The Bennington Triangle
Much like its counterparts, a portion of Vermont's green wilderness gained a reputation. Between the years 1920 and 1950, a number of people vanished without a trace. In his book, "Green Mountain Ghosts, Ghouls, and Unsolved Mysteries", Joe Citro dubbed an area in Bennington near Glastenbury mountain the "Bennington Triangle". Not only have people disappeared, defying explanation, it has also been an alleged hot spot for UFO activity, strange lights, sounds, odors, specters, mysterious creatures. Even Native American's shunned the place. They believed the land to be cursed because all four winds met in that spot and some Native American folklore speaks of an enchanted stone which swallows anything to step upon it. How many of these claims are true, I am not certain. However, the disappearances have been documented.
On November 12, 1945, 75 year old Middie Rivers led four hunters onto the mountain. As the group was returning to camp, near Long Trail Road and Route 9, Rivers broke away from the others and was never seen again. Police and volunteers searched the area for the experienced woodsman but never found him.
Almost a year later, on December 1, 1946, an 18 year old Bennington College sophomore named Paula Welden hitched a ride to the Long Trail to take a day hike. Several witnesses confirmed seeing her on the trail but when she didn't return to school, a search team scoured the area. Despite a 5,000 dollar reward and help from the FBI, Paula Welden was never seen again. Two unconfirmed rumors stated Paula arranged her disappearance and moved to Canada with a lover; while others speculate she still lives a reclusive life on the mountain.
A 13-year-old boy named Melvin Hills disappeared in the Bennington area around October 11, 1942, and in 1949, three hunters mysteriously also vanished in the Glastenbury area. After 1950, the disappearances stopped. No one knows why they began much less why they suddenly stopped. Although some believed the answer is natural not supernatural. One theory stated the disappearances were caused by a serial killer. Serial killers have patterns and the only thing the victims had in common was when they vanished, during October, November and December. Others think they simply fell in abandoned wells. Supernatural theories include alien abduction, the Bennington Monster and interdimensional horizons.
Is the "Bennington Triangle" a magnet for the supernatural? Will those who disappeared in the area be ever found? These are questions that may never be answered.
On November 12, 1945, 75 year old Middie Rivers led four hunters onto the mountain. As the group was returning to camp, near Long Trail Road and Route 9, Rivers broke away from the others and was never seen again. Police and volunteers searched the area for the experienced woodsman but never found him.
Almost a year later, on December 1, 1946, an 18 year old Bennington College sophomore named Paula Welden hitched a ride to the Long Trail to take a day hike. Several witnesses confirmed seeing her on the trail but when she didn't return to school, a search team scoured the area. Despite a 5,000 dollar reward and help from the FBI, Paula Welden was never seen again. Two unconfirmed rumors stated Paula arranged her disappearance and moved to Canada with a lover; while others speculate she still lives a reclusive life on the mountain.
A 13-year-old boy named Melvin Hills disappeared in the Bennington area around October 11, 1942, and in 1949, three hunters mysteriously also vanished in the Glastenbury area. After 1950, the disappearances stopped. No one knows why they began much less why they suddenly stopped. Although some believed the answer is natural not supernatural. One theory stated the disappearances were caused by a serial killer. Serial killers have patterns and the only thing the victims had in common was when they vanished, during October, November and December. Others think they simply fell in abandoned wells. Supernatural theories include alien abduction, the Bennington Monster and interdimensional horizons.
Is the "Bennington Triangle" a magnet for the supernatural? Will those who disappeared in the area be ever found? These are questions that may never be answered.
Comments