Haunted Legends: Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, CA

A House Built for Spirits
Haunted Legends: Winchester Mystery House
San Jose, CA

One hundred sixty rooms, staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that lead to walls. The Winchester Mystery House has become an icon to weird architecture, but there's a reasoning behind it that you won't believe. Of course, it has to do with ghosts, but the house itself is a marvel to both the land of the living and the dead.

If you are a hunter, a Civil War buff, or have watched History Channel's Pawn Stars, you may be familiar with the name "Winchester". The Winchester rifle is known as "The Gun That Won the West" and Sarah Winchester took grief in being associated with the gun for one reason, but we'll get to that a little later.

Sarah Lockwood Pardee was born in New Haven, Connecticut around 1840 and soon became known as the "Belle of New Haven." She was well liked, spoke four languages, was considered beautiful, and played piano graciously. In 1862, she married William Wirt Winchester, the heir and son of the creator of the famous Winchester rifle.

Everything was perfect and it would soon become even better with the birth of their first child, a girl named Annie. But tragedy struck almost immediately when the child caught the then mysterious disease known as marasmus (a disease defined by as a "progressive wasting of the body" according to thefreedictionary.com). The baby wasted away and so did Mrs. Winchester's heart, little by little, the tragedies fell upon her. Fifteen years after the death of Annie, William died of tuberculosis (see my story "Haunted Legends: Waverly Hills Sanitarium" for more info on the "TB" epidemic.)

Why was such tragedies plaguing her? She was a good person, was nice to everyone, and was kind and giving. Why were these tragedies happening? Some sources say she sought help by a Boston medium who told her that the reason all of these tragic events were happening was because of one thing---ghosts. The souls of Native Americans, and soldiers, who succumbed to death during the Civil War because of the Winchester Rifle. They put a curse on the family and were going to stop at nothing until they weeded out the Winchester family and Sarah was next. Sarah had to act, but how?

According to the medium, she would have to move far out west, which landed her in San Jose, California. She would then have to build a grand house for the spirits, perhaps as a gift of guilt for the blood and death of many that the rifle had caused in its path. She discovered the ideal location to her new residence when she was visiting her niece. In 1884, she bought an unfinished farm house and it's land in the Santa Clara Valley which was just 3 miles away from San Jose. An unfinished farm house soon turned into a sprawling, massive structure of awe and strange.

She immediately hired carpenters and was determined to make a house to please the spirits that were looking for some supposed revenge on her. The project would take quite awhile, thirty-eight years to be exact. Of course, either she wasn't pleased or the spirits weren't pleased, because the sound of hammers didn't stop until Mrs. Winchester passed away in her sleep on September 5th, 1922. Sure, most of the activity stopped, but only on the living side.

When Sarah Winchester passed away, the little unfinished farmhouse is now a mansion of 160 rooms, 47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 10,000 windows, 13 bathrooms, and 6 kitchens. All those rooms...and no swimming pool. The items in the house were given to her niece, who in turn auctioned most of the items off. It took six weeks to empty the hole house, but the remnants of human life still remain.

Alleged Hauntings at the Mystery House:

-Even though it's been since 1922 since Sarah gave her last order, they say the carpenters are still trying to finish the work---even in the afterlife. An employees friend, who was taking pictures of the house, caught a mysterious figure who looked like a worker of that era in the photograph itself when nobody was even in the picture frame at the time.

-National Lampoons...Ghosts of Winchester House? Not likely, but these ghosts do like to play pranks on their living friends. On some occasions, workers will shut off all the lights, lock the doors, and leave. They have turned around and noticed that the lights of the third floor have been on when they were absolutely sure that they turned them off. When they go back in, they discover that the doors have been unlocked again.

-One tour guide smelled chicken soup at one time. Okay, not really scary, I know, but the kitchens haven't had a meal cooked in them for decades now.

-Apparently, there's an eternal fist fight happening in the Hayloft between two spirits who had a disagreement. It's not known whether either men passed away, but when people go into the Hayloft (which was once a storage room for Mrs. Winchester's belongings) people have reported feeling "violence" as one has explained.

