The Pirates of Lynn Woods

For those of you who have never heard of it, the Lynn Woods has long been synonymous with mysteries. While any large, wooded area might account for such detail, this particular stretch of woods is wrought with many mysteries.

One of the most interesting stories of this legendary area is about pirates who may - or may not have - frequented the shores. In colonial days, because the land was well mapped and dotted with coves and crags in the coastline, it was common for pirates to visit the region (New England would eventually pass harsh laws that sent most of them packing).

Well, according to many sources, in 1658, one such pirate ship appeared on the horizon off the coast of Lynn. The ship was probably worried because British naval ships were in the area, or in fact, it may have been chased by them. So, four men lowered a rowboat with treasure in town, and rowed to shore.

They found a small river in present day Saugus and rowed up the river. According to legend, the pirates docked close to the site of the Saugus Iron Works and looked for a person with supplies. They left a "no questions asked" note, seeking a person to drop supplies off in a secluded region with the promise for silver.

One resident agreed - and most legends say he was paid - and the pirates made a camp at a spot that is known to this day as Pirates Glen. They buried the treasure temporarily - as many pirates did in those days - with plans to come back and properly hide it. The foursome most likely went in separate directions to meet at the boat. However, three of the pirates were capture by British soldiers who were in hot pursuit.

However, tale tells of a fourth pirate named Thomas Veal. who eluded the noose and escaped. He eventually was forced to live in Lynn, where local residents accepted him, and he became a cobbler of sorts. It is believed that Tom made his home near a cave in the Lynn Woods and reburied his treasure there. Undoubtedly, this is the type of story that has been retold and embellished over the years.

In time, an earthquake rocked the region. More than likely this occurred in 1663, when local histories of Plymouth, Lynn, and Salem speak of an earthquake that hit the region and toppled chimneys. The cave, the treasure, and perhaps Thomas Veal himself were trapped in the cave, because he and his treasure were never heard of again.

Multiple attempts have been made to find that treasure in the past at the site known as Dungeon Rock. In the mid 1800s, a man named Hiram Marble invested much time and energy into the site. According to Marble, in an era of spirtualism, the ghost of Veal himself told Marble where to look. However, Veal may have been mistaken or Marble confused....because the treasure was never found. In time, the site became the property of Lynn...which is what Marble wished.

To learn more visit these two sites:

Friends of the Lynn Woods: Dungeon Rock
USGS Earthquakes in Masssachusetts

New Year

Happy New Year Mystery goers.

Here comes another wonderful year full of new mysteries. The year ended on a unique note, with a UFO flap and fireballs seen in Massachusetts. Here's hoping there are interesting mysteries awaiting us this year.

Here's wishing all a wonderful and enjoyable new year.

UFO Flap over Natick

Natick, Massachusetts is considered the home of many things. It is called the home of Champions. It is the home of the some of the first major league baseballs. It was the home of one of the first English Christianized Native American communities.

This year, it also seems to be home of a recent UFO flap. In the past sixth months, several witnesses have reported seeing unidentified objects in the air over the area.

A brief report of the encounters are in these two spots.

January incident

July incident

Interesting, considering that Natick is not typically the home of many UFO reports. Having lived in Natick and frequenting it often, I have seen strange things in the sky. Most I have been able to explain, although there was a rather peculiar changing cloud that I saw once when I was young - probably caused by some type of upper air turbulence.

Over the years there have been several reports of unusual lights in the sky. There was one report in the early 1990s of a large light hovering over Route 9 that many people saw. Similar reports happened in the late 1980s (including some blimps that were mistaken as UFOS). And, in 1977, there was a light that followed at least one car through Natick as well.

Is there any reason for this flap? Could be. Natick is home to the famous army lab, so if there were visitors from space checking out a place, Natick would probably be a landmark to explore. The Marlboro airport is not too far a way. So, more than likely, there are natural explanations for strange lights over the Metrowest town.

Still, if you are in Natick this summer, keep your eyes on the skies.

Tis the season for pukwudgie

You step into the woods
You feel a mysterious presence....like a pair of eyes watching you.
You hear faint noises or feel a rush of cool air.
You smell a sweet, almost alluring smell of a flower

What could it be?

Well, it just might be a pukwudgie!

You may be unfamiliar with these creatures, but they are considered to be part of Native American lore that continues to this day in New England. Exactly what these creatures are - no one is certain. However, by most accounts, they are beige or grayish two to three foot tall creatures that inhabit the woods of northeastern United States. They look like tiny humans with longer noses and larger ears. Although enigmatic, they are thought to appear deep in the woods and summer is the best time to encounter them.

According to those who have seen them - and even modern encounters are said to occur - it is best to stray far from them. They have been known to chase people and trap them. Native American legends tell of them fighting against tribe members and kidnapping children. They are reported to be able to transform into other creatures, perform magic, and even conjure fire. They are considered dangerous and have been known to chase after humans and animals. They should be avoided and never stare straight at them in the eye.

And before you relegate these creatures to the realm of fantasy, consider the fact that people have reported encountered these creatures in many of the woods in New England, particularly Massachusetts. The Wampanoag were known to speak of these folk and there have been encounters traced to the Bridgewater Triangle region.

Massachusetts Fountain of Youth

Surely you have heard of Ponce de Leon. He was the Spanish explorer that searched for the legendary fountain of youth in Florida....only to come up fruitless. However, perhaps he should have traveled farther north because, according to local lore, the fountain might have been located in Massachusetts. Harvard, Massachusetts to be precise.

