a trip to Elkins for family business. It's been a hot minute since I've found myself headed north up Interstate 79, so I insisted that we make a quick stop in one of my favorite unique, spooky lil' WV towns---Sutton!

Located in Braxton County, right in the center of the state, Sutton is quickly becoming the paranormal heart of the Mountain State. It's home to one of SRI's top haunted locations (The Haunted Haymond House), as well as the haunted Elk Hostel, which I hope we'll get to explore one day soon. It's also home to not one, but TWO really cool museums featuring the paranormal: The Flatwoods Monsters Museum and the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum. These two museums were the focus of our little impromptu stop. 

Up first was the Flatwoods Monster Museum to browse around and check out any new acquisitions. As many times as I've been there, it seems like there's always something new and interesting to see and discover. I think my favorite exhibit is still the original mold and information on the creation of the Flatwoods Monster lanterns. There's a great little documentary about the lanterns which you can watch HERE, as well as a little How It's Made clip on the actual process. The How It's Made clip was actually playing on the museum's television while we were there, much to my husband's delight. He's a sucker for that kinda thing. Luckily, I already own a lantern, or else I think we would have been walking out of there with another one that day. This visit was actually only my husband's second visit to the museum. Although he supports my weirdness, he's just not as in to the spooky stuff as I am, so I'm thrilled whenever he finds something (like the lantern making process) that he finds especially interesting and can enjoy.

I also love seeing the reactions of other visitors, especially those who have never been there before, as they experience the story of the Flatwoods Monster for themselves through an awesome collection of memorabilia related to the sighting, as well as depictions of the creature in art and in pop culture. Even on a Wednesday afternoon, there were a good number of visitors there that day, which warms my heart!

It was also a pleasure getting to chat with the curator of the museum, Andrew Smith, who has worked tirelessly and has done so much in promoting and sharing the story of the Flatwoods Monster, as well as the history of the area as a whole. If you're new to the area or unfamiliar with the Flatwoods Monster incident of 1952, Andrew is your go-to guy. He's a wealth of information, and has always been super accommodating to the countless bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, etc. that are eager to showcase Braxxie and the Flatwoods Monster Museum. 

Including all the wonderful displays, articles/print media, videos, and chatting, you could easily spend a couple hours just in the Flatwoods Monster Museum alone. Unfortunately, we did have to be in Elkins at a certain time, and had another stop we wanted to make. But, I couldn't leave without adding a new Braxxie t-shirt to my wardrobe and picking up some postcards. 

Upon leaving the Flatwoods Monster Museum, it was a beautifully warm and sunny day, so we made the short walk a block or so down to the Mountain Laurel Country Store, home to the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum.  The store itself is a cute little shop full of handmade and unique gift items, jewelry, books, primitives, home goods, and more. They've also recently added a little cafe-type area, called Main Street Coffee, serving coffee, sandwiches, and other goodies. We looked around a bit, and I got a bit sad, thinking about how much my mom would have loved this shop, but never got the chance to visit. 

Anyway, the shop is great, but I was ready for the main attraction: The WV Bigfoot Museum! The Flatwoods/Sutton area has a long history of Bigfoot sightings, beginning as early as 1919 and continuing to this day, largely around Sutton Lake. So, this is the perfect spot for a museum dedicated to our Appalachian hairy man. 

The museum showcases an impressive collection of plaster casts made throughout WV and beyond, information on sightings around the state (largely collected and researched by the awesome Les O'Dell of WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters), and a general overview of the Bigfoot phenomenon, with some Yeti information as well. There's also wood carvings, wall murals featuring hidden Bigfoots, and an EXTENSIVE gift shop, where you can pick up books, toys, novelties, clothing/accessories, and seriously...anything you can think of Bigfoot-related. Again, I couldn't leave without adding a new book by Doug Waller to my library and a few Bigfoot stickers. 

As with the Flatwoods Monster Museum, it was a pleasure having a nice lil' chat with the owner. Every time I've visited, she has been so sweet and welcoming, making sure that everyone who steps foot through the door feels at home and enjoys the museum experience. This was my husband's first visit to the Bigfoot Museum, and again, even though he's not super into the strange and unusual side of history, he really enjoyed the novelty of the experience. I also think he was a little shocked that in one little West Virginia town, we had stopped at a museum dedicated to arguably the weirdest and wildest UFO/monster cases in the WORLD, then made a two minute walk to another museum, this one dedicated to arguably the most famous cryptid in the world. 

I'd bet a lot of people feel that way, but I'm thrilled! As a whole, West Virginia is such a cool place to explore, especially for anyone interested in the paranormal, be it ghosts/hauntings, UFOs, or cryptozoology. As more and more locations around the state open up, catering to WV's weird history, it's wonderful to see downtown Sutton becoming a premier mecca for those wanting a truly unique tourist experience. I could have stayed in the area a week or more, checking out all the cool stuff to see and do, but alas, we had to get back on the road. But, not before grabbing a late lunch!