-A man with a moustache, white overalls, and pushing a wheelbarrow has been spotted by several employees and some tourists have seen the man as well and have pointed him out in a picture that the house has it its possession. That's a hard working man after eighty years.

-Sarah Winchester-Rest in Peace? Over the many years since Mrs. Winchester passed away, séances have been held by famous psychics over the years, including Harry Houdini, who was known as a psychic debunker. To the knowledge of those within the house, no reports have been made about Mrs. Winchester still residing in the house, but they are glad she is not there. With a generous and kind lady, who went through so much in life, she may just be finally resting in peace with her Annie and William.

All information for this article is from the incredible website: www.winchestermysteryhouse.com where you can find pages upon pages of information of the famous house. Thanks for reading and happy hauntings!

Photo credits:

Top Picture: www.gogobot.com
Young Sarah Winchester/Black and White Winchester Mansion Picture: www.prairieghosts.com
Photo of Winchester Carpenters: www.eaglefreeenterprises.com
Photo of Elder Mrs. Winchester: www.curiouschapbooks.com

The Cathouse-Bethlehem, NH

Note: Although I have done this story before for a newspaper back in 2009, I thought the story was long winded. I decided since it was my one year anniversary writing for the White Mountain Shopper to write about my first personal ghost experience and decided to take the time and edit the previous version. 

Throughout a whole year here with the White Mountain Shopper you have read about my most favorite ghost stories, you have joined me (word-wise) on my adventures with Northeastern Paranormal Investigations; but one thing you have not read is my first encounter with the paranormal. Until now... The story takes place in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, located on [Redacted due to now being a private residence]. I first heard about the Cathouse from my cousin who was a frequent visitor of the not so famous ghost destination back when the paranormal didn't fascinate me as much as it does now. 

The Cathouse is a run down home that has been abandoned for more then thirty-five years (so I've been told). Back then, I was told that two women lived there, a mother and a daughter, and they "mysteriously disappeared." Not really. In reality, the older lady is (or was) in a nursing home and I have not heard of the supposed daughter's whereabouts. One thing is for sure though is that the older lady had a lot of cats. Some would estimate well over one hundred. Now, I’m a cat lover myself(mostly cause I‘m allergic to dog hair), but that’s just ridiculous. I’d hate to see the cat food/litter bill even for it being that long ago. But fast forward years later and the house is abandoned. 

I got an email roughly a year ago, from a reader telling me she was actually inside the house and that it was a disaster. Papers, gross smells, and even a mummified cat were found in this home, but after my experience I strongly believe that there is something more there. I've never been inside the house myself, but an outside glance would show that the house is run down, and vandalized. Most of the windows are smashed, the front door looks to be kicked in, there was an old car out front, but that's recently been removed. 

Did I believe it was haunted when I first saw it? No. I just thought it was just an abandoned home, and the kids breaking in have given it that haunted/scary look. One night, when I was about sixteen or seventeen, me and my cousin went to Hell(you can find more about Bethlehem's version of Hell on my website), and after we went to Hell, we went to the Cathouse. This was an experience that I soon not forget, and probably will take it to my grave. 

We drove up beside the house, my cousin looking for her digital camera and me just looking at the house. The house itself had this glow to it. Not a ghostly glow, but as if the house was alive. My mind started to play tricks on me (or did it?); I started to hear a cat’s meow as if it was right next to me. I looked and there was nothing there, but the cracked pavement. My cousin found the camera, but no batteries. As we were looking for batteries, I remember that I looked into the glove compartment and something made me look out my cousins window as the house is on the left side of the road. 

Standing in the door way was an old lady. She had a dress on(looked early 20th century to me), and I couldn’t really make out the face. The thing that got me though, was her eyes, or where her eyes were suppose to be. They were bright blue, as if someone took her eyes out and replaced them with blue ruby’s. It was both fascinating and frightening all at the same time. The only problem was, she was still there. Even after a minute of me staring at her. She was still there, like she didn’t care that the living saw her. After snapping a few pictures we left, but what I saw has been on my mind for quite some time after that. I have had plenty more experiences thanks to my time with NEPI, as well as other times as well, and I hope it never stops. But if I ever make a book on the paranormal, the first person I am thanking, or well I'm sorry...the first GHOST I'm ever thanking is the Cathouse Spirit in Bethlehem.

