The Hit The Lights Podcast

Unraveling the Mysteries of The Bridgewater Triangle: Astonishing Sightings, Haunting Legends, and its Haunted History

September 13, 2023 Top5s
The Hit The Lights Podcast
Unraveling the Mysteries of The Bridgewater Triangle: Astonishing Sightings, Haunting Legends, and its Haunted History
Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Are you brave enough to step into the realm of the unknown? As we unravel the unexplained phenomena of the Bridgewater Triangle, be prepared to confront eerie legends, chilling sightings, and chilling historical tales. Southeastern Massachusetts' infamous paranormal hotbed has long been a source of intrigue and fear, from ghostly apparitions, UFO sightings, to unsettling disappearances and deaths. We scratch beneath the surface, exploring the region's history, the profound impact of King Philip's War, and the Native American tribes that originally called this place home. Staggering legends such as the Devil's Footprint and the puzzling Dighten Rock are sure to leave you astounded!

Prepare to venture further into the spectral abyss of the supernatural. We probe into the chilling Profile Rock, the haunted Chair, the Village Cemetery in Rohobeth and the Hocko Mott Swamp Monster. As we dissect the spine-chilling sightings and eerie lights, we wrestle with the question - could all these occurrences be due to a vortex of energy? Or does the answer lie within the region's dark past? We invite you to join us in this thrilling exploration and discussion, as we attempt to unearth the truth behind the enigmatic Bridgewater Triangle. Brace yourself for a journey into unchartered territories of the paranormal!

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Thanks for listening and stay spooky!

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In this video, we'll be looking at some of the strange things that happen in the Bridgewater Triangle. Located in southeastern Massachusetts, the Triangle is a 200 square mile area that encompasses the towns of Abington, taunton, rohoboth and Freetown, and for many years the region has been plagued by malevolent forces and paranormal activity, which some say stems from curses that Native Americans placed on the area when the Europeans arrived and ravaged their communities. Reported anomalies include ghostly apparitions, ufos, poltergeists and known creatures, as well as many unexplained disappearances and deaths. The area also has a range of historic monuments that hold their own mystery. Let's take a deep dive into the Bridgewater Triangle, take those lights, sit back and enjoy History.

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The Triangle first got its name in the 1970s, when researcher Lauren Coleman carried out paranormal investigations in the area. Following his extensive research and studies, he mapped out a triangle where the strange phenomena seemed to be intensely active. To fully understand the area first, we will need to look at its history and how the Native American tribes that originally inhabited the area, who, to this day, still influenced some of the beliefs and legends surrounding the Triangle. Long before European settlers arrived, the region was home to several Native American tribes, including the Wampanawg, the Massachusetts and Narraganset. By far the most powerful of these was the Wampanawg, and it was them who believed in the existence of the Mishipeshu, a giant, shape-shifting serpent who controlled lightning and thunderstorms and who emerged from the earth to protect the people from danger. However, the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century brought about the King Philip's War that took place between 1675 and 1676, a brutal conflict that resulted in the near extinction of the Native tribes and a battle that left a lasting impact on the land and its people. In the centuries that followed, the area was developed and became a site of industry and development, and was known for its agricultural and manufacturing output.

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However, it developed a dark side, and in the 1970s, a series of brutal murders took place in the Free Town State Forest within the Bridgewater Triangle. These crimes have never been solved and were the start of several unexplained happenings that have contributed to the area's reputation for violence and mystery, and reports of UFO sightings, ghostly phenomenon and other paranormal incidents started to emerge the Curse of King Philip. King Philip was the leader of the Wanpanamog tribe and was killed on August 12th 1676 by traitor John Alderton, who was a Native American who converted to Christianity and turned on his own people. King Philip's body was drawn and quartered and his head placed on a spike outside Port Plymouth, where it stayed for the next 20 years, serving as a warning to other Native American tribes. It is claimed that on his deathbed, king Philip was a curse on the Bridgewater Triangle, vowing that the land would be forever barren and unproductive. After King Philip's death and the brutal battle that ensued, his surviving people were rounded up and sold into slavery. The war ruined the local economy, destroyed towns and created mass bale grounds. This, coupled with the curse, is said to be responsible for a variety of misfortune over the centuries, from crop failures, natural disasters and paranormal activity.

