April 21, 2025 • 31 mins
Join Carol Ann and her special guest Matt Emch (Planet412) as they present the first-ever Ohio Cryptid Awards! Shocking honors to the Buckeye State's most mysterious creatures. Which beasts will take home the gold?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:32):
So you think you know Ohio?
Maybe not so much.
Every state has its own uniqueset of cryptids to call its own,
but the Buckeye State could win awardsfor its oversized menagerie of weirdness.
And today, we are joined by one of Ohio'svery own, Matt Emch.
From Planet 412 to call outjust a few of these top honors.
(00:55):
I'm Carol Ann,and welcome to The InBetween.
All right, Ohio, you've done it.
Not only are you the first stateI think of when I think about Dogman,
but you've popped up on the weirdnessradar enough times for other things
that it's time to call you outwith the street cred you deserve
(01:19):
with your very own Cryptid Academy Awards.
And what would an award showbe without a co-host?
Boring.
So I am proud to announce my co-hosttoday is none other than Ohio's
own cryptid master, MattEmch from the YouTube channel Planet 412.
How are you today, my friend?
(01:40):
I'm doing great, Carol Ann.
It's awesome to be backdoing a collaboration with you
and The InBetween.
And the 412 is ready to roll.
So let's get started. Awesome.
Well, we are here to give some awardsthat I think
are well deserved to some of Ohio'scryptid finest.
But first, Matt and I both havean honorable mention we want to include.
(02:05):
Matt, why don't you go first?
And the honorable mentiongoes to the Mills Lake Swamp Monster.
Ohio's own swamp thing.
From Mifflin,Ohio is where this story comes from.
In a glass frame behind the counterat Charles Mill Lake Marina,
(02:26):
a story is displayed for visitors to read.
The tale is not that of a monstrouscatfish caught at the dam,
thoughsome might claim it's a fishy story.
Others might call it childishor simply a work of fiction.
It is the tale of the CharlesMill Lake Monster, an amphibious cryptid
(02:49):
that allegedly once terrorized
the lake and its inhabitants.
Dating back to 1959,
the monster is describedas a huge armless humanoid
with luminous green eyes and largewebbed feet.
According to a storywritten by former reporter
(03:13):
Rob Morphy on American monsters.com,
which he co-created with Mark Storrs,
the most famous reported encounter took
place March 28th of that year,when three friends, Jennie Patterson,
Wayne Armstrong and Michael Lane,claimed to have run into the beast.
(03:37):
After a quick getaway,the then teens contacted authorities
to investigate the sceneon the shores of the lake.
According to the story,the officers discovered a series of tracks
that resembled the footgear worn by skin divers.
There has been only one reported encountersince then.
(04:01):
Bill Schradley, owner of both CharlesMill and Pleasant Hill Marinas,
said he has never heard too many localstalking about the beast.
The incidents occurredlong before Schradley's tenure,
and he saidthe story seemed to fade over the years.
But recentlythe local legend has resurfaced.
(04:26):
Unlike other cryptid legends,the story of the Mill Lake monster
has names and dates associated with it.
Some things Schradley saiddifferentiates it from other lore.
In 1985, Loren Coleman,
who studies cryptozoology,published a book titled
(04:50):
“Curious Encounters”,in which he wrote about the local monster.
The thing was seen again in 1963
and described as luminous and green eyed.
He wrote, “I examinedthe site of these encounters
and can testify to the Charles
(05:11):
Mill Lake's swampy affinities.
Certainly a good home for a black lagoon
beast.” That's crazy. No.
Thank you.
Well,my honorable mention goes to Orange Eyes,
one of the almost dozen differentBigfoot variations that call Ohio home.
(05:32):
What makes Orange Eyes differentfrom your run of the mill Sasquatch
is, of course, his bright orange eyes,but also his incredible stats,
coming in at an astonishing 11fttall and weighing about 1,000 pounds.
Dang.
Orange eyes made his first public debutaround the 1960s around Charles
(05:53):
Mill Reservoir, outside of Mansfield,and more specifically, Ruggles Road,
the Lover's Lanemakeout spot for Ashland County.
Witnesses say the beast was coveredin thick, matted hair and had a stench
that required something a little strongerthan tomato juice to get rid of it.
He is said to have terrorizedpeople who made the trip to Lover's Lane
(06:15):
by looking in windows,banging on the windows, or
even rocking cars so hardthey almost tipped over.
In April of 1968, a bunch of school kids
were hanging in the area at night,Oh, those were different times.
when they spotted the orange glowing eyes.
But instead of screaming and running away,
(06:38):
they chased it with their flashlights,baseball bats, and rope.