Bigfoot of Bald Mountain

Bigfoot of Bald Mountain
Ossipee, NH

Bigfoot is actually a relatively new addition to the field of the paranormal, even though people have claimed to have seen him (or it) as early as 4,000 years ago written on twelve clay tablets and found in the ruins of Ninevah (which is now apart of modern-day Iraq). The writer of the story claimed that this wild, hairy creature, named Enkudu, would drink with the wild animals of the dessert in the watering hole. But, something as Enkudu or the story of him, is just an epic tale, but the thought of Bigfoot was born into myth, which some say, might be legend.

The first official sighting happened in 986 AD when Leif Ericson, a famous explorer of his time, came to what is now America and saw these beastly creatures "that were ugly, hairy, and swarthy and had black eyes." As far as I can recall in my Lisbon Regional School U.S. History days, I do not recall Mr. Younkins telling us that Christopher Columbus discovered these same creatures several centuries later in 1492

Although, Bigfoot has been seen a few notable times in New Hampshire, there is one story that I've read that I found to be quite interesting (and I'm not that much of a Bigfoot person personally.) The story I read was written by Ed Parsons of the Conway Daily Sun and depicts an event a friend of his, his girlfriend, and their dog encountered this one day while hiking in the woods one day. This man, by the name of Peter Samuelson, had been hiking the woods for forty years, but never did he know what they would experience this summer day of 1979.

The sight that Samuelson described was 100 yards away from Connor Pond where he saw a structure that would puzzle anyone. It was stones stacked onto one another and a roof made out of thatched hemlock bows; through a doorway they saw a tall, big, hairy man, who stood about 7 feet tall and was covered with gray hair about three inches long. This half-man/half animal looking creature had its back to them.

What a sight it was, Bigfoot in the flesh! How gentle he may look to those...that was until there other hairy companion started growling at him. The creature heard and started making noises himself to show that he would not be intimidated by an inferior dog. The noise startled Samuelson's girlfriend and they decided to hightail it out of there before they could see if Bigfoot was of the meat eating kind. Halfway down the mountain they realized these two revelations: 1. they had a camera; and 2. They could of gotten their experience on film.

A year later, he built up the courage to return to Bald Mountain and see if his furry friend was still around, but he was met with another awe striking sight, it was gone. All gone, there was no sign of the once structure that was there. He swears he isn't crazy, but did the big fellow just pick up and leave? Not even leaving a single crumble of rock behind?

His girlfriend, Holly, didn't join him this time around, but she did tell him a story that back in the 1890s there was another reported incident with Bigfoot in the Ossipee Range at Connor Pond. A man witnessed this hairy beast come out of the woods and chase the person's dog before it retreated back from where it came.

If there was one there in 1890s, 1970s, is there one there now?

In the next few weeks you will be seeing some new additions to Scared Sheetless. Not only will ghosts be talked about, but also I will be introducing some other elements of the paranormal as well such as UFOs. And a new addition called Scary People where I will show you that sometimes the living can be more scarier than the dead.


Sources: www.bigfoot-lives.com
www.bigfootencounters.com
Ed Parson's "Hiking: Myth versus reality of Sasquatch in Ossipee Range"-Conway Daily Sun (c) November 24th, 2006.

James Paradie is a paranormal columnist as well as a paranormal investigator who has been seen in such newspapers as the Northcountry News, Littleton Record, the White Mountain Shopper, and the Trendy Times. His stories can also been seen on paranormalnews.com and mostlyghosts.com where he is a regular contributor.

Why I Hunt Ghosts

Why I Hunt Ghosts
Written by James Paradie

Hello there Graveyard Disciples, this week I decided to do more of a down to Earth (ha-ha, those words make an oxymoron, especially in this column) edition of Scared Sheetless. A question that I am asked quite often is "Why do you hunt ghosts?" To tell you the truth, previous to 2009 before Scared Sheetless made its debut on the Northcountry News, my interest in the paranormal was almost very limited. I would look information up on it very seldom and didn't have the intense interest in it that I do now. That doesn't mean I've never believed in it though, because I do believe.