Now, I know what you're thinking; if there is anywhere in America that is squirreling away a fountain of youth, it would be Harvard. Well, it is not the Harvard of University fame, but the Harvard of Shaker town fame. For, in the town of Harvard, Massachusetts, there was a legendary fountain of youth that they attributed as the source of their longevity.


The legend of this fountain begins in 1855. That year, the Shakers were at a crossroads. One of their wells dried up and they were in need of a new source of water. Then, perhaps divinely guided, the Shakers located a new source of water on the western side of a landmark known as Oak Hill.

In need of water, the Shakers built an aqueduct to this new source of water, supplying a much needed quench to their source. But as the next few years past, something mysterious happened. The source of water seemed to have an unusual property. People who drank the water felt healthier and livelier. They average lifespan of people drinking from the well in the 1880s was 70 years old and several people were living into their 90s - a far cry from the typical numbers at the time. According to many sources, there was a 16 percent increase in the lifespan of those drinking from it. The chemical purity of the water was said to surpass that of the most well-known springs (including Poland Springs).

The Shakers believed the water was the source of this longevity. They even began to share the water with others, bottling it and selling it as Shaker Medicinal Spring Water!

Time passed and eventually the Shaker population in the region dwindled. The location of the spring became forgotten.

Yet, the spring can still be founds. However, with time, the advent of Route 2, and the fact that the water now passes through a marshy region, one has to wonder if the water the one filled the famous Shaker Water source may have actually found a new home. Yet, wary visitors can still look for the water source and seek the water. Just be careful. The sight is the home of rocky surfaces, hidden barbed wire, swampy lands, and deer ticks.

Is Massachusetts home of the fountain of youth? The Shaker's believed so. You never know....Massachusetts may indeed hold the secrets to longevity.

And, to check out other people who have visited, see these sites.

Strange New England
Fountain of Youth

Mt Everett's Strange Forest

Mt. Everett, Massachusetts, nestled in the Berkshires, might not seem your typical place to have a Mass Mystery. The picturesque mountain is part of the stunning landscape that comes aglow as summer's sunset turns to autumn's dawn.

At first glance, the mountain might seem quite ordinary. Save a few rattlesnakes that live there (the Massachusetts State Reservation page offers the warning to stay away from them not only for their dangerous bite, but the fact they are protected) and the potential for bear sightings, the mountain might look rather typical. It stands slightly over 2,600 feet, has  trail that goes to the top that is less than a mile, and is has a pond nearby (Guilder Pond) that is a beautiful picnicking area.

Yet, first glances can always be misleading, and the mountain does have a fascinating mystery at its top (again, if you go, be aware there could be snakes). There, amid the cool temperatures (which are probably 6 to 8 degrees cooler then the base) are a nest of scrub pines. But, these are not your typical scrub pine. They are dwarf scrub pine, that stand about three feet tall at most. They a like a giant's bonzai tree park, waiting to be explored.

The scene at the top is a sight to behold. But, what strangeness caused this? No one exactly knows, but harsh conditions on a mountain top, cooler temperatures, and openness to space are all considered the most possibilities. It is difficult to age these trees as well because of their stunted growth.

They are a spectacular find and a testimony to the unique growth that exists in Massachusetts.

Don't have time to safely check it out....then look at the two links below.



Link to state site

Link to scrub pine pictures

Recent Bigfoot sightings In Massachusetts

Unseasonably warm winters. Cool beginning to the summer. All may have conspired to make it the perfect weather for....Bigfoot.

Based on posts on Bigfoot websites, 2012 has been a big year for the Bigfoot. Several people have claimed to have spotted the creature.  You might be surprise. When people think of Bigfoot, they think of the wild woods of the Northwest, the thick forests of the Appalachian. Few people ever think of Massachusetts as a home to the legendary creature.

However, Massachusetts has been the locale of several Bigfoot sightings. The western forests around the Berkshires and the surrounding forests of northern New England have made the region a home to many Sasquatch sightings since the first people settled here long ago.


According to a variety of sites, here are a few places where Bigfeet have been spotted before 2012:


• Plum Island - in 1978, several people heard, then caught a fleeting glimpse of a hairy creature that was walking upright

• Bridgewater - this tiny southeastern  town is home to many farms as well as the mysterious Hockomock swamp. There have been several sightings of a creature in this region since the earliest people inhabited the region.

• Washington, Massachusetts - in 1983, according to the newspaper the Berkshire Eagle, two men having a campfire near Lake Felton, heard strange noises and noticed the silhouette of a creature of a six or seven foot creature. One of the men, familiar with bears, was sure it was not a bear and walked toward it....but the creature took off into the woods.

• Leominster State Forest - in 2010, a man and woman hiking in the woods hiking in the woods were startled when they heard a grunting noise coming from the brush. Nearby, they found some deep and large footprints of a creature that was clearly very large and human-like that appeared to have been chasing a deer.

 • Route 2 - the western part of route 2 connects Massachusetts to New York. The scenic road encompasses what was known as the old Mohawk Trail. According to many reports, there have been a variety of sightings of the hairy guy on this road.

Want to know more about Bigfoot's exploits in the Bay State?

Check more out for yourself at these sites

Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization

Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization