Welcome To Damned Connecticut
Looking for the weird, the odd, or the unexplained here in Connecticut? How about haunted places, strange spots, or curious legends? Well, you came to the right place! We love this stuff as much as you do, and we’re going to offer as much of it as we can find, from the extraordinary and the paranormal to the lost and the forgotten. And as much as possible, we’re going to explore these mysteries ourselves, and give you some firsthand knowledge of what is (or isn’t) out there if you want to check it yourself. READ MORE
Weird News
Assuming this was cut up to be sold as scrap — too bad because they don’t make ‘em like that any more. At least they caught the perpetrator.
[March 9, 2010] A 120-year-old bronze statue that had been stolen from an historic Norwich cemetery was recovered by police — parts of it anyway, as it has been cut up into numerous pieces …
Source: New London Day
Maybe it was a pirate?
[March 6, 2010] New Haven police are searching for a one-eyed man who broke into a home while was dressed as a woman …
Source: NBC 30
The debate rages on …
[March 5, 2010] A recent e-mail making the rounds claiming that mountain lions are here in the Northeast — this with a picture of three cats on a red truck — has been debunked as a photo from Colorado …
Source: Hartford Courant
The screen mile?
[March 4, 2010] A Hartford man stole a 32-inch flatscreen TV from the Hartford Marriott and carried it a mile before being apprehended by police …
Source: Hartford Courant
Random road rage?
[March 4, 2010] A Stamford woman was injured when a tire unexpectedly came off a Volkswagen Jetta and struck her as she was crossing the street …
Source: Connecticut Post
This is one ornery bird!
[March 4, 2010] Stonington police are on the lookout for a red-tailed hawk that has attacked at least five people, including a woman, who had to be hospitalized for facial lacerations …
Source: Hartford Courant
Sad that it only came back because someone was obviously worried about where they might be headed after they died.
[March 3, 2010] A sign that had hung at Greenwich Country Day School was returned 43 years after it had been stolen, apparently as a final wish of an alumnus who had stolen it and was dying …
Source: Connecticut Post
Maybe they’re hanging out with those white-nosed bats?
[March 1, 2010] The state population of chimney swifts — key birds in terms of insect control — has been declining mysteriously and, well, swiftly …
Source: Connecticut Post
Sort of surprised they haven’t been there already.
[February 24, 2010] Syfy’s “Ghost Hunters” team have reached an agreement to investigate the long-abandoned former Norwich State Hospital property in Preston …
Source: Norwich Bulletin
Instead of an amber alert, do they post a bronze alert?
[February 24, 2010] A historic bronze statue of a life-sized woman was taken from a grave in Norwich’s Yantic Cemetery …
Source: New London Day
Sounds like they’re trying to milk the headlines! Seems udderly ridiculous.
[February 23, 2010] The Suffield chapter of FFA created a 40-foot-long bar of soap made from 30 pounds of goat’s milk and other ingredients, which may be the longest bar of goat soap in the world …
Source: Hartford Courant
The Damned Blog
Upcoming Damned EventsLooks like we’re going to busy this week — an excursion to Gungywamp and then the legendary Bat Boy is coming to town!
Movies & TV
“Ghost Hunters”: Mark Twain House SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters” paid a visit to Hartford to investigate the recent claim that the venerable Mark Twain House is haunted by the spirit of one of the renowned author’s daughters.
Interviews
Damned Interview: Jeff WiseScience writer, outdoor adventurer, pilot and author Jeff Wise talks with us about his new book Extreme Fear: The Science of Your Mind in Danger, including busting a few myths about the subject and if there’s more to fearing fear itself.
Hauntings
Pettibone Tavern (Abigail’s Grille & Wine Bar), Simsbury For over 200 years, The Pettibone Tavern (now Abigail’s Grille & Wine Bar) has been a Simsbury landmark. It has been host to Revolutionary War heroes, historical figures, gregarious bar patrons and … a ghost?
Legends
The Melon Heads Growing up in Milford, one of the local stories we all heard about was about a group of giant-headed mutants who lived on the outskirts of town, a band of inbred freaks who were ready to prey Deliverance-style on whoever was careless enough to wander into their midst….
Weird Places
The Glass House, New Canaan In the beautiful countryside of New Canaan sits an unusual structure, a unique residence designed (and inhabited) by famed architect and designer Philip Johnson.
Odd Things
World’s Largest Jack-in-the-Box, MiddletownIn Middletown sits what is purported to be the world’s largest jack-in-the-box: a 50-foot high silo that has a giant clown head pop out of it.
Abandoned
Holy Land USA, Waterbury We’ve all seen it while driving along either Route 8 or I-84 through Waterbury: the huge crucifix high atop Pine Hill. Many already know about it, but the 50-foot high cross marks the spot that was once Holy Land USA. UPDATE: We make the pilgrimage to Holy Land and return bearing numerous photos.
Cryptozoology
Bigfoot in Connecticut?At first blush, a state as small and as densely inhabited as Connecticut doesn’t seem to be a likely place for Bigfoot — but yet there have been sightings here, including a few in the 21st century.