Normally a trip to the Sutton/Flatwoods area means a trip to The Spot, a cute little restaurant in Flatwoods, located close to the original 1952 sighting of the Flatwoods Monster. You can grab a sandwich, chicken strips, calzone, hot dog, ice cream, etc, many with fun, monster-themed names. You can also pick up some souvenirs, take advantage of some neat photo ops, and of course, visit one of the five monster chairs located just across the road from the restaurant. I highly recommend adding a stop at The Spot to your Sutton/Flatwoods itinerary. But, as we were walking back to the car, discussing exactly what to do about food, we passed by a new-to-me business and noticed it was open. A split decision later, and we were seated at a table in the Bad Axe Bistro!

The Bad Axe Bistro is open for lunch and dinner, serving up a variety of sandwiches and appetizers during the lunch hour, and a more extensive menu for dinner. They also offer lanes for axe throwing, which we didn't take advantage of on this trip, but definitely next time!

My husband and I both had a grilled chicken sandwich and fries, and ordered the Bad Axe spiral loaded potato for an appetizer. The restaurant was clean, the service was great, and the food came out quickly. I really enjoyed my chicken sandwich, but my favorite was absolutely the appetizer. It was a spiral-cut potato on a stick, smothered in cheese and bacon and served on a wooden skewer. I love an opportunity to support small, local businesses and am happy to have another restaurant, located right in town, to add to my food options for when I'm in town. 

By the time we paid the check, we really did have to get back on the road, so I had to say goodbye to Sutton. Fortunately, I'll be back again! SRI is planning an event at the Haunted Haymond House for April, so make sure you follow our page for information on that as it comes available. I'll also be sure to visit for two upcoming festivals, showcasing the area's strange history!  The West Virginia Bigfoot Festival will be held in Sutton June 23-24, 2023 and the Flatwoods Monster Convention will be held in Flatwoods on September 9th, 2023. 

I hope you get the chance to visit the Flatwoods Monster Museum and/or WV Bigfoot Museum soon! If you do, tell 'em that Theresa's Haunted History sent ya! And until then, follow me over on Facebook for MORE pictures of my trip to Sutton, as well as my other paranormal adventures around West Virginia and beyond. Stay spooky, ya'll. 

My (Maybe) Bigfoot Experience at Kanawha State Forest

I was born and raised in West Virginia and come from a family of avid outdoorsmen and hunters. Yet, personally, as much as I love nature, I've never really ventured that deeply into the wilderness. Therefore, I always thought my chances of running into a Bigfoot were slim to none. Oddly enough, I DID have a potential sighting of a white Bigfoot in Lawrence County, Ohio while a friend and I were doing some research at a small, country cemetery, but that was my only sighting of anything I would even remotely consider cryptozoological. But, it may not have been my only ENCOUNTER.

It's been over a year now, closer to two actually (March 2021), that I had a strange experience at Kanawha State Forest. I had seen my therapist that morning and after talking through some pretty heavy stuff, I felt the need to just reconnect with nature for a little while. So, I hopped in the car and drove to Kanawha State Forest. I made a couple of stops throughout the park, taking some photos and even walking one of the easy trails. I still had some time before I needed to be back to pick my son up from school, so I made my way down to a little area known as Dunlop Hollow that had some stories about being haunted by a woman who, folklore says was lynched from a large tree at the site.

I parked the car, took a few photos, and made my way over to a picnic bench and sat down with a book. I didn't stay too long, but spent probably about a half hour or so, just enjoying the sunshine, listening to the birds, and reading my book. For the most part, Kanawha State Forest is a really clean, well-maintained park. But, like any outdoor area, there had been some visitors some time before me that didn't quite get their garbage to the garbage can.Before I left, I spent about 5-10 minutes picking up the trash in the area, which was mostly some little things, like candy wrappers, fast food cups/straws, and random plastic pieces. Just as I had dumped a handful into the trashcan, I distinctly heard a deep man's voice say "Thank you." 

Thinking maybe a park ranger or other employee had somehow snuck down to where I was without me seeing them, I looked around but didn't see anyone. And, that's when I realized that I THINK I heard the words in my head, not aloud, and also got the feeling that someone, or something was watching me. I needed to leave to go get my son, but I was kind of...unsettled...about what had happened. Was I hallucinating? Did I hear a ghost? Or, did I experience Mind Speak, a type of telepathic communication that some believe these creatures known as Bigfoot may be capable of? The skeptical side of me absolutely believes it wasn't anything more than my imagination (or maybe an actual person that I didn't see). But, there's a side of me that really, really wants there to be some type of paranormal explanation. I'd love it if my actions, no matter how small, were appreciated by an elusive beast who called the area home. And, you never know---Kanawha State Forest IS known for sightings of a Bigfoot! You can learn more about at least one of these documented sightings, as investigated by the Wild and Weird team from the videos below!