I don't recall a time when I've been a skeptic, but nobody can be a born believer, can they? But, I can't remember when the last time I've questioned the existence of spirits (I am skeptical about a few things though: cheap gas, a diet that works, world peace, just to name a few), maybe it was when I was a kid, watching World's Scariest Places with my classmates, and they were in Vlad Dracula's castle doing an amateur paranormal investigation; I said, "this is so fake." I got complained to about not being "open minded", but anyone can watch those shows and have those assumptions. Even someone like me, who does actual investigations, and believes with all my heart that spirits are real. The TV shows just use way too much Hollywood in them and it just ruins any credibility that the show may have had. (I'm a Ghost Adventures fan by the way, if you were wondering.)

Besides the shows that sometimes over exaggerate how an investigation is done, it still doesn't mean that there not as fun as they appear. They are an adrenaline rush and I'm sure any amateur or professional investigator can back me up on this. The stories I've posted: "Shock, Awe, and Peace" and "Where Evil and Innocence Reside" were both the most exciting investigations I have ever been on and have left a mark on my life forever (if you have not read them yet go to my website scaredsheetlessncn.blogspot.com and check them out).

But, that question is still there, why do I hunt ghosts? It could be the rush that I get from it; my personal experiences such as seeing my first spirit at the Cathouse in Bethlehem, NH (see "The Cathouse" for more info on my site); the need to find evidence of its existence, or it could be because of the Columbia Pictures, 80's blockbuster movie, Ghostbusters. Which believe it or not, actually has a lot to do with it. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to put that Proton Pack on my back, roam around the streets of Manhattan (or in my case, Littleton) with the Ecto-1, have that Neutron Accelerator ready to vaporize a bad spook, and send them into a containment unit filled with a bunch of other bad boys of the Afterlife. But, as you grow older you realize all that stuff is purely a made up, Hollywood fairy tale, but it still has a lot to do with why I hunt ghosts. But when you've come face to face with something that's not of the living, you know that it's not Hollywood make-believe, or a fairy tale, or some folklore.

Ghost stories, the theory of an Afterlife, have been around for centuries, some can say the dawn of time. That's what fascinates me, ghost stories just keep on coming, and the stories just keep getting more exciting. Why I even read a story the other day that talked about ghosts now using cell phones to contact loved ones. Freaky? To you maybe, but it's fascinating stuff to me. But, the main answer is that I have fun doing it, I have fun writing all this articles for you the readers, and I've met some great people along the way. The biggest thrill out of it all is of course getting Scared Sheetless!

They are things that go bump in the night. We're the ones who bump back. Until next time this has been another Scared Sheetless. Happy Hauntings to all my Graveyard Disciples out there.

Need more scares? Go to scaredsheetlessncn.blogspot.com and check out New Hampshire's most frightening locations.

James Paradie is a paranormal columnist as well as a paranormal investigator who has been seen in such newspapers as the Northcountry News, Littleton Record, the White Mountain Shopper, and the Trendy Times. His stories can also been seen on paranormalnews.com and mostlyghosts.com where he is a regular contributor.

Halloween Edition: Bloody Mary

Halloween Edition
Ghost Legends: Bloody Mary

Published on the Trendy Times (Oct. 26th, 2010) and the White Mountain Shopper (Oct. 29th, 2010)

It's not just a cocktail, it's also a universal ghost legend. We're going to explore the myth of Bloody Mary.

I'm sure many who are reading this have heard about this legend at sleepovers or around the campfire, but for those who don't know, I think it's time you found out: Imagine yourself standing in front of a mirror, with either one or two candles, and chanting to yourself, "Bloody Mary, I killed your baby!" Suddenly, something comes out of the mirror and scratches your face or something much worse.

There's many different versions to this: Some say you can just simply say, "I believe in Mary Worth", or "Kathy, come out!" Some say you repeatedly say, "Bloody Mary" and each time you say it, you say it louder and louder.

