Compiled by Kathy Weiser-Alexander, February 2019. Although numerous trails make up the STS, the route runs as a continuous marked loop of nearly 85 miles, making it one of the longest continuous loops in the Eastern US. One thing is for sure, the Susquehanna Mystery Thing would be a spooky sight to see from a kayak in the Greenway waters of Northumberland County. Travel all the way down the Greenway to the Lancaster County town of Columbia and youll hear all about the legend of the Albatwich, a mini apple-munching Sasquatch. Access to independent, local news is important, do you agree? Along the way, they visited many thriving Native American communities and gathered information. Send us an email with your story: info@susquehannagreenway.org. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. There were thousands of giant skeletons found page 507 of Historical collections of virginia 1845 Page -507-, Human bones of extraordinary sizethigh bones three feet in length, and skeletons seven feet in lengthhave been discovered on Flint run, in this county, on Hawksbill creek, Tuscarora creek, and in Hardy county. After William Penn died in 1718, many of the Lenape in Pennsylvania were driven westward under threats of violence in the 1730s. yeah steve Quayle's site has some amazing info on there.I frequent it quite a bit. Many of them temporarily moved south tothe Chesapeake Bay in the summer to fish and gather shellfish returning, before returning in the fall to harvest their crops and hunt. Upon waking in the morning, Chahta and Chiksa' would look at the pole to determine which way it was leaning and that would be the direction they traveled . It is said that he called upon the aid of the spirit to break a witchs curse, summoning her by burning a plant called foxfire. Smith described the Susquehannocks as great and well-proportioned men who seemed like Giants to the English. Based on archaeological evidence, they were no taller than the average modern day American but more robust than Smiths explorers. During the early 1700s, a few of the Susquehannocks migrated to Ohio where they intermingled with other tribes and lost their identity as a distinct nation. Often scores of people pass over them every day without ever knowing. Happy Birthday to famed Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban! The Susquehannock are believed to come from around the Ohio River and migrated east past the Appalachian mountains and joined another tribe prior to European Colonization.. At the time of Christopher Columbus, the Susquehannock were the most populous Native American tribe in the Northeast.Due to how stable and numerous their population was it is believed that the Susquehannock had been living . A mythical being known to frequent European folklore, a Water Witch was said to have power over the wind and weather, often appearing to sailors and others in the seafaring trade. Watch the WVIA documentary Peoples of the Susquehanna River. Listen carefully for its sad sniffles and think twice before you step in any puddles. In 1675, approximately 500 survivors fled to an abandoned Piscataway fort along the Potomac River. It was about six feet tall, shaped like a wolf, and stood on its back legs. Once a dominant power, disease brought about through contact with Europeans decimated their population by 1675. Rather than controlling the elements, this Water Witch, being the symbol of something ever flowing knows a persons destiny. Click here to read learn how the Susquehannocks became known as the Conestoga. References: PA Wilds (Lou Bernard), Mysterious Universe (Jason Offutt), by Henry Shoemaker, CryptoZoo News (Loren Coleman), Alana Jajko is the Director of Communications and Outreach for the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership. 100% of your contribution to NorthcentralPa.com goes directly to helping us cover news and events in the region. The local hero Loop Hill Ike also reappears with this legend, tasked with hunting down witches, ghosts, and monsters. Susquehanna National Heritage Area is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported by private contributions from generous donors and funding from the following national, state and regional partners: Visit the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, Explore the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Our Savage Neighbors: How Indian War Transformed Early America, Native American Archaeology Contact Period, Boating Safety Course coming to Columbia Crossing, Sponsor a Rocking Chair at Columbia Crossing, Winter Programs with Susquehanna National Heritage Area. That mindset paid off for him Monday night. The Penns Creek Path The woman was able to flee, but, stricken by grief, drowned herself in the quicksand. All rights reserved Susquehanna National Heritage Area. Campers have access to a marina, shopping, restaurants and cultural attractions within a short drive. Rather than controlling the elements, this Water Witch, being the symbol of something ever flowing knows a persons destiny. You may not get the fortune you hoped for! Tribes lived in fortified cities, which were composed of sixty to eighty foot long, bark-covered longhouses and several families, who were all related to one another via matrilineal lines of descent, lived in each long house. Today you can visit his grave inscribed with his real name Isaac Gaines at Furst-McGonigal Cemetery in Clearfield County. Thats around 5 feet, 9 inches tall. Upon the arrival of Europeans, between 1550 and 1625, indirect European influence was inflicted on the Indian cultures, (Richter). Five Susquehannock chiefs went to negotiate