Although I'd love to knowwhat they thought
they were going to do with itif they caught up with it.
The last recorded encountercame in June of 1991,
when two fishermenare trying their luck near Willis Creek,
which is just a little bitsouth of Charles Mill Lake.
These two guys hear something walking,look over
(07:00):
at the opposite bankand see two orange eyes.
They played statue for a few minutes,hoping to not attract
any attention,and the beast finally just moved on.
Now, in fairness,there's talk of this one being debunked.
Something about a guyrunning around the forest
waving a stick with orangebike reflectors on it.
(07:21):
Maybe it's me, but Orange Eyes
actually seems like a more plausibleanswer than that guy.
Either way, an 11ft,thousand pound, smelly creature
with glowing orange eyesdeserves an honorable mention in my book.
Okay,it's time to get to the major awards.
Matt, why don't you go firstwith your first category winner?
(07:45):
And the Meanest Hombre award
goes to the Minerva Monster.
The Minerva Monster is a cryptid,an alleged creature
whose existence is unproven.
Reportedly seen in and around Minerva,Ohio,
primarily during the late summer of 1978.
(08:08):
The small town of Minerva is located
in Stark County, nestled among dense woodsand rural farmland,
making it the perfect setting for strangesightings.
The most famous and well-documented
encounters come from the Clayton family,
who lived on the outskirts of townnear a heavily wooded area.
(08:32):
Their terrifying experienceswould soon spark a wave of curiosity,
media attention and speculationthat still lingers decades later.
In August 1978, Evelyn
and Howe Clayton,along with their grandchildren, reported
a large, hairy foul smelling creature
(08:56):
lurking in the woods behind their home.
They described it as being aroundseven feet tall,
weighing over 300 pounds,
and covered in dark, shaggy hair.
Its eyes reportedly glowed red
and it emitted a putrid odor,
a detailmany later witnesses would confirm.
(09:20):
One of the Stark County deputy sheriffs
who always seemed to be onthe scene was James Shannon.
He also had always talked about this
smell and always grabbed him.
And he also noticed, obviously,a lot of the damage to the house.
(09:40):
The creature was first seen nearan old gravel pit on their property,
appearing to be watching the houseand the people inside.
And a particularly frightening moment,the family saw the creature
peering into the windows, standing
completely still, just observing.
(10:02):
Over the following days,the creature returned
repeatedly,sometimes accompanied by bizarre howling
and the sound of rocksbeing thrown at their home.
At one point, the family's GermanShepherd disappeared and was unfortunately
later found dead, its neck snapped
(10:24):
which many took as a chilling warning.
Also through this time, peopleat different residences
had mentioned and reported
that their dogs had gone missing,The encounters were serious enough
that the Claytons contactedthe Stark County Sheriff's Department.
(10:46):
Like I mentioned, James Shannonspecifically.
When the officers arrived,they noticed the unmistakable stench
described by the family, though,they didn't see the creature themselves.
The damageand the scent could not be ignored.
Police conducted interviewsand filed official reports,
(11:10):
but ultimately could not explainwhat the family saw.
Though they remained neutralin their public statements,
some officers,like James Shannon, privately admitted
they believed the family truly encounteredsomething unusual.
The family always seemed to be extremeupset.
(11:32):
He had also mentioned that there wasno way that this family was lying.
People that distressedjust did not make these things up.
Soon after, local
newspapers and TV stationspicked up the story,
and the term Minerva Monster was born.
(11:54):
Following the Clayton reports,other local residents came forward
claiming they, too,had seen similar creatures over the years.
Tall, ape like silent figures
wandering through fieldsor emerging from the woods.
Sometimes with two or more.
(12:15):
While the sightings were localizedto Stark County,
they echoed tales from other regionsin the US,
most notably Bigfoot reportsfrom the Pacific Northwest.
This led many believe the Minerva Monster
was Ohio's own version of Bigfoot.
(12:35):
Though the Minerva Monster vanishedas suddenly as it appeared,
its legend endured.
Interest was revived in the 2010swith documentaries and interviews,
most notably the 2015 independent film“Minerva
Monster” by Small Town Monsters,which explored the story
(12:58):
in depth and interviewedsurviving witnesses.
Today, the creature has becomea symbol of local folklore.
Minerva has even hosted festivals
and gatherings in it's honor,
Whether the Minerva Monster was a rareundiscovered animal or the product
(13:18):
of a frightened community's imagination,
it left a lasting mark on Ohio lore.
