Road Trip Into The Unknown:High Strangeness In The High Hills Of Vermont.

I challenge you to ask a friend, family member or perhaps some random stranger on the street if they are familiar with an area of the world that is well known for strange sightings and bizzare disappearances. Chances are, thanks to the media over saturation over the years, these folks will probably immediately blurt out the Bermuda Triangle. While it is true that the area of the Atlantic Ocean that has long been known to swallow up boats, snatch planes from the sky and has a rather impressive body count there is another area of the world located right here in the good old US of A and on dry land. The place I speak of is located in the scenic Green Mountains of Vermont and is Known by the locals of Bennington as the Bennington Circle.

Long before colonial times when the Native Tribes still roamed the lands, the Green Mountains and the surrounding lands were shunned and greatly feared by the local tribes. They were known as a home for evil spirits and the local tribes have long traditions of seeing strange lights on and around the mountains and terrible beasts that were known to hunt down warriors for food. However despite these rather ominous fears there was one thing about the hills and mountains the locals feared above all else, it was believed the mountain was a doorway to another world where man would slip in to and never return. When the white man arrived they of course ignored their native neighbors and built towns and villages in and around the Green Mountains they soon learned how right the local tribes were. And it would appear that these legends of people vanishing without a trace have followed the citizens of Bennington, Vermont well into the 20th century.

The first modern recording of a person mysteriously vanishing in the mountains concerns, Middie Rivers. Although, Rivers was 74 years old he was known as the best fishing and hunting guide in the state of Vermont and enjoyed a great deal of success being hired out by city folk who wanted a taste of adventure in the forests of Vermont. On November 12, 1945 Rivers, led four hunters into the mountains to hunt for buck. On the morning of the last day they packed up their gear and began to head down what has come to be known as the “Long Trail”, the four hunters would later tell investigators they watched as the grizzled old guide walked about fifteen paces infront of them and then suddenly he was gone. They could not believe their eyes it was as if he just walked into the light morning fog and vanished into thin air. The four hunters searched the immediate area for three hours fearing the old man may have fallen into a hole or fallen over the a bluff on the side of the road. Nothing, no trace mystified they knew they needed help as soon as possible.

When the hunters reached Bennington they contacted the local authorities who quickly went about the business of searching for the popular guide. The Sheriff knew Middie Rivers well and knew the old man could survive in any conditions nature threw his way but after several man hours of searching no trace, living or otherwise, was ever found of Middie Rivers, it was if the old man walked off the face of the planet.

December 1, 1946 Paula Welden, pretty young sophmore from Bennington College threw on her favorite red parka and bid her roommate farewell telling her she was going for a short afternoon hike through the hills. Little did her roommate know she would never see Paula again. Several people claimed to have seen the pretty young co-ed as she made her way from her dormitory and down the Long Trail. A gas station attendent was the first to see her then a security Guard on his way home from work but the last people to see Paula alive was an elderly couple who passed her as she walked along the trail. They later told investigators she seemed happy and appeared to not have a care in the world.

When Paula didn’t return that night her roommate contacted the dean who in turn contacted the local police. The Sheriff, who knew the reputation of the area of the woods where Paula was said to have gone immediately went about the business of gathering his men together and some local volunteers and they searched the woods. And Just like Middie Rivers a year before, young gregarious Paula Welden was swallowed up by whatever strange force lurked in the northern Vermont forest.

The forest didn’t just prey on the casual stroller either. In 1949, James Tetford an elderly world war one vet was traveling back to Bennington on a bus after visiting with relatives in St. Albans. When the bus stopped infront of his home Mr. Tetford never got off somewhere between St. Albans and his final destination as the bus traveled through the the Green Mountains James Tetford vanished. When witnesses were later questioned by investigators they said they remember the elderly gentleman getting on the bus and some claimed to have even spoken to him about his grandchildren but they don’t ever recall him getting off at anytime. James Tetford, Veteran of the great war was literally no more.

The strange force that snatches folks away in the Green Mountains would appear to be no respector of age. In October 1950, 8 year old Paul Jepson accompanied his mother to the local dump to round up the hogs The young lad loved seeing the pigs and jumped at going to the dump every chance he got. Mrs. Jepson, would later tell authorities that she turned her back from the young boy who sat in the car for only a moment and when she looked back he was gone. The police and the family searched for the boy and where told they should have no trouble spotting him because he was wearing his favorite bright red coat. Unfortunately little Paul Jepson slid from our world never to be seen again.

Over the years there have been numerous theories as to what or who could snatching these people away. It was widely believed that a homicidal madman operating in the area and chose the woods as his huntings grounds and the above mentioned people and a few more were his unlucky victims. However their really is no evidence to back this theory up, no trace no even so much as a scrap or clothing was found in a fifty mile radius of these people vanishing and how could a lunatic snatch a victim from a moving bus? Other theories include these people being abducted by aliens and never returned, that is plausible. Or perhaps the Native peoples of the area have it right perhaps there is a doorway that swings into another world and closes shut behind the poor unsuspecting dupe. I have always been very biased towards Native American Legend and Lore maybe they were right.

Rick E. Hale

t_seeker@hotmail.com