and were murdered. In 1642, the English Province of Maryland declared war on the Susquehannock, but with the help of the Swedes, the Susquehannock defeated the English in 1644. The Susquehanna Greenway is a landscape full of opportunities not only for hiking, biking and paddling, but also for rich cultural and historic treasures, some of which have ghostly pasts. At this time, they are estimated to have numbered5000-7000 people. This small, but powerful tribe, occupied only one or two major towns at a time, but controlled the important trade routes along the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. Over the next few years, they settled on the James River in Missouri, eventually occupying about 40,000 acres. Franklin broke the Susquehannock boys' basketball career scoring mark during the Warriors 66-64 road win over Northeastern in the District 3 Class 5A . Smith wasespecially impressed with their size, deep voices, the variety of their weapons, and was awed by their size, describing them as giants. Nutrient Deficiencies You may not get the fortune you hoped for! When Europeans first arrived, they were in alliance with the Algonquian tribes of the east shore of Chesapeake Bay and at war with those on the west shore. Native Americans First Owners of America, Encyclopedia Britannica Archaeology of the Lower Susquehanna River reveals that American Indians had utilized its resources for thousands of years. Like other Iroquian tribes, they planted maize, beans, and squash in spring. They terminate their alliance with the Susquehannock. I have never heard that account before. Read Barry Kents 1984 publication Susquehannans Indians, which uses archaeological and historical records to tell the story of the Susquehannock and other native tribes from 1450 to 1750. On the opposite side of the house is a small chimney for a parlor stove. Its said that a strange glowing fireball known as the Swamp Angel still frequents those wetlands. The account received mixed reactions, some questioning the reporters encounters, others coming forward with similar sightings in the area. . Those who had converted to Christianity attempted to remain neutral in the conflict. One thing is for sure, the Susquehanna Mystery Thing would be a spooky sight to see from a kayak in the Greenway waters of Northumberland County. The Susquehanna Greenway is a landscape full of opportunities not only for hiking, biking, and paddling, but also for rich cultural and historic treasures, some of which have ghostly pasts. Through a wild area. Sign up today! Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated January 2023. In it, a man captures a Squonk in a sack only to feel the sack becoming lighter and lighter as he carries it home. Her work is focused on promoting trails and communities within our vibrant and connected Susquehanna Greenway, Alana can be reached at ajajko@susquehannagreenway.org. The tribe reached their peak of power in the early 1670s and afterward began to decline due to infectious diseases and continued warfare. Thought to live mostly in the trees, Albatwitches prefer to keep to the shadows, and are said to make their presence known by a sound like a cracking whip (perhaps branch-breaking). Susquehannas Mystery Thing (Northumberland County). When Captain John Smith first met the Iroquoian-speaking Susquehannock Indians on his 1608 voyage up the Chesapeake Bay, he described them as giants. Pig-like with a saggy skin covered in warts and blemishes, the Squonk spends much of its life weeping. Throughout the historical period they were at war with the Iroquois, who conquered them in 1676 and forced them to settle near the Oneida tribe in New York. Less than two weeks later, the Paxton Boys returned and slaughtered the 14 Indians at the workhouse. Explore the archaeological digs that help us understand the Susquehannock culture from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Native American Archaeology Contact Period. Follow that up withThe Susquehannocks, edited by Paul Raber. These members moved to the west, closer to Detroit, where they settled on the Scioto and Sandusky Rivers. On Maurers own sighting, he says, It pushed a wake that made waves that lapped up on the shoreline. They traded with other tribes along the Erie River in northern Ohio and the Huron and Neutral people of southern Ontario, Canada. The Kettle Creek Monster, West Branch Dugong, or Susquehanna Seal is a marine creature that dates back over a century. The investigation revealed that the males in this skeletal population were, on average, around 5 feet, 7 inches. to view . Error! This is the history of the land in which we live and prosper. The Susquehanna Path As Halloween approaches, nows the time to brush up on your Greenway ghouls and legends. Tribes lived in fortified cities, which were composed . Most of the Lenape then moved to Indiana near their friends, the Miami Indians. However, In the following decades, some 20,000 new colonists arrived in the region, putting pressure on Lenape settlements and hunting grounds. Today, there are three federally recognized tribes in the United States, including: Canada recognizes three Lenape First Nations with four Indian reserves, which are all located in southwestern Ontario: Three groups who claim descent from Lenape people are state-recognized tribes: More than a dozen organizations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Idaho, and Kansasclaim descent from Lenape people and are unrecognized tribes. Kettle Creek Monster / West Branch Dugong / Susquehanna Seal (Lock Haven, Clinton County). In 1763 the few remaining Susquehannock were massacred