It remains one of the most credibleand widely investigated cryptid sightings
in the Midwest, and continuesto captivate those drawn to the mysteries
lurkingjust beyond the edge of the woods. Wow.
(13:42):
never really wanted to meet a Bigfoot,but I really don't want to meet that guy.
Okay, my first categoryis going to the biggest cryptid.
and out of all the Ohio cryptids,I think it's fair
to say that the award for the biggesthas to go to Bessie,
a snake like water serpent better known tosome of you as the Lake Erie Monster,
(14:03):
measuring in by some reportsat almost 50ft long.
Well done.
Now, I know the idea of a 50ft serpent
in LakeErie can be kind of hard to believe.
Most people probably go to the “swamp gas”excuse for
any given sea monster, lake sturgeon.
I'm certainly not trying to throw shadeon sturgeon.
(14:25):
For freshwater fish, they're huge.
But they don't crack ten feet.
Sightings of this enormousaquatic beast date back
before newspapers got to Ohio.
In fact, all of the local NativeAmerican tribes surrounding the Great
Lakes, including all six nationsof the Iroquois Confederacy,
hold legends of a great horned serpentthat lives in the underworld.
(14:50):
So the stories of this beast
have been around as long as therehave been eyes in the area to see it.
The first recorded sightingcomes from Holy shnikey!
Sandusky, Ohio, in 1793, when the captainof the sloop Felicity reports
disturbing a large snake like creaturewhile
shooting at ducks north of Sandusky.
(15:12):
He described it as more than a rod,
which is an old unit of measurementequaling 16.5ft in length.
The next report just a few yearslater in 1818, and this one is recorded
in the very first edition of the ClevelandGazette in Commercial Register.
The first newspaper startedin the Cleveland area.
(15:33):
And it was a lettersubmitted by Simon Honesty.
So, you know he's not lying.
Not only does he mentionmany previous reports in the area
of this creature stretching backthe previous three summers,
but goes on to describe that the daybefore he was on the sloop Speculation
when they spied somethingthrashing in the water about a mile ahead.
(15:55):
As they got closer,they could see the head and tail
sticking out of the water,and they guessed its length
at 50ftand circumference of around four feet. So
just over a foot in diameter.
Sounds like it needs to eat a sandwichor two.
Once they got to within about 150ft of it,it got a little anxious,
(16:15):
stuck its forked tongue out at them,splashed its tail
enough to froth up the water,and disappeared under the surface.
That same year,it showed up around Toledo,
to the great surprise of two Frenchsettlers, the Dusseau brothers.
These guys hit the beachonly to find a 30ft long sturgeon
(16:36):
looking thing writhing on the groundlike it wasn't long for this earth.
And yes, you heard that right.
They said it looked like a sturgeon.
However,they also said it had human like arms.
They ran to get help.
Or more likely, witnesses.
But the creature was gonewhen they returned,
(16:57):
leaving only some disturbed sandand a few silver scales.
Fast forward to 1892,
and there's a report from another shipgoing from Buffalo to Toledo.
They see a 50ft long,
four footwide, (Sounds like he got that sandwich.)
brownish creaturechurning the water ahead of them.
(17:17):
The description noted this aquatic terroras having
“viciously sparkling” eyes and large fins.
What exactly does viciously sparklingmean?
We're going to fast forward again to 1931.
But don't think for a second thatthese are all the sightings on record.
A search of Newspapers.comfor “sea monster” or “lake monster”
(17:40):
through the 19th centurybrings up all kinds of stories,
not only internationally,but right here around our own Great Lakes.
So back to 1931.
Several people around Sandusky report
seeing what looks like a row of kegs,
which disappears as an alligatorlike head pops up.
(18:01):
And because human nature is quitepredictable, the sighting is quickly
followed by a report of two cementsalesmen from Cincinnati.
Clifford Wilson and Frances Coggins.
Coggins toes. Coggins. Toes.
Hogan's toes. Sorry. Frances.
Clifford Wilson and Francis Cogenstose,claiming, “We got her!”
(18:25):
The two men say they were just floatingaround between Sandusky and Cedar Point
when they happened to notice this thinggliding through the water.
They hit it on the head with an oar,(apparently that was enough to kill it),
towed back to shore,throw it in a crate, (because
we all have those laying around),and nail it shut.
The next thing out of their mouths?
(18:45):
Where's the reward money?
We just saved you all from this menacingmonster.
People of Sandusky say sorry, guys.
Not to let an opportunity go to waste,the two men put the creature on display
at one of the Cedar Point carnivals,where people can see the one
and only Lake Erie Monsterfor the bargain price of $0.15 a head.