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The Devil's Footprint the Devil's Footprint is a curious and enduring legend associated with the Triangle. The Footprint is a mysterious indentation in a rock near the town of Norton. It is around 16 inches long and 8 inches wide and is located close to his cemetery. The print is said to belong to the Devil after he made a deal with a local Native American tribe. He promised the tribe he would help them win the war against the Europeans in exchange for their souls. There have been several investigations into the origins of the Devil's Footprint, but none have been able to explain how it got there or who left it, and despite its inaccessible location, many paranormal enthusiasts and other curious visitors attempt to locate the footprint it remains a popular destination for those trying to get to the bottom of whose foot it is.

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The Dighten Rock. Another strange anomaly in the Bridgewater Triangle is the Dighten Rock, a 40-ton boulder located in the Taunton River in southeastern Massachusetts. The strange rock is covered in odd markings that no one has been able to decipher. These markings are a mix of geometric shapes, lines and human-like figures. Some believe the markings were made by the Native Americans or even ancient civilizations like the Phoenicians or Vikings, while others believe they are extraterrestrial in origin. The earliest recorded mention of the rock comes from 1680, when Puritan minister John Danforth visited the stone and speculated it was created by the Devil. Despite many studies and attempts to decipher the markings by experts in linguistics and archaeology, secrets and intrigue surround the boulder and just add another layer of mystery to the Bridgewater Triangle.

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Route 44, rojoba. The legend of the red-headed hitchhiker is a well-known tale around the Bridgewater Triangle. The ghostly figure is said to haunt Route 44, a major road that runs through the region. The apparition manifests as a hitchhiker with fiery red hair, dressed in jeans and a foul shirt. Those who have stopped to give him a lift say after some sort of interaction, the empty eyed man launches into a loud and terrifying yelling or laughing fit before disappearing without a trace from their cars. Over the years there have been numerous sightings of the hitchhiker and some believe he is the ghost of a young man who died in a car crash at Route 44. Most others suggest he is a vengeful spirit seeking retribution for past wrongs.

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Ufo sightings in the Triangle. Over the years, numerous UFO sightings have been reported within the Bridgewater Triangle. The earliest reported sighting happened on the night of May 10th 1908, when a group of residents witnessed a bright, glowing object in the sky. It was roughly 300 feet long and moved silently across the sky before disappearing over the horizon. It would be 60 years before another credible sighting was reported after two Mainz Field police officers reported seeing a large triangular shaped object hovering over the town. It was estimated to be 200 feet in diameter and the officers claimed they felt static electricity as it passed over them. Other witnesses reported the same craft and feeling. On the same night In 1979, two radio journalists claimed to have seen a large glowing orb hovering over the Hockamock Swamp. Other residents also witnessed the anomaly, but no explanation was ever found. In August 1994, the residents of Freetown witnessed a large triangular shaped craft in the sky. It emitted a bright light and was the size of a football pitch. It left the residents with a feeling of unease and a sense of dread. The most recent event was in 2008, when a Bridgewater resident spotted a bright, pulsating object in the sky. It was emitting a loud humming noise and was around the size of a basketball. On the same day, several other residents reported the incident.

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Despite numerous investigations and attempts to debunk the UFO sightings, the many sightings remain unsolved. Whether these encounters are evidence of extraterrestrial visitors or simply misinterpretations of natural phenomena like planes or drones is unknown. But one thing is certain the Bridgewater Triangle continues to captivate the imagination of paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics alike. The Mysterious Profile Rock. Profile Rock, also known as the Old man of Joshua Mountain, is said to resemble the face of a Native American man. According to local legends, the face is the spirit of Massasoit, a Wampanoag chief who played a crucial role in the early days of the Plymouth colony. Some believe that the spirit of Massasoit watches over the land, protecting it from harm Visitors to Freetown Fall River State Forest, where Profile Rock is located, have long reported strange occurrences, such as eerie lights, ghostly apparitions and even Bigfoot sightings, and many believe these supernatural events are connected to the mysterious face on the rock. The area surrounding the rock was once a sacred meeting place for tribal leaders and it's believed that important ceremonies and rituals took place there. Today, this site continues to be a place of reverence and respect for the Wampanoag people. Whatever the truth is about the rock, geologists have their own theory and believe it was formed through a process called spheroidal weathering, which occurs when water seeps into the cracks of the rock and causes it to erode over time. This natural process has sculpted the rock into its unique face-like appearance, making it a one-of-a-kind geological wonder.