For those who are confused, Bloody Mary is a mirror-witch. She is summoned, but only comes to the ritual doers mirror. But, she's said to be a vicious, maniacal spirit which legend states will either violently scratch your face, drive the person insane, scratch your eyes out, pull you into the mirror to live with her, or death itself.

The ritual was most popular in the 1970's during girls sleepovers, but men are known to try the rituals themselves. One story indicates that a girl tried the ritual and said at the end, "I don't believe in Mary Worth" and she fell and broke her hip right after. Pure coincidence? Maybe give it a go yourself?...I think not.

The most important part besides the candles and the chanting, is the mirror. Most use a bathroom mirror, because generally they are large enough to make the ritual work. Other dark rooms with large enough mirrors also work.

Why a mirror though? It could be because some families, after someone departs from this life they usually cover all the mirrors. This is because some believe that mirrors are portals between this world and the afterlife. The belief was that if the spirit caught a glimpse of itself in the mirror it would be trapped in the house forever-a condemned spirit. This also has ties in with the Devil's Toy Box-a six sided mirror that some religions such as Wicca believe attract dark spirits, but are also used to get rid of them, because the spirit can't stand the sight of itself. Apparently, in Bloody Mary's world she don't have any mirrors as she is said to be dark and evil.

The identity of just who the legend is named after is a mystery; it could of been Queen Mary I of England who was known to have vicious side of her as she was also referred to as Blood Mary; reason being is that she was said to kill young woman to bathe in their blood to preserve her youthful appearance. Some say she is a witch who was killed hundreds of years ago for practicing dark magic (some say she was burned to the stake, others say she was hanged) and comes back for revenge; or a woman named Mary Worth of more of a present time who was in a car accident and was disfigured. Who knows? That's what makes legends so intriguing...the darkness covers the truth like a mask which maybe it's more safe not to foretell it's real identity.

Do not fear Bloody Mary? I wouldn't say so; she's also been known to snatch people in the darkness near any given mirror without a ritual. Other then that...

Have a happy and safe Halloween and remember, stay away from mirrors! Until next time, Happy Hauntings!

Sources:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/bloodymary.asp
http://www.halloween-website.com/bloody_mary.htm

Want to contact me?:

E-Mail: scaredsheetlessncn@hotmail.com
Facebook search: Scared Sheetless or The NEPI Paranormal Experience
Website: http://scaredsheetlessncn.blogspot.com/

James Paradie is a paranormal columnist who has been seen in such newspapers as the Northcountry News, Littleton Record, the White Mountain Shopper, and the Trendy Times. His stories can also been seen on paranormalnews.com where he is a regular contributor.

Lost City of Franconia by James Paradie - Franconia, NH

Lost City of Franconia…

Franconia, NH

Written by James Paradie

Published by White Mountain Shopper on September 3rd, 2010

One of the most interesting ghost stories I’ve ever read comes from a place we, from New Hampshire, all know well and that is Franconia. 

Back around 1850 is when settlers came to Franconia Notch and discovered copper. Soon copper mines came about and the new town became a great settlement to come to, but the Natives didn’t agree with the new additions. Of course, this was because the new settlers were on the Natives sacred land.

As time progressed and the copper mine town began to lay the foundation down to make a potential great place to live, the town was plagued from the start with problems that could only be explained as abnormal. Buildings would be erected, but the roof would be missing the next day, excavated grounds were filled in the next day like it wasn’t even touched, and even the equipment ceased to work like some force was making it stop.

Finally, a local pastor noticed an Indian and asked him what was going on. The Indian told them that they were building their new town on sacred land and that the spirits were warning them to not proceed. The Indian that the pastor was talking to was sent to try and make peace and have a petition signed to move the town a few hundred yards away or tragedy would happen to the town.

They didn’t listen.

Soon, it became a thriving town of 200 people, but the visitors of the night disturbed the town minus the two churches, strangely. Through much warnings and signs, the Indians could not convince the new community to move and show respect for their ancestors, but the town rejected the myth of terror coming to the small town as a fairy tale. Soon, the Indians left and the townspeople thought they won. They were wrong.

