Halloween Countdown, Day 21

[eldritchhobbit]

Did you grow up with any local/regional legends, spooky stories, mysteries, or the like?



Aside from the reported local "haunted houses," I recall vividly tales of the Boggy Creek Monster (a.k.a. the "Fouke Monster" or "Southern Sasquatch"). The phenomenon centers primarily around the Boggy Creek area on the border between Arkansas and Texas, but it still made its way up to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I was raised -- the story, that is, not the creature -- especially via the 1972 docudrama The Legend of Boggy Creek (which turned out to have a profound effect on the style of 1999's The Blair Witch Project, interestingly enough).

Some in the region wholly embrace this variation on the Bigfoot theme, as you can see.



I'm not yaying or naying the actual existence of the creature, as I haven't made a systematic study of the reports, sightings, and evidence. (I understand that annual regional conferences on the subject of the "monster" today draw reputable scientists from various universities and institutions as well as lay enthusiasts and local celebrants.) I'm simply saying that it seems very much in the Halloween spirit to appreciate any community that embraces its "darker side."



How about you? Do you have any local/regional stories to share?


Note: No cattle were mutilated in the making of this post.

Comments

[homespunheart.livejournal.com]

Remember he always follows the creeks!!! :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

*looks left, looks right, blinks in suspicion at the woods* Eeek! :D

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I grew up partly in a place called Bunyip, in Australia - which was named after this beastie! Never saw one, but my sister and I were dressed up as a two-headed version for a Bunyip festival in the very early 1970s! I don't remember every being scared of bunyips though - maybe because mum talked them up as shy, gentle creatures! *g*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is brilliant! I hadn't read about bunyips before. Thank you so much for the links! I love the fact that your town was named after them. That's so clever.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I hadn't read about bunyips before
Not even in the Temeraire books, by Naomi Novik...?

Hmmn, I wonder if I should warn you about dropbears...? *vbg*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Alas, I've only read about the books, I haven't read them myself. They're on my hopelessly long "to read" list, though!

Hmmn, I wonder if I should warn you about dropbears...? *vbg*

Eeek! :D

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

In the Florida Panhandle, where I grew up, there's the legend of Swamp Man, who I gather is a bit like a sasquatch, but who largely looms over Girl Scouts who are outside of their tents at night and snatches them. The only thing that gives Swamp Man away is his wet, rotting compost heap stink.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Re: "his wet, rotting compost heap stink" = yikes!

This is great stuff. Poor Girl Scouts. I'd stay in my tent if I were them! *g*

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

The Jersey Devil.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, but of course! The bogeyman of all bogeymen. Great stuff! :) Thanks for this.

[sittingduck1313.livejournal.com]

The reality of Yeti may have been proven, and the truth of it is actually pretty awesome.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10384000/Yeti-lives-Abominable-Snowman-is-part-polar-bear-and-still-roams-the-Himalayas.html

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

*slaps forehead* I meant to comment on that in your LJ. This is amazing news -- and, you're right, pretty awesome, too.

[abbie culbertson (from livejournal.com)]

It's strange that you've heard about such a legend and I, a native Texan, have not! Thanks for drawing my attention to it... I will have to look out for the Fouke Monster next time I drive through Arkansas!

The legend that comes to mind is tied to the Pearl Jam song "Jeremy." For those who aren't aware, the incident that sparked the idea for that song took place at my alma mater, Richardson High School, in 1991. It was truly a terrible and traumatic event. Supposedly RHS's auditorium is haunted by a ghost, and some speculate it's the ghost of Delle. During my years there, the school newspaper staff did a great article looking back at the tragedy and investigating the reported ghost. I thought that edition was so well done that I still have a copy of it. Unfortunately, they found no ghost. :)

"Note: No cattle were mutilated in the making of this post."
Lol!

"Current Music:"Monster," Skillet"
Oh man... Skillet was one of my favorite bands when I was in jr. high and only listened to Christian music.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

The legend that comes to mind is tied to the Pearl Jam song "Jeremy."... I thought that edition was so well done that I still have a copy of it. Unfortunately, they found no ghost. :)

Oh wow, I didn't realize that was your high school. That's incredibly sad. I just can't imagine... I'm really impressed by your school newspaper staff for taking that on and doing such a great job with it.

LOL re: Skillet! My sister's a big fan, so I've sort of absorbed some of their music. ;)

[abbie culbertson (from livejournal.com)]

I saw Skillet's lead singer at SATCO the other day...

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Ha! All roads lead to SATCO... :)

[shakesmears.livejournal.com]

Our local legend is the Black Shuck:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Shuck

He is also supposed to be the inspiration for The Hound of the Baskervilles. Conan Doyle was staying on the Norfolk Coast when he wrote it.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I think your local legend wins the prize. It really doesn't get better than that.

*bows to you and the Black Shuck*

[shakesmears.livejournal.com]

I've been to Blythburgh church and seen the scorch marks on the door. It's quite creepy!

Here's a piece about the Conan Doyle link:

http://www.ournorfolk.org.uk/the-arts/haunted-norfolk-black-shuck/

And I had two students a few years back who were absolutely certain that they had an encounter with Black Shuck on the Suffolk Coast. One of them wrote his screenplay about it.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Thank you so much for this. I love the Conan Doyle connection -- and the connection to your students!

[curtana.livejournal.com]

Near my grandparents' house is the statue of the Dungarvon Whooper, a spooky story I heard often growing up (my grandfather had worked in the lumber camps when he was young).

Closer to where I grew up is the story of the Coleman Frog - less creepy, more silly :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that Dungarvon Whooper story is genuinely spooky and sad. I bet it took on an added dimension considering your grandfather's time in the lumber camps and the nearby statue, too. ::shivers::

The Coleman Frog story is wild! It was larger than Virginia, the Boston terrier (and 20 lbs. heavier, apparently)! That's some frog! Where are Mulder and Scully when you need them?

Great stuff. Thank you for the fascinating links.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Not that I can immediately remember, but you might like this link anyway :-)
http://boingboing.net/2013/10/21/cthulhu-visits-a-waterstones.html

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is soooo clever - thank you! *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I think through much of the southwest and Mexico, it's La Llorona. I remember the first time I was told about her, a bunch of us were out at night near one of the large canals that run through Phoenix.

La Llorona

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

That is a tragic tale! ::shudders:: Thanks so much for the link.

I remember the first time I was told about her, a bunch of us were out at night near one of the large canals that run through Phoenix.

Oooh, a spooky atmosphere for a spooky story! Very appropriate indeed.