Welcome! 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

Follow Up: Stolen Statue Sliced to Pieces

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

Stolen Sign Returns After 43 Years

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

Statue Stolen from Norwich Cemetery

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

The Damned Blog

Upcoming Damned Events

Looks 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 Wise

Science 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, Middletown

In 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.