Hidden deep in the forest of Connecticut is an outcrop of granite that to most, would appear to be no different than any other in the northeast. It stands almost 100 feet tall, 300 feet long and has had a long and interesting history. Recently we rediscovered this amazing location. We enjoyed the excitement of uncovering each of its known natural features. The moment that will stick in my mind the most though, is my encounter with the Terror Beneath the Devil’s Coffin.
Posted in Cave, Geology, Ghostly Haunts, Historical, Legends & Folklore, Natural Wonders, Subterranean, Wildlife and tagged cave, Coffin, devil, folklore, geology, hidden, history, indian, Kitchen, Monster, Native American, Seven Wonders, Squaw, terror, Vultureswith 6 comments.
There has been a debate in New England as to who were the first visitors to our shores. Centered in this debate are several inscriptions in stone that were found in the Narragansett Basin. The first was the well-known Dighton Rock which was initially recorded in 1680. After that, over 20 other inscriptions were discovered along the shores of southeastern New England. These inscriptions have inspired many theories concerning possible pre-colonial visitors. Such theories suggest Vikings, the Portuguese, the Chinese, the Phoenicians and even Irish monks were possibly the first people to set foot in the northeast.
In 2012 we began hunting down many of the lesser known rock inscriptions in the Narragansett Basin. So far we have located the Tiverton Petroglyphs, Mark Rock, the Portsmouth Cupstone, King’s Rock, and Leif’s Rock. We were able to find the inscriptions on all the stones but King’s and Leif’s Rocks. King’s Rock is currently covered by so much dirt and forest debris it will be difficult to locate the inscription if it does still exist.
Posted in Ancient New England, Archaeological, Historical and tagged bristol, folklore, inscription, Legend, Leif Erikson, norse, northman, runestone, vikingwith 4 comments.
The Connecticut River is the largest river in New England. It meanders its way through the hills and forest of Northern New England between Vermont and New Hampshire and discharges itself in Long Island Sound. This leviathan consumes over 11,263 sq miles of the Northeast. Traced by many cities and small towns, it’s an icon of the New England lifestyle. Though seemingly beautiful and peaceful by day, its undulating coils hide many stories and secrets along its path to the Devil’s Belt. One is a mysterious glowing thing that lurks in its waters.
Posted in Legends & Folklore, Monsters, Cryptids & Ghouls, Podcasts and tagged creature, cryptid creatures, cryptids, folklore, Folklore of New England, Legends of New England, Monster, monster legends, mythical creatures, new england folklore, strange new englandwith no comments yet.
The Eighth Gate to Hell!
In Leicester Massachusetts on a forgotten dirt road lies an old Quaker cemetery that has developed quite a reputation. The proper name for this place is ‘Friend Cemetery’ and the Worcester Pleasant Street Friends Meeting owns it. The fact that there is no marker or nameplate showing its name; visitors have dubbed it Spider Gate Cemetery due to the spider web like pattern that adorns its beautiful wrought iron gate.
Posted in Cemeteries and tagged cemetery, folklore, ghost, Legend, spider, Spider gate, strange new englandwith 1 comment.
There are a variety of monster around the world that we are all aware of; The Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot are excellent example. Most New Englanders rest easy at night knowing that these creatures, if real, are lurking in regions far from their homes. Unfortunately, as these people go about their business feeling safe and secure a native fiend wanders about in the mountains and forest of the northeast
Far before the area was colonized, a fearsome being known as the Thunderbird terrified the Algonquin speaking peoples of New England. Though it was more closely associated with the plains Indians, the Thunderbird was believed to have roamed the territory.
Posted in Monsters, Cryptids & Ghouls and tagged creature, cryptid creatures, cryptids, folklore, Legend, Monster, monster legends, mythical creatures, strange new england, Thunderbirdwith 8 comments.
A quarter mile off Maine’s shore, at the east end of South Bristol’s Harbor, “The Gut”, lays an 18-acre Sanctuary called Witch Island. The name beckons images of Hardy Boys adventures as does its strange history. In the late 19th century a woman know as the “Witch of Wall Street,” lived on the island. She was a mystical consultant that foretold people’s financial futures. She was very successful and lived a happy quiet life in John’s bay. As to what became of her no one is sure. Some say that she retired and quietly continued to live on the island. One-day locals realized they hadn’t heard from her in a while and when they went out to her home she was found dead in her cabin. Some people have said that she haunts the island. Some evenings a strange glow has been seen floating around the island.
Posted in Legends & Folklore and tagged folklore, Legend, maine, strange new england, Witch Islandwith 2 comments.