Glastonbury Mountain, also known as Green Mountain or the Green Mountain Range, is home to what the Appalachian Mountain Club calls it the "Triangle of Doom".
Nestled between the Taconics and the Green Mountains, its rich history and scenic beauty make Bennington, Vermont a favorite spot for hunters, hikers, and historians.
Bennington was a quiet town, quite near mysterious Glastenbury Mountain. Native Americans shunned the mountain, believing that the four winds "met" at the top of it and they used the mountain only as a burial ground. European settlers told tales of strange lights over Glastenbury Mountain. Unsourced odors and tales of Bigfoot-type sightings permeated the mountain woodlands.
But, while the happenings in the Bennington Triangle remain a series of unsolved mysteries, can they be classified as paranormal phenomena?
Nestled between the Taconics and the Green Mountains, its rich history and scenic beauty make Bennington, Vermont a favorite spot for hunters, hikers, and historians.
Bennington was a quiet town, quite near mysterious Glastenbury Mountain. Native Americans shunned the mountain, believing that the four winds "met" at the top of it and they used the mountain only as a burial ground. European settlers told tales of strange lights over Glastenbury Mountain. Unsourced odors and tales of Bigfoot-type sightings permeated the mountain woodlands.
But, while the happenings in the Bennington Triangle remain a series of unsolved mysteries, can they be classified as paranormal phenomena?
The real mountain mystery began in 1945 and lasted for five years.
Seventy-four year old, Middie Rivers was familiar with the area wilderness. An experienced hunting and fishing guide, on November 12, 1945, he escorted a party of four hunters into the mountain woodlands. Leading the way back to their campsite, Middie disappeared from view and vanished leaving only one clue. After an extensive search, investigators found a single bullet beside a streambed but no trace of Middie was ever found.
Rivers's disappearance was the first in a series of missing persons over the next five years. A year later, on December 1, 1946 eighteen year old Paula Weldon, a sophomore at Bennington College vanished while hiking along Glastenbury Mountain's "Long Trail". As the story goes, several people witnessed her departure from Bennington College, with the knowledge that she was headed out for a short hike. Two elderly hikers reported seeing her on the trail, approximately 100 yards ahead of them, minutes before she disappeared.
They claimed that she rounded a corner on the trail, and when they reached the same corner, she was gone, and was never seen or heard from again, despite extensive searches, FBI involvement and even a $5000 reward for her safe return. Although the ensuing manhunt brought in the FBI and even used a clairvoyant, as in the case of Middie Rivers, no trace of Paula Weldon was ever found. Her case became part of local urban legend, as people speculated about her becoming a wild recluse on the mountain, or perhaps fleeing to Canada to marry a boyfriend whose identity she kept secret.
Seventy-four year old, Middie Rivers was familiar with the area wilderness. An experienced hunting and fishing guide, on November 12, 1945, he escorted a party of four hunters into the mountain woodlands. Leading the way back to their campsite, Middie disappeared from view and vanished leaving only one clue. After an extensive search, investigators found a single bullet beside a streambed but no trace of Middie was ever found.
Rivers's disappearance was the first in a series of missing persons over the next five years. A year later, on December 1, 1946 eighteen year old Paula Weldon, a sophomore at Bennington College vanished while hiking along Glastenbury Mountain's "Long Trail". As the story goes, several people witnessed her departure from Bennington College, with the knowledge that she was headed out for a short hike. Two elderly hikers reported seeing her on the trail, approximately 100 yards ahead of them, minutes before she disappeared.
They claimed that she rounded a corner on the trail, and when they reached the same corner, she was gone, and was never seen or heard from again, despite extensive searches, FBI involvement and even a $5000 reward for her safe return. Although the ensuing manhunt brought in the FBI and even used a clairvoyant, as in the case of Middie Rivers, no trace of Paula Weldon was ever found. Her case became part of local urban legend, as people speculated about her becoming a wild recluse on the mountain, or perhaps fleeing to Canada to marry a boyfriend whose identity she kept secret.
Exactly three years later, on December 1, 1949, James E. Tetford, a resident of Bennington Soldier's Home disappeared from a commercial bus. Although he was seen boarding the bus and at the stop before Bennington, when the bus reached its destination, Tetford was gone. Although his luggage was found in the luggage rack and a bus timetable lay open on his seat James E. Tetford was never again seen.
On Columbus Day 1950, eight-year-old Paul Jepson disappeared from the family farm. He disappeared from his mother’s truck, while she tended to her pigs, was tracked with dogs. His scent was apparently picked up and followed to a local highway, which happened to be very near where Paula Weldon had disappeared. No trace of the child or his bright red coat was ever found, although hundreds of volunteers combed the mountainside in search of him.
Not quite three weeks later, 53-year-old Frieda Langer slipped into a mountain stream while hiking with her cousin. Promising her cousin that she'd catch up with him after changing into dry clothes, Frieda disappeared on the walk back to camp. Hers was the only body found, but not until the next spring. On May 12, 1951, Frieda Langer's decomposed body emerged near the Somerset Reservoir, although the area had been thoroughly searched at the time of her disappearance. Oddly enough, the one "solved" disappearance was the final disappearance on Glastenbury Mountain.
On Columbus Day 1950, eight-year-old Paul Jepson disappeared from the family farm. He disappeared from his mother’s truck, while she tended to her pigs, was tracked with dogs. His scent was apparently picked up and followed to a local highway, which happened to be very near where Paula Weldon had disappeared. No trace of the child or his bright red coat was ever found, although hundreds of volunteers combed the mountainside in search of him.
