Nestled in the scenic southwestern corner of Vermont, the Bennington Triangle is an area marked by its serene beauty and mysterious past. This roughly 1,200-square-mile region surrounding Bennington County has gained notoriety for a series of eerie disappearances and unexplainable phenomena between 1920 and 1950. Despite extensive searches and countless theories, these cases remain unsolved, transforming the Bennington Triangle into a modern legend that continues to intrigue and mystify.
A Brief History of the Bennington Triangle
The term “Bennington Triangle” was popularized in the 1990s by author and folklorist Joseph A. Citro. While its name evokes the infamous Bermuda Triangle, the similarities are largely in reputation rather than nature. Unlike the Bermuda Triangle, which involves vanishing ships and planes, the Bennington Triangle is known for unexplained disappearances of individuals on land.
Located between the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range, this area includes the ghost town of Glastenbury, as well as nearby towns such as Somerset and Bennington. Historically, Glastenbury was a thriving logging community but was abandoned after the industry collapsed in the late 19th century. The region’s dense forests, rugged terrain, and sparse population create an atmosphere ripe for legends and speculation.
The Disappearances
Between 1920 and 1950, five individuals disappeared under baffling circumstances within the Bennington Triangle. Each case unfolded differently, but they all share one chilling detail—no trace of the victims was ever found.
The Disappearance of Paul Jepson (1920)
The earliest recorded case was that of eight-year-old Paul Jepson. On October 12, 1920, Paul was playing in the woods near his family’s farmhouse in Greenfield. When he failed to return for dinner, his family launched an immediate search. Over the following days, hundreds of volunteers combed the forest, assisted by police and bloodhounds, but no sign of Paul was ever found. The lack of evidence left authorities baffled, and his case remains unsolved.
Middie Rivers Vanishes (1945)
In November 1945, 16-year-old Middie Rivers vanished while walking home from the school bus. Middie was last seen by her friends, who recalled her walking toward her family’s rural home. When she failed to arrive, a search party was organized, but it uncovered no clues. Middie’s disappearance marked the beginning of a spate of vanishings that would culminate in a cluster of cases just a year later.
The Triple Disappearances of 1946
In December 1946, the region experienced an alarming pattern: three women vanished in the span of four days, each under different circumstances but within the same general area.
- Mabel Creston (75 years old): Mabel was last seen driving home from work on December 1. Her car was discovered parked along the roadside, its engine running, but she was nowhere to be found.
- Paula Walcott (68 years old): The very next day, Paula disappeared while riding a bus home from a doctor’s appointment. Witnesses recalled her exiting the bus near her house, but she never made it inside.
- Ruth Whitman (53 years old): On December 3, Ruth failed to return home from her job at a local bank. Her coworkers described her as cheerful and without signs of distress on the day she disappeared.
- LaMoine Hamilton (37 years old): The final disappearance occurred on December 4. LaMoine, an employee at a nearby hotel, vanished while traveling home from work.
The suddenness and proximity of these disappearances launched an intense search effort involving law enforcement, volunteers, and even military personnel. Despite their best efforts, not a single clue was uncovered. Speculation about these disappearances ran wild, ranging from plausible to fantastical.
Theories and Speculation
The absence of concrete evidence has given rise to numerous theories regarding the Bennington Triangle disappearances. Some are grounded in reality, while others delve into the realm of the supernatural.
1. Serial Killer Hypothesis
One of the most straightforward theories posits that a serial killer operated in the area. The notion of a predator targeting lone individuals, particularly women, gained traction due to the proximity and timing of the disappearances in 1946. However, the lack of bodies or evidence to support this theory has left it inconclusive.
2. Natural Accidents
Given the area’s rugged terrain and dense forests, some believe the victims may have succumbed to accidents. Falls, hypothermia, or animal attacks could explain their fates. However, this theory fails to address why no bodies or remains were ever recovered, even after exhaustive searches.
3. Alien Abductions
For enthusiasts of the paranormal, the Bennington Triangle offers fertile ground for UFO theories. Reports of strange lights in the sky, unusual noises, and otherworldly phenomena have fueled the idea that extraterrestrial forces might be involved in the disappearances.
4. Supernatural Explanations
Local legends surrounding the Bennington Triangle suggest it is a site of mystical energy or a portal to another dimension. Indigenous folklore describes the area as cursed or imbued with spirits, adding to its mystique.
5. Voluntary Disappearances
Another possibility is that some of the victims intentionally vanished. However, this theory struggles to account for the cases involving young children or elderly individuals with no apparent reason to leave their lives behind.
Cultural Impact and Modern Legacy
The Bennington Triangle has become a cultural touchstone in Vermont and beyond. Numerous books, articles, and documentaries have explored the mysteries surrounding the area. Despite advances in forensic science, including DNA analysis and modern search-and-rescue techniques, the disappearances remain unsolved, cementing their place in the annals of unexplained phenomena.
The Triangle has also inspired creative works in literature and film. It has been referenced in novels, television shows, and horror movies, often as a stand-in for eerie, isolated locales where reality seems to blur with the supernatural.
Comparisons to the Bermuda Triangle
While the Bermuda Triangle is better known, the Bennington Triangle holds its own unique place in the world of unexplained phenomena. Unlike its oceanic counterpart, the Bennington Triangle’s mysteries are confined to land, with its rugged mountains and dense forests serving as the backdrop. The Bermuda Triangle has seen the disappearance of ships, planes, and their crews, often with environmental factors like storms and magnetic anomalies suspected as causes. In contrast, the Bennington Triangle’s cases lack such tangible explanations, making them even more perplexing.
Conclusion
The Bennington Triangle is a haunting reminder of the mysteries that persist in our modern world. Decades have passed since the disappearances, yet the stories of Paul Jepson, Middie Rivers, Mabel Creston, Paula Walcott, Ruth Whitman, and LaMoine Hamilton continue to captivate the public’s imagination. Whether viewed through the lens of history, folklore, or conspiracy, the Triangle remains a place where questions far outnumber answers.
As long as the disappearances remain unsolved, the Bennington Triangle will continue to be a source of fascination, inspiring both fear and wonder. For those who dare to explore its dense forests and winding trails, the question lingers: what secrets lie hidden within Vermont’s most mysterious region?