Bennington Triangle
Five people vanished in the Vermont wilderness between 1945 and 1950. A student waiting for a bus. An experienced hunter. A 74-year-old woman. Their bodies were never found. The forest swallowed them.
The Bennington Triangle is a wilderness area in southwestern Vermont where several people disappeared under mysterious circumstances between 1945 and 1950.
The Disappearances
According to documented accounts:
November 12, 1945 - Middie Rivers (75): An experienced hunting guide led a group. He got ahead of the party and vanished. Only a rifle cartridge was found.
December 1, 1946 - Paula Welden (18): A Bennington College student. She walked onto the Long Trail and was never seen again.
December 1, 1949 - James E. Tedford (56): A veteran disappeared from a bus returning to Bennington. Passengers saw him on the bus; at the terminal, only his luggage remained.
October 12, 1950 - Paul Jepson (8): A boy vanished from his family farm. Search dogs traced his scent to a highway, then lost it.
October 28, 1950 - Frieda Langer (53): An experienced hiker. She separated from her group briefly and vanished. Her body was found seven months later—despite extensive searches of the area.
The Pattern
Unusual commonalities:
- All occurred in a similar area
- Most happened in October-December
- Victims ranged from children to elderly
- Experienced outdoorspeople disappeared
- Bodies were rarely found
The Tedford Case
The bus disappearance is particularly strange:
- Tedford was seen on the bus
- At the destination, his seat was empty
- His luggage and open timetable remained
- No one saw him get off
- No body was ever found
The Area
Glastenbury Mountain and surroundings:
- Remote, heavily forested
- A former logging town (now abandoned)
- Native American legends considered it cursed
- Said to be avoided by indigenous peoples
Theories
Environmental Hazards: Rough terrain, sudden weather, wildlife.
Serial Killer: Possibly a predator operating in the area.
Wendigo/Supernatural: Native legends warned of the area.
Accidents: People lost in harsh wilderness.
Modern Status
The area:
- Remains sparsely populated
- No new mysterious disappearances since 1950
- Attracts curious hikers
- The Long Trail passes through
Native American Legends
Indigenous peoples reportedly:
- Avoided Glastenbury Mountain
- Called it enchanted or cursed
- Believed spirits inhabited the area
- These legends predated European settlement
Sources
- Regional historical documentation
- Folklore collections