(19:07):
That is, until Clifford's uncle getswind of what's going on.
He let people knowthat Clifford is not a cement salesman.
He's a carnival worker.
Better check that serpent.
They did.
Turned out to be most likely an IndianPython, but certainly not a lake serpent.
Okay, one bad apple.
(19:28):
But there are so many more sightings.
In 1960,Ken Golic is fishing off of Sandusky Pier
when he sees a cigar shaped creature 1to 2ft wide, rise
from the water and crawl onto a beachusing four flippers.
1969 Near South Bass Island,
(19:48):
Jim Schinderreported a serpent about two feet wide,
coming withinsix feet of him while he was fishing.
He doesn't know how long it was,but the rest of the description
sounds just like Bessie.
1981 On the Cedar Point Causeway.
From her house on the Causeway,Theresa Kovach sees a snake
like creaturelarge enough to capsize a boat.
(20:12):
1983 In Rye Beach, Mary
M Landoll sees a 40 to 50ftgreenish brown creature
with a long neck and one visible eyenear her porch.
1985 Around Vermilionand the Lorraine Coast Guard Station.
1986 again near Lorraine.
(20:32):
1990. 1991.
1993 had enough sightings that eventhe Weekly World News did a story on it.
And on and on up to the latest reportI could find, which was 2021.
But remember,those are only the reported sightings.
How many are not reported?
Of course, this area of South Bayhas embraced its slimy, slender celebrity
(20:57):
who's been the inspirationfor not only the AHL hockey team,
kind of like the baseball minor leagues,the Cleveland Monsters,
but also for the Great LakesBrewing Company, Imperial
IPA beer called the Lake Erie Monster.
So if you find yourself hanging aroundnorthern Ohio
in the Holy shnikey!
(21:19):
Sandusky area, take a few minutesand look out at the water.
You never know what slippery celebrityyou might see.
Okay, Matt.
What's the next category on your list?
And the Weirdest Cryptid Award goes
to the Loveland Frog creatures.
(21:40):
The Loveland Frogman is a legendary
creature rooted in Ohio folklore,particularly associated
with the town of Loveland,near Cincinnati.
Described as a humanoid frog standingapproximately four feet tall,
this cryptid has been the subjectof various reported sightings
(22:02):
and has become a notablefigure in local culture.
The earliest known report of the LovelandFrogman dates
back to May 1955.
According to the legend,a traveling salesman driving
through Loveland late at night,claimed to have seen three
bipedal, frog like creaturesstanding by the roadside.
(22:26):
These creatures were describedas having leathery skin
and frog faces,and in some versions of the story,
one of them held a wandthat emitted sparks.
This initial account laid the foundation
for the Frog Man's place in Ohio folklore.
(22:47):
The legend gained renewed attentionin 1972
with reports from local law enforcement.
On March 3rd, officer Ray Sharkey
reported seeing an unidentified animalwith leathery skin
crouched like a frog nearthe Little Miami River.
Two weeks later, officer MarkMatthews encountered a similar creature
(23:11):
and shot it, later identifying it
as a large iguana missing its tail.
Matthew believed the animal was an escapedpet, and both officers
concluded that the earlier sightingswere likely misidentifications.
I will say this, considering that these
(23:32):
were two policeofficers, highly trained individuals
whose opinions are based on
watching and learning from what they see.
You have to take this very seriously.
Police officers generally are the types
that don't talk about cryptidsand supernatural or paranormal things.
(23:56):
it makes you wonder,since he changed his opinion
about what happened, was ithis superiors that told him to do so.
Was it other officersthat started to give him some guff
because of what he supposedly saw?
Despite the 1972 clarification,
(24:18):
the Loveland frogmencontinued to capture public imagination.
In 2016, a local teenagerclaimed to have seen a creature resembling
the Frog Man while playing Pokemon Go,
reigniting interest in the legend.
The Frog Man has since become an integralpart of Loveland's identity.
(24:42):
In 2023, the city embraced the creatureas its official mascot,
featuring a Frog Prince characterat community events.
The legend has also inspired various
cultural works,including the 2014 musical “Hot
Damn, It's the Loveland Frog” and the 2023
(25:04):
horror film “Frog Man.” Today,
the Loveland Frog Man standsas a symbol of regional folklore,
blending mystery, community identityand cultural expression.
And they definitely deserved gettingthe award for the weirdest cryptid.
(25:25):
Now. That guy I want to meet.
Anyway, our last award for the eveningis more of a general category.
And I get the feelingI am about to tell you Ohioans,
something about yourselfthat you did not know.
According to a map createdby Reddit poster, truthisfictionyt,
