Vintage Newspaper Discoveries: 19th Century Bigfoot Sightings Unveiled

Posted Friday, January 19, 2024

By Squatchable.com staff

Title: Unearthing Vintage Newspaper Articles on the "Wild Man" - A Paranormal Dig Have you ever wondered about the origins of the "Wild Man" or "Hairy Man" sightings before the term "Bigfoot" was coined? As a paranormal enthusiast, I was intrigued by the idea and decided to dive into some vintage newspaper articles to uncover any hidden gems. I was not disappointed! During my search, I came across the YouTube channel "Hairy Man Hoaxes & Hoodwinks" and their episode titled "Extra Extra Read All About It!". The host shared some fascinating articles from the 1800s and early 1900s, which I'd like to highlight for you. First up, we have the infamous Winsted Wild Man, who made appearances between 1895 and 1974 in Winsted, Connecticut. According to an 1895 article from the Winsted Evening Citizen, a local selectman named Riley Smith encountered the Wild Man while picking blueberries with his dog, Ned. The creature was described as a six-foot-tall man, covered in black hair, with a wild appearance and a penchant for eluding capture. The Winsted Wild Man wasn't just a local legend; it gained national attention, with newspapers like the Hartford Sunday Globe speculating that the Wild Man could have been an escaped mental patient named Arthur Beckwith. Although this theory was never confirmed, it added another layer to the mystery surrounding the Wild Man. Next, we have an article from the Annual Register of 1832, out of Minnesota, titled "American Expedition of Discovery". This particular expedition was led by an American government to explore the uncharted territories of the West. While the article doesn't specifically mention the Wild Man, it does highlight the sense of mystery and adventure that surrounded these expeditions, making it an interesting read for any paranormal enthusiast. Lastly, I stumbled upon a fascinating article from the St. Paul Daily Globe, dated August 18, 1884. The article tells the story of a "hairy man" sighting in Wisconsin, where a group of lumberjacks claimed to have seen a creature covered in thick, dark hair, standing seven feet tall and possessing immense strength. These vintage articles offer a fascinating glimpse into the past and provide context for the ongoing fascination with the Wild Man or Hairy Man phenomenon. While some of these stories may have been embellished over time, they still serve as valuable data points in our quest for understanding. As paranormal enthusiasts, we're always on the lookout for new and intriguing information, and these vintage articles certainly fit the bill. So, the next time you're looking for a rabbit hole to dive into, consider exploring some of these historical newspaper articles. You never know what you might find! Remember, these articles are just a small sample of what's out there, waiting to be discovered. So, grab your flashlight, put on your explorer hat, and start digging! Who knows what other hidden gems you might uncover in the process. Happy hunting, fellow Squatchable readers! *Note: All articles were found through various online newspaper archives, including gonewspapers.com, lancasteronline.newspaper.com, newspaperarchive.com, and thetrackrecord.net.