In August of 1859, a great red sky came over the town, thunder shock the Earth beneath their feet and the wrath of the Great Spirits took over the small town. Witnesses from a ways watched as a cloud formed into a great big hand and smashed down onto the small town and then---all was quiet again and the sky turned blue, but other townspeople from other communities were not prepared for what was to be seen.

The copper mine was collapsed, killing every man working inside. Even stranger, no one was around or found in the town. Smoke was still coming out of chimneys, half eaten food was still on the table, but the only building that was left unharmed was the church where the pastor tried to get the townspeople to get the community to move.

The mining company wanted to reopen the copper mine, but no individual dared to mock the same fate that happened, so the town never resurrected, and thus the buildings crumbled to the ground and all that is left is cellar holes and foundations of the once thriving town in Franconia.

References for this story came from Thomas D’Agostino’s brilliantly done, “Haunted New Hampshire.” Great read and highly recommended.

Until next time Graveyard Disciples this has been another Scared Sheetless. Happy Haunting!

Got a story or just want to check out more spine tingling fun? Search up Scared Sheetless on your Facebook and join the group of many other Graveyard Disciples and comment on this story!

Waterville Valley Horror by James Paradie - Waterville Valley, NH

Waterville Valley Horror
Waterville Valley, NH
Written by James Paradie

Published in the White Mountain Shopper on June 18th, 2010

Waterville Valley is a small town of only an estimated 257 people(according to a census conducted in 2000), with only thirty-seven students enrolled in the 2006-2007 school year(Kindergarten through the 8th grade)at the Waterville Valley Elementary(a.k.a. “Little Red School”)and has hosted a few famous citizens such as former Republican United States Senator, John E. Sununu(who still has a residence)and co authors of the hit children’s book Curious George, H.A. Rey and Margret Rey also used to write several of the famous little chimp‘s adventures in a cottage now dubbed “The Curious George Cottage“. But, the story I’m about to tell you has nothing to do with politicians or a mischievous chimp. However, it does have to do with a creature that has been reported to lurk around the darkest corners of the White Mountain National Forest.

Our story begins with a man who takes his wife and daughter annually to a trip to Waterville Valley’s White Mountain National Forest. According to the reports, the only problem the family had was not with the locals, but with the locals bears. But, he was in for a big surprise.

The man reports that when everyone went to sleep, that’s usually his time to build a fire. Fires are meant to be enjoyable, but not when you start to hear noises such as this gentlemen did this one night in 2001. But, the sound wasn’t a bear grunt, an owl, or a deer breaking a branch. It was “sneaky” as the camper put it. As if someone was watching them and that feeling is never welcomed among the masses. He turned his flashlight to the suspected noise.

“What I saw haunts me even now”, the man said in his report to About.com’s Paranormal section.

Something was in the trees as he flashes the light on the face, he was startled by the sight of something. More like a living being. The thing was grey, naked, very muscular, and hunched down. It’s face was wide, if it was to stand it would be five maybe six feet tall. It’s skin was human like, but with more of a leather like feature, and it’s eyes were maybe the freakiest part described in this man’s sight. They were big, but even with the light on them, they were as black as coal. Another feature was his legs, which were muscular, but backwards like a birds. Whether or not the thing was startled by the flashlight is among anyone’s guess as it just looked at the camper. The creature then jumped off the trees and was out of the sight.

The man went in and woke up his wife, daughter and a friend who tagged along. They, of course, thought he was crazy. They fell asleep while he decided it was best to sleep in the van. Can’t really blame him.

The man wasn’t lucky the next year though. He did the same routine as last year by making a fire and just enjoying the great outdoors like anyone can in New Hampshire. He then heard a noise, thinking it was a bear due to a bear problem in the area at the time. He started to make noise hoping it would go away, but the sound just got closer. He shined his light in the direction of the noise and there was the creature again. It was around the tree line. The camper then disregarded his light, letting the lantern shine upon him. He was afraid, but the mind wonders sometimes, and he got the crazy idea to actually go over to the creature. He stepped closer to him, making sure not to make any sudden movements that the creature maybe think is threatening. He got within 20 feet of it, and the creature jumped back and disappeared in the night.