by whites angered by accounts of an Indian war on the Pennsylvania frontier, several hundred miles away. Deer was the most common protein but bear, elk, and fish were also popular. In 1782, a group of Pennsylvania militiamen, falsely believing the natives were responsible for several raids, killed almost 100 Christian Lenape in what became known as the Gnadenhutten Massacre. Becker conducted a forensic analysis of 13 complete Susquehannock skeletons plus long bones from 18 other individuals. The Iroquois Indians Next, click the bio link for more information about Wagner and how to purchase an 18" x 24" matte print. Loop Hill Ike isnt around to be the hero these days! The Great Island Path In 1634, the Iroquoian-speaking Susquehannock went to war with the Lenape over access to trade with the Dutch at New Amsterdam. They were a hunter-gatherer tribe, and also domesticated horses which were used for the buffalo hunts. Upon being asked during a panel discussion about his most mysterious sighting while in the wild, Maurer recalled a large creature that he saw swimming in the Susquehanna River. A creature with many names, this elusive legend has been said to lurk in the waters of the Susquehanna River near Lock Haven in Clinton County. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Towns were composed of longhouses that were 60 80 feet in length and housed a number of nuclear families related through the female line. The remaining Susquehannocks, often called Conestogas, stayed and their town remained an important activity center for many years where many treaties were negotiated and signed, yet the population declined. The Paxtang Path Later, after successful trading, they acquired firearms and ammunition. In the quiet forests of Conestoga Township lies the forgotten ruins of a crumbling root cellar, abandoned foundation, and a trash pile with 100+-year-old ceramic shards. Others supported the British, fearing they would be driven from their lands if the Americans were victorious. The Susquehannock were estimated to number about 5,000 in 1600, but epidemics of smallpox and other disease brought by Europeans steadily reduced their population. Mulching and Watering The story of this strange creature is thought to have its roots in Pennsylvanias lumber history. Thought to live mostly in the trees, Albatwitches prefer to keep to the shadows, and are said to make their presence known by a sound like a cracking whip (perhaps branch-breaking). Known as the Paxtang Boys, the group was upset by the Indian incursions of Pontiacs Rebellion. Even the sound of their speach as you described. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Swamp Angel appeared with just the right advice and the day was saved. However, as their northern neighbors, the New York Iroquois, gained power and prestige, the Susquehannocks experienced pressure to migrate southward until eventually in 1675, when devastated with disease and devoid of any European allies, they became annihilated by the Iroquois. there are also hundreds and hundreds of articles on newspapers archives reporting artifacts found and sent to the smithsonian. The Susquehannock were large scale agriculturalists. If you set out on a picnic in the Greenway reaches of York or Lancaster Counties, hold on to your apples or maybe opt for a banana! In exchange, the tribeceded to Maryland large territories on both shores of the Chesapeake Bay. While the exterior of the structure has been stabilized the interior is currently not accessible for public visitation. Their firstEuropean contact was in 1608 when Captain John Smith, from Jamestown, Virginia, was exploring the northern end of Chesapeake Bay. The Susquehannock was a confederacy of up to 20 smaller tribes, who occupied fortified villages along the Susquehanna River. In their most typical form, the Susquehannocks were farmers who grew large crops of corn, beans and squash along the fertile flood plains of the river. Large scale battles took place with the Seneca in Washington Boro and across the river in York County. One of my favorite winter activities is exploring the tunnels and culverts beneath the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail. They were reluctant to negotiate for another relocation but feared serious trouble with white settlers. If you journey to this section of the Greenway in search of the Water Witch, think twice. The Shoshone were a close relative of the Ute, Paiute, Gosiute, and Bannock Indian tribes, with whom they shared land and intermarried. The Susquehannock were Iroquoian speakers and shared many similarities with the Iroquois in New York. Before you get started, you'll need to decide what type of vegetables you want to grow. Soon great epidemics of European diseases devastated numerous tribes, including the Lenape. For the French, they were known as the Andastes; for the Dutch and Swedish they were the Minquas, (Jennings . Is the Kettle Creek Monster / West Branch Dugong / Susquehanna Seal really gone? Since its on a National Scenic & State Wild & Scenic River everyone can Call & complain ! Next time you find yourself in a pickle, just make your way along the West Branch section of the Greenway to Clinton County and see if the Swamp Angel can help you out! Susquehannock Campground is located on the 8,300-acre Raystown Lake, in the ridge and valley province of Pennsylvania. In the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, General Anthony Wayne defeated the Lenape and other Ohio-American Indian peoples. The Swamp Angel appeared with just the right advice and the day was saved. 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