The Haunted Tunnel of Western Massachusetts

The Hoosac Tunnel in Massachusetts is a legendary railroad tunnel that connects the towns of Florida and North Adams in Massachusetts. The tunnel is more than 25,000 feet long and cost $14,000,000 to build between 1851 and 1875.

The name for the tunnel is from the Mohawk language for "place of rocks," though, over time, legend has replaced fact and suggested that it means "forbidden place."

While the structure helps provide a vital link between two towns, some people think it has a vital link during to the supernatural. The structure took more than 25 years to build (for those who've long lived in the Bay State, think in terms of the Big Dig). It took a lot of work to build the tunnel.

And, unfortunately, it took a lot of lives. More than 190 people died during the construction of the tunnel. Since it opened, 30 people have lost their lives, including 13 miners whose lives were taken in a mining accident. Some workers on the project were suspicious of some deaths that took place inside the tunnel, and some workers claimed the tunnel was cursed.

Inside the tunnel, people have heard strange noises and seen floating apparitions. Muffled voices have been recorded on audio tape. The image of the grim reaper appears at one point in the tunnel. A ghostly apparition of an older gentlemen in work clothes has often been spotted.

This is a spot that should not be trifled with. Not only is it the site of hauntings, it is also an active railroad, complete with many freight trains passing through each day.





Want to learn more.

Check out these sites:

Ghost and Gravestones
Link: https://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/boston/haunted-places-in-massachusetts

Hoosac Tunnel
LinK: https://hoosactunnel.net/

Flying Saucers over Massachusetts

The year may be new with February beginning just a week ago, but reports of UFOs have already been logged in Massachusetts.

So far according to the National UFO reporting center, unusual lights have been seen in the following locations in January:

• Wilmington

• Millis

• Lowell


The Wilmington one might be the most interesting one. According to reports, a circle shaped metallic object was seen for about ten seconds before disappearing. It marks quite a start to the year. It will be interesting to see what happens as the year unfolds.

Three Quirky Massachusetts Facts

Where is in the world is it possible to drive on a bridge as a boat passes under while a train passes over, while a plane flies over - none other than the BU bridge where all four can - and sometimes do - happen.


The Ted Williams Tunnel is actually the deepest tunnel in North America. It goes into the ground to about 90 feet below.


About 15 percent of Bostonians walk to work. That is tops among all of the big cities.

Massachusetts First Bigfoot - Captured

Massachusetts first alleged encounter with Bigfoot happened in July 1765.

In an area of a now more developed part of Great Barrington, MA, some settlers were exploring a swampy region. At the time, the region was known for being a rather dark, dank area. Unusual cloud formations and mists would form, adding an eerie ambiance to the area. In fact, rumors persisted that the region was best to be avoided. 

At the time, the people exploring the region stumbled upon the most curious sight they had ever seen - a large creature, unlike one that had ever known - roaming the woods. The group pursued the creature and tracked it to where it was sleeping. Then, they caught it as it was dozing on the misty ground. 

Yes, that's right. They caught it. But, why have you never heard this story before. It's because the story is lost to history and few accounts of it persist.

But here is what we do know. The creature was described as “ an uncommon animal lately found at Great Barrington. This animal resembles the human species yet is monstrous in its nature and actions.”

The creature was captured and brought to Cambridge, MA to be studied....only to be released somehow and escape into the wild. This fact along brought skepticism from those who did not see it. Yet, for those who were believers, the creature was the first encounter with the Bigfoot of the Berkshires. And it is definitely not the last.

Want to read more. Check these out. Good stories:

https://newengland.com/today/travel/massachusetts/berkshires/bigfoot-sighting-berkshires/

https://theberkshireedge.com/real-story-great-barrington-bigfoot/

Mass Mysteries Website

Thanks to everyone who has visited - and continues to visit - this blog. In keeping with the times, we have decided to migrate over to a website, which we hope to keep up to date more regularly.

Sure, this spot will still exist as an archive, but all of the information on this site - and more now - are part of the Massachusetts Mysteries website.

Come check us out at THIS LINK

The Massachusetts Yeti

The blizzard of 2015 - aka snowstorm Juno - brought a ton of snow, some wind, and a lot of drifts to the Boston area.

However, it brought something a little different.

The Boston Yeti.

Now, if you have not seen it, this is not your typical monster. And no, the cousin of Bigfoot was not roaming the streets of Boston. However, there was a very incredible hoax - well really not a hoax because it was done as a joke - performed in the city on purpose

A guy bundled up to defeat the cold and wind in his very best abominable snowman suit. He seemed to roam many streets and the premise was to make people stop, take notice, and smile.

It did.

If you haven't seen the pics of this rogue creature who got the laughs and smiles he was looking for amidst a blizzard, check out the links below.

Fox TV link
Boston Globe Link

The Sacred Cod of Massachusetts

January 11 1798....

It is the day that a fish was literally paraded through the city of Boston and brought to a new resting place in the current State House under the golden dome of Beacon Hill where it sits to this day in the House of Representatives.

The Sacred Cod is one of those symbols of Massachusetts that has a little bit of mystery to it. It is a nearly five foot pine symbol of the old Bay colony. The cod is a symbol that seems to have existed since the early 1700s. It was chosen as a bastion of pride for the Bay State because of the economic importance of the fish. After all, cod is what lured some of the first explorers, such as John Cabot, to visit and explore the region at the end of the 15th century. It is the reason why Cape Cod is so named.

As Massachusetts became to evolve as a colony and develop its economic industry, cod-fishing became a vital economic institution in Massachusetts. According to records, in the 1640s, when the colony was still in its infancy, cod fishers were able to sell 300,000 cod. The demand for cod grew, as did Massachusetts wealth and prominence.

As Massachusetts became a powerful colony and established its seat of government, the cod became a symbol sometime at the turn of the 18th century. That is when the Sacred Cod began being hung as a symbol. Three iterations of the Sacred Cod have existed. The first was destroyed in a fire in 1747. The second disappeared mysteriously in the early to mid 1770s when the British occupied Boston following the Boston Tea Party. It was never found. After the war, the Massachusetts legislature promised to renew the symbol and built the one that currently stands out of pine. John Rowe proposed the construction of a new one in 1784 and the rest is history.

This particular cod still exists, but is not without mystery as well. In 1933, as a possible college prank, it was cod-napped. Because of popular outcry, it was later returned by two people who slowly handed it over in a car, then left. Exactly who they were still remains a mystery.

So today is the day to honor the Sacred Cod - part of the state's legacy...not without its own bit of mystery.

Want to learn more? Check out these sites:

Mass Moments
Celebrate Boston
MSP Site