The man has stated that he looks forward to going next year(which in this story sense would have been 2003)to see the creature again. However, there is no update on the man or the creature. I hope for his sake, the creature does exist, because it seems like a creature who means no harm and is just one of those creatures of the night who get curious, like Big Foot(who believe it not has also been spotted in the Granite State).

Calling all ghost freaks, UFOlogists, and all in between: Please jump onto your computer(don’t take that literally now), get onto your Facebook account and search up: “Scared Sheetless”. Join the group that as of right now has 97 members. Stop by and become the 98th and let’s chat about your sightings. Also, search up my good friends at “The NEPI Paranormal Experience” and call us for an investigation!

Until next time this has been another Scared Sheetless. Keep your eyes wide, and your ears up, because you never know when you’re going to have a paranormal experience. See you next time Graveyard Disciples and happy haunting!

Resource:

http://paranormal.about.com/library/blstory_november02_19.htm (Site is no longer available.) 

2022 Updated Version: updated census is basically all that's been changed. This version was the one used as my script for my video on the subject, which you can find here.

   

Waterville Valley is a small town in New Hampshire with a population of only 508 citizens, according to a census conducted in 2020. It has hosted a few famous citizens such as co authors of the hit children’s book Curious George, H.A. Rey and Margret Rey had a vacation home in Waterville Valley,  where they would write several books of the little chimps adventures. This house is now the tourist attraction, The Curious George Cottage. But the story I’m about to tell you has nothing to do with a mischievous chimp. However, it does have to do with a creature that has been reported to lurk around the darkest corners of the White Mountain National Forest.

Our story begins with a man who takes his wife and daughter annually on a trip to Waterville Valley’s White Mountain National Forest. According to the reports, the only problem the family had was not with the locals, but with the bears and they’re not the friendly ones you find at Clark’s Trading Post either. But on one trip, there would be something else. Something terrifying. 

The man reports that when everyone went to sleep, that’s usually his time to build a fire. Fires are meant to be enjoyable, but not when you start to hear the noises he heard on this night in 2001. The sound wasn’t a bear grunt, an owl, or a deer breaking a branch. It was “sneaky” as the camper put it. As if someone or something was watching them. Survival instincts taking over, the man was probably fearing for the well-being of his family and himself. He turned his flashlight to the suspected noise.

“What I saw haunts me even now”, the man said in his report to About.com’s Paranormal section.

Something was in the trees and as he slowly moved the flashlight up to this creature’s face, he was startled by what he saw. The creature was gray, naked, very muscular, and hunched down. Its face was wide, if it was to stand it would be five maybe six feet tall. Its skin like leather and its eyes were maybe the freakiest part described by this man. They were big, but even with the light on them, they were as black as coal. Another feature was his legs, which were muscular, but looked like they could’ve been a bird’s legs. Whether or not the thing was startled by the flashlight is anyone's guess as it just looked at the camper. The creature then jumped off the trees and was out of sight.

The man went in and woke up his wife, daughter and a friend who tagged along. They, of course, thought he was crazy. They fell asleep while he decided it was best to sleep in the van. Can’t really blame him.

This is normally where I would say, and they never went back, but you would be wrong, Graveyard Disciples, because this man and his family did go back. He was not as lucky as he was in 2001. He did the same routine as last year by making a fire and just enjoying the great outdoors like anyone can in New Hampshire. He heard a noise, thinking it was a bear due to a bear problem in the area at the time. He started to make noise hoping it would go away, but the sound just got closer. He shined his light in the direction of the noise and there was the creature again. It was around the tree line. He was afraid, but the mind wandered sometimes, and the saying curiosity killed the cat comes to my mind in this next part of the story. He got the crazy idea to actually go over to the creature. He stepped closer to him, making sure not to make any sudden movements that the creature may think is threatening. He got within 20 feet of it, and the creature jumped back and disappeared in the night.

The man has stated that he looked forward to going back the next year, which would be 2003 to see the creature again. However, it has been almost 20 years and I could not find an update. Let’s hope for his sake, his following trips went without another visit from the creature of Waterville Valley.