Not quite three weeks later, 53-year-old Frieda Langer slipped into a mountain stream while hiking with her cousin. Promising her cousin that she'd catch up with him after changing into dry clothes, Frieda disappeared on the walk back to camp. Hers was the only body found, but not until the next spring. On May 12, 1951, Frieda Langer's decomposed body emerged near the Somerset Reservoir, although the area had been thoroughly searched at the time of her disappearance. Oddly enough, the one "solved" disappearance was the final disappearance on Glastenbury Mountain.
There are several coincidences involved in the disappearances, but no real connection between any of the cases has been found.
Strange coincidences notwithstanding, there isn’t much about these disappearances that warrants Fortean attention, at least on the surface. People go missing. It happens every day, all over the world. Though it’s a tragic event, it isn’t necessarily anomalous or even all that weird.
Except that the Bennington Triangle, an ill-defined area surrounding Glastonbury Mountain and roughly bordered by the region of Bennington itself, bears striking resemblance to the nearby Bridgewater Triangle of Massachusetts.
The Bridgewater Triangle, for those unfamiliar, is an area of approximately 200 square miles in southeastern Massachusetts, wherein sightings of UFO’s, orbs, Bigfoot, and thunderbird, as well as cattle mutilations have been taking place on a regular basis for decades, if not centuries. There is similar folklore and history between these two areas, and has put forward some slightly strange explanations for the weirdness held therein.
Because four of the five disappearances remain unsolved, rumors and theories are plentiful. Indian legend tells of a "rock that swallows" those who step on it. Some folks believe that the Bigfoot-like "Bennington Monster" is responsible for the mishaps. Of course, others cite alien abductions as a possible cause and some speculators talk about a gateway to some new dimension. Were these five autumn disappearances the work of a serial killer or just a string of coincidental misadventures? For now, mysterious Glastenbury Mountain hides the secrets behind the Bennington Triangle.
Strange coincidences notwithstanding, there isn’t much about these disappearances that warrants Fortean attention, at least on the surface. People go missing. It happens every day, all over the world. Though it’s a tragic event, it isn’t necessarily anomalous or even all that weird.
Except that the Bennington Triangle, an ill-defined area surrounding Glastonbury Mountain and roughly bordered by the region of Bennington itself, bears striking resemblance to the nearby Bridgewater Triangle of Massachusetts.
The Bridgewater Triangle, for those unfamiliar, is an area of approximately 200 square miles in southeastern Massachusetts, wherein sightings of UFO’s, orbs, Bigfoot, and thunderbird, as well as cattle mutilations have been taking place on a regular basis for decades, if not centuries. There is similar folklore and history between these two areas, and has put forward some slightly strange explanations for the weirdness held therein.
Because four of the five disappearances remain unsolved, rumors and theories are plentiful. Indian legend tells of a "rock that swallows" those who step on it. Some folks believe that the Bigfoot-like "Bennington Monster" is responsible for the mishaps. Of course, others cite alien abductions as a possible cause and some speculators talk about a gateway to some new dimension. Were these five autumn disappearances the work of a serial killer or just a string of coincidental misadventures? For now, mysterious Glastenbury Mountain hides the secrets behind the Bennington Triangle.
Perhaps his strangest explanation is the man-eating stone of Glastonbury Mountain. Making its first appearance in Citro’s book The Vermont Monster Guide (2009), the man-eating stone is exactly what it sounds like…a rock that eats people.
According to Citro, no one alive has seen this dangerous anomaly on Glastonbury Mountain. Native Americans knew of it, and warned people away. We can only imagine it as a sizable rock, large enough to stand on. But when someone stands upon it, the rock becomes less solid, and, like a living thing, swallows the unfortunate trespasser. A number of disappearances have been reported on Glastonbury Mountain. Could all these vanished folks have stepped inadvertently on this hungry stone?
In another of his books, Passing Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors (1996), Citro describes “an inaccessible region, remote, full of dark places, jutting outcrops, vast marshlands and quiet pools.” He seems to regard the entire region as a magical land of mysteries and dangers, almost fairy-tale-like, but describes a wild, almost untouched wilderness sitting in the heart of American society’s upper crust summer vacation destination.
Is there something weird going on at Glastonbury Mountain? Is the Bennington Triangle worth a closer look? The facts are that five people disappeared on that mountain, four of them without a trace of evidence as to their whereabouts or fate. That alone should get our attention, and who knows? Maybe there is a boulder with an appetite for man-flesh in Vermont.
Source One: http://www.benningtontriangle.com/
Source Two: http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com/b/bennington-triangle/
According to Citro, no one alive has seen this dangerous anomaly on Glastonbury Mountain. Native Americans knew of it, and warned people away. We can only imagine it as a sizable rock, large enough to stand on. But when someone stands upon it, the rock becomes less solid, and, like a living thing, swallows the unfortunate trespasser. A number of disappearances have been reported on Glastonbury Mountain. Could all these vanished folks have stepped inadvertently on this hungry stone?
In another of his books, Passing Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors (1996), Citro describes “an inaccessible region, remote, full of dark places, jutting outcrops, vast marshlands and quiet pools.” He seems to regard the entire region as a magical land of mysteries and dangers, almost fairy-tale-like, but describes a wild, almost untouched wilderness sitting in the heart of American society’s upper crust summer vacation destination.
Is there something weird going on at Glastonbury Mountain? Is the Bennington Triangle worth a closer look? The facts are that five people disappeared on that mountain, four of them without a trace of evidence as to their whereabouts or fate. That alone should get our attention, and who knows? Maybe there is a boulder with an appetite for man-flesh in Vermont.
Source One: http://www.benningtontriangle.com/
Source Two: http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com/b/bennington-triangle/