Vermont’s Very Own Bermuda Triangle || The Bennington Disappearances

Summary

The script recounts mysterious disappearances in Vermont's Bennington Triangle, starting with Paula Jean Welden in 1946. Five people vanished without a trace in the area over half a decade, with theories ranging from foul play to natural elements. The remote, dense forest and unpredictable weather add to the intrigue, making the Bennington Triangle a chilling tale of the unknown.

Takeaways

• 🧳 In 1946, Paula Jean Welden, an 18-year-old college sophomore, went missing after a hike near Bennington, Vermont, and her case remains unsolved.
• 👣 A year prior, in 1945, a 74-year-old man named Middie Rivers disappeared while guiding hunters in the same region, with no trace found despite extensive searches.
• 🔍 The area in southwestern Vermont became known as the 'Bennington Triangle' due to a series of mysterious disappearances, drawing parallels with the Bermuda Triangle.
• 🚌 In 1949, a 68-year-old veteran vanished into thin air on a moving bus, just before reaching Bennington, and his disappearance occurred on the same date as Welden's, three years earlier.
• 👦 The youngest to disappear was an 8-year-old boy who went missing from his family's farm, with tracking dogs losing his scent at a crossroads.
• 🧍‍♀️ A 53-year-old woman disappeared after falling into a stream and deciding to return to her camp to change clothes, never to be seen again, until her body was found far from the campsite the following year.
• 🏞️ The commonality among the five disappearances is the geographic area of 36 square miles of dense forest in the Bennington Triangle.
• 🏚️ Bennington and the nearby village of Glastenbury were once mining and logging towns with harsh living conditions, which later became nearly abandoned.
• 🤔 Several theories attempt to explain the disappearances, including foul play, unpredictable weather, or accidents involving abandoned mine shafts.
• 🐻 The area is also home to wildlife such as black bears, which could pose a threat to hikers, and special precautions are advised to avoid attracting them.
• 🌲 Today, the Green Mountain National Forest within the Bennington Triangle is a popular recreation area, but the mysterious disappearances remain a chilling part of its history.

Q & A

What was the name of the college sophomore who went missing after a hike in 1946?

The college sophomore's name was Paula Jean Welden.

In which town did Paula Jean Welden go missing?

Paula Jean Welden went missing in Bennington, a town in Southwestern Vermont.

What was unusual about the disappearance of Paula Jean Welden?

Paula Jean Welden disappeared without taking any extra clothes, money, or a bag, suggesting she didn't plan to be out for long.

What was the name of the area where multiple disappearances occurred, similar to the Bermuda Triangle?

The area is known as the Bennington Triangle.

How many people disappeared in the Bennington Triangle within half a decade from the time Paula Jean Welden went missing?

In just half a decade, five people in total disappeared in the Bennington Triangle.

What was the common feature between the disappearances of Paula Jean Welden and the 8-year-old boy?

Both Paula Jean Welden and the 8-year-old boy were wearing bright red jackets at the time of their disappearances.

What was the age of the youngest person to disappear in the Bennington Triangle?

The youngest person to disappear was an 8-year-old boy.

What was the final disappearance in the Bennington Triangle mentioned in the script?

The final disappearance mentioned was a 53-year-old woman who went missing while camping with her family in the Green Mountain National Forest.

What was the outcome of the search for the 53-year-old woman who disappeared while camping?

The searchers found the woman 3 and 1/2 miles from the original campsite the following spring, but the cause of her disappearance remained a mystery.

What are some of the theories proposed for the disappearances in the Bennington Triangle?

Some theories suggest foul play, unpredictable weather conditions, or the possibility of falling into abandoned mine shafts or encounters with wild animals.

Why was the area of Bennington Triangle once considered for rebranding as a tourist destination?

The locals tried to rebrand the area as a tourist destination to improve living conditions, but a huge flood washed away their dreams.