Possible Bigfoot Activity in Kanawha County at the Salamander Site

Unexpected Sasquatch Encounter

September 2022 Paranormal Discussion Group with Joe Perdue

If you caught my blog post yesterday, you'll know that I'm desperately trying to get caught up with some 2022 events that I never got around to blogging about, particularly some of the guest speakers of the monthly St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group! 

September was a REALLY hard month. With my mom's health quickly going down hill, she was admitted to the hospital, and it was soon apparent that she wasn't coming home. She passed away on September 24th, and a few days later, as a much needed distraction, I forced myself to pull it together and attend that month's presentation by Joe Perdue on everything Bigfoot in West Virginia and surrounding areas. 

Joe has been researching and investigating Bigfoot for quite awhile now, and is one of the premier experts on the subject in our area. He's been on several television shows and documentaries, and is one of the main guys behind Wild and Weird West Virginia and the West Virginia High Strangeness Collective (which actually just one the 2022 Best Bigfoot Researcher/Research Team from www.bigfootforums.com!). 

He brought with him a collection of casts, some tools of the trade, and plenty of stories from his own field research. It's always a pleasure to hear Joe speak, as he's not only super knowledgeable about his topic of interest, but obviously passionate about it as well. His larger than life personality and hilarious story-telling style kept the group's attention throughout the entire presentation, and well after as well. Joe even had a few giveaways to share, and made one kid's day for sure. 

Bigfoot and cryptozoology in general is one of those topics that I enjoy, but since I've always concentrated my own research on ghosts and hauntings, I'm really enjoying learning about now, and Joe is an absolute awesome resource. I've listened to the Wild and Weird WV podcast since pretty much the beginning, and try to follow the team's work as much as possible. And, any time I can get the chance to see Joe speak in person, I like to be there. It was nice to get the opportunity so close to home...and it worked. For a few hours, the pain of losing my mom and the stress of preparing for a funeral melted away and I was able to spend an evening doing what I love best---learning about the paranormal field with those who share those interests. 

Book Review: Appalachian Bigfoot

Title: The Appalachian Bigfoot

Author: Dr. Russell Jones

Published: December 9, 2021 by Beyond the Fray Publishing

Amazon Purchase Information

The Appalachian Bigfoot is actually the second book by West Virginia author and researcher, Dr. Russell Jones. Following on the heels of Tracking the Stone Man: West Virginia's Bigfoot (published 2016), The Appalachian Bigfoot is another excellent contribution to the field of cryptozoology.

As I said in my review of his previous book, Bigfoot is a subject that I'm interested in, as I believe all the strange and unusual aspects of the paranormal field are related, but its not a subject that I feel super well-versed in. Therefore, I'm always looking for extremely informative resources written in a way that I can easily digest the information without getting bored. And, The Appalachian Bigfoot was a good fit!

While Dr. Jones' first book focused on the Bigfoot population of West Virginia, this newest book expands to study Bigfoot throughout the Appalachia region of the United States. Up until recently, much of the Bigfoot research that was published really tended to focus on the Bigfoot population of the Pacific Northwest...and believe it or not, there are some differences between the seemingly same species from across the country. 

The Appalachian Bigfoot is a treasure trove of information on this mysterious beast. Topics range from physical descriptions of these creatures, the best times and locations to witness them, theories about why we don't yet have proof of their existence, evidence collection, habituation, and much more. Included are case studies featuring the most compelling eyewitnesses reports from around the Appalachian region.

So, I'm not gonna lie---while I enjoyed this book immensely, there were times when it seemed a little...disjointed and repetitive...like it was written in chunks, then kind of hastily put together. However, the information in this book far outweighs that minor problem, if it even IS a problem. While it may seem disjointed to sit and read cover to cover, if you're looking for a specific topic, or just want to read a little bit at a time, then you'll never even notice. 

I'm pretty sure that everyone, from the complete novice to the experienced Squatcher, can find value in this book, and its a must-have reference for any cryptozoology library. And, you don't even really need to live within Appalachia to love this book. The case studies are interesting, no matter where you're from, and there are enough similarities between these various populations of Bigfoot-type creatures  that the information can be applied outside the region. I was lucky enough to pick up MY personal copy at a local thrift store, but it's available on Amazon and through most major book stores. 

If you've read The Appalachian Bigfoot by Dr. Russell Jones, please let me know what YOU thought, down in the comments below! And, if you're interested in additional book reviews from Theresa's Haunted History, see my link below!

*Book Reviews*