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Anawan Rock. Anawan Rock in Rojoba is named after Chief Anawan, a leader of the Wampanoag tribe during King Philip's War. The rock marks the site where Chief Anawanan surrendered to the English colonists, ending the war. But the spirits of the past seemed to linger, as visitors have reported strange occurrences and ghostly sightings in the area, believed to be the spirits of Native American warriors. Some have even claimed to witness re-enactments of the final battle between the Wampanoag tribe and the English colonists, complete with the sounds of war cries and musket fire. Unexplained lights have also been seen around Anawan Rock, with some speculating that they could be the spirits of the tribe or even extraterrestrial in origin. These lights often appear as orbs or streaks moving erratically before disappearing without a trace. Paranormal investigators have captured EVPs at the rock, with some recordings featuring what sounds like Native Americans chanting or drumming. These eerie sounds seem to emanate from the rock itself, adding to the location's eeriness.

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The Haunted Chair Located in the Mayflower Cemetery in Taunton is a curious monument an empty chair. The grave belongs to Pearl E French, who tragically died at just three years old. Pearl's grave marker reads her vacant chair. Legend says Pearl died after falling over backwards in a chair, whilst others claim she died in a fire while sitting in a chair. However, the truth, according to historical records, is somewhat different. Pearl actually died of meningitis on March 26th 1882. Despite this, it is claimed that the chair is haunted and in the dead of night it has been seen rocking with a light emanating from it. Others report feeling very uneasy around the grave. The sculpture seems to evoke so much emotion that people place teddy bears and flowers at the grave of the child they never knew.

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Village Cemetery in Rohoberth. This historic cemetery located in Rohoberth was built in the 18th century and is the final resting place for many of the town's early settlers. The graveyard has several unusual gravestones with large, elaborately carved headstones. However, one of the most famous is a simpler affair. A simple stone marker marks the grave of Mary Dyer, a Quaker martyr who was hanged in Boston for her religious beliefs in 1660. Beneath the cemetery are several underground tombs used to keep deceased family members together. With so much history attached to the cemetery, it's no surprise that it's haunted, and many visitors to the graveyard have experienced sightings of ghostly apparitions. Perhaps the most famous of these is that of the Rohoboth Antiquarian, a mysterious figure who roams the cemetery at night and leaves strange markings on some of the headstones.

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The Hocko Mott Swamp Monster and Bigfoot, the legendary monster, is said to inhibit the Hocko Mott Swamp. The creature is described as a bipedal humanoid standing between 7 and 10 feet tall, with a foul smell and glowing red eyes. It is a fearsome creature who preys on unsuspecting visitors. The unknown species has been likened to Bigfoot, and here are just a few of the reported incidents involving the unknown beast.

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In 1988, two boys followed a pair of giant three-toed footprints into the swamp and, to their horror, were confronted by a massive bird-like creature that neither of them recognized. The giant bird was as scared of them as they were of it, and it took off, flapping its huge wings. As it went, the boys ran for their lives and recounted their story to the police and their family, who concluded that they had seen a great blue heron. The children swore the creature they saw was too big to be a heron and had a human-like face. However, some believed the children, as they remembered a similar incident in 1971, when a well-respected Norton police sergeant named Thomas Downey was driving home when he came across a giant creature standing at the edge of Hockamock Swamp. According to Thomas, it resembled a bird but stood over six feet tall. When it spotted him it flew away and had a wingspan of about eight to twelve feet in length. When other officers arrived at the scene, a few large three-toed footprints were spotted, similar to the ones the boys followed. Oddly enough, the sighting was at a place called Bird Hill, where the indigenous people frequently spoke of a legendary thunderbird. Their ancestors claimed the great bird lived in the swamp and to this day apparently still does. Just a year before the thunderbird sighting, another crypt had made its presence felt. This time it was likened to Bigfoot.

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Residents reported seeing a hairy seven-foot monster running through their yards, sometimes on all four legs. Local and state police conducted a lengthy manhunt for what they believed was a giant bear, but the creature wasn't ever spotted or captured. Then, on April 8th 1970, two police officers were parked in a cruiser near the swamp when suddenly the rear end of their car lifted into the air and then dropped with a loud bang. The officers quickly spun the car around and shined their spotlights on something hairy resembling a bear running off on two legs. A thorough search was ordered, but no bear or any other creature was ever found. Another incident involved a hunter who shot a large animal in the woods. The creature didn't die and was shocked when it ran and gave a half-human, half-animal cry. Later the hunter found brown hair and blood on some leaves along the path the creature fled down.

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Over the years there have been several reports of a bipedal creature entering residents' backyards and gardens. The creature has never been identified and it and its offspring are said to still roam the swamps and forests around the Bridgewater Triangle, the Pugwaji. The Pugwaji is another creature from American law that is said to inhibit Freetown State Forest. It is described as a small, gray skinned humanoid with big ears that can be both helpful and spiteful, depending on its mood. In Wampanoag legend, the Pugwaji is thought to be a guardian of the forest. Many people have claimed to have had encounters with the creature while hiking or camping, and its footprints have been seen on numerous occasions. For some, the Pugwaji is a symbol of the enduring mystery surrounding the Triangle Mysterious Disappearances in the Triangle.

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The Bridgewater Triangle is also notorious for its high number of unexplained disappearances. Sometimes a body is late to recover, but mostly no remains are found and no clues as to where the person is are discovered. It's as if they have just vanished off the face of the Earth. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and search and rescue teams, many of the missing persons' cases in the Bridgewater Triangle remain unsolved. Some people believe that these disappearances are the result of supernatural forces, while others think that there may be a more rational explanation. David Pleiders, author of the missing 411 books, has looked at some of the cases as he believes they are linked to other people who have gone missing. According to Pleiders, there are many cases of people who have vanished in national parks and forests that are not properly investigated by authorities. He believes that there is a pattern to these disappearances and that there may be something more sinister at play.

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We'll take a look at just a couple of the many unsolved disappearances in the Bridgewater Triangle. We'll start with Herbert Whitten, who, whilst out walking his dog in 1974, completely vanished off the face of the Earth. His dog was found, but 66-year-old Herbert was never seen again. Four years later, in 1978, 12-year-old Andrew Almato went for a bike ride in the Bridgewater Triangle but never returned. The bike was found abandoned, but no trace was ever found of Andrew. Then there was a baffling case from 1997, when a small plane crashed in the Hockenmark Swamp. The plane was mainly intact, but there was no sign of the pilot and, despite extensive searches, he was never found. To this very day, it is not known if he survived the crash or something else happened to him. Lastly is the baffling case of Melissa Keary, who disappeared in 2008 while hiking in the Hockenmark Swamp area. Despite an extensive search, melissa was never found.

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Some people believe that these disappearances are the result of natural causes, such as animal attacks or getting lost in the wilderness. However, david Pleiders believes that there may be something more sinister at play, such as abductions or even supernatural forces. This has just been a sample of the many strange things that go on in and around the Bridgewater Triangle. There are several theories as to why the area is a hub for strange happenings. Some believe that the area is a vortex of supernatural energy, while others attribute the occurrences to the region's dark history, including the displacement of Native American tribes. What do you think is going on there, and would you step foot in the Bridgewater Triangle? Thanks for watching and, as always, we'll see you in the next video.

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Unsolved Mysteries
The Bridgewater Triangle