| ID | #1632762365 |
| Added | Mon, 27/09/2021 |
| Author | July N. |
| Sources | The Manchester Evening Herald
|
| Phenomena | |
| Status | Research
|
Initial data
Manchester, Connecticut, July 9, 1947, page
As usual, it all started with The Herald; just as The Herald was the first newspaper to draw public attention to "The Mysterious Hum", "The Shimmy House" and what became nationally known as "The Glawakus".
The first mention of Flying Squash appeared in a small article in The Herald, which told about a resident of "Skunks ' Misery", telling his friend that for several nights he saw orange, ball-like objects floating around his garden. "Skunks' Misery " is located on Forbes Street in East Hartford, near the Manchester line.
The reporter of The Herald took a car and drove to the described place, which was located near the swamp. He stayed for about an hour, but the light didn't come on.
However, over the next week, stories began to spread around the city that lights were floating over the road, and some of them were seen in Manchester.
These stories were published in The Herald and in another reporter's trip. And still no lights.
Nevertheless, the rumors persisted, and, skeptical after two trips to the scene of the incident, the Messenger decided to make another attempt, and then forget about everything if nothing happened.
That night, two other reporters, unknown to the local journalist, also decided to investigate the situation, having been sent by their editors from Hartford to "Skunks ' Misery".
And now it happened! While the reporters were talking to an old man sitting on the porch, an orange object rose from the swamp opposite. It hovered about fifty feet in the air, then began to spin and finally disappeared.
The newspapers told about this phenomenon. The news spread. The roads in the area of the swamp were clogged every night; with cars filled with curious people. The lights were seen often. The description changed in the same way as the descriptions of Flying Saucers.
The one the Messenger saw was the size of a nutmeg. Others claimed to have seen five and six. Some said they were the size of pumpkins, and eventually the newspapers dubbed these balls "Red-hot Pumpkins".
Of course, there were different explanations. Mass hysteria was one of them. Also, such explanations as spots on the glasses of tourists and overkill. Scientists from Trinity College, without visiting the scene, dubbed the visions "waves" caused by swamp gas.
From time to time, flying lights appeared, and then the swamp was drained, and the conversation stopped.
Original news
The Manchester Evening Herald
Manchester, Connecticut, EVENING HERALD, 9 July 1947, page
Manchester Once Excited Over 'Flying Things', Too
Flying Saucers! Flying Plates! Flying Discs!
Twenty-five years ago the Manchester area had Flying Squashes!
As usual, The Herald started the whole thing; just as The Herald was the first paper to bring to public attention "The Mysterious Hum," "The Shimmy House" and what became nationally known as "The Glawakus."
The first mention of the Flying Squash appeared in a little item in The Herald which told of a resident of "Skunks' Misery," telling a friend here that for a couple of nights he had seen orange colored, balloon-like objects floating around his garden. "Skunks' Misery" is on Forbes street, East Hartford, near the Manchester line.
A reporter for The Herald got an auto and went over to the spot described which was near some swampland. He remained about an hour but no lights appeared.
However, within the next week, stories began to circulate through town that the lights were floating over the road and some were seen in Manchester.
These stories were published in The Herald and another trip made by the reporter. And still no lights seen.
Still the rumors persisted and, skeptical after two trips to the scene, The Herald man decided to make one more try at it and then forget the whole affair if nothing happened.
On this night, two other reporters, unknown to the local newsman, had also decided to look over the situation, being sent to "Skunks' Misery" by their Hartford editors.
And then it happened! While the reporters were talking to an old man seated on a porch, an orange colored object arose from the swampland across the way. It floated about fifty feet in the air and then began going around in circles and finally disappeared.
The newspapers told of the phenomenon. The news spread. Roads in the vicinity of the swamp were jammed nightly; with cars filled with the curious. The lights were seen often. The description varied just as the descriptions now of the Flying Saucers.
The one The Herald man saw was about the size of a muskmellon. Others claimed they saw five and six. Some said they were the size of a squash and the globes were finally dubbed by the newspapers "The Incandescent Squashes."
There were, of course, all sorts of explanations. Mass Hysteria was one of them. Also such explanations as spots on the glasses of sightseers and too much hootch. Scientists from Trinity College, without visiting the scene, dubbed the apparitions "will 'o the wisps," caused by swamp gas.
The flying lights were seen from time to time and then the swamp was drained and the talk ceased.
Hypotheses
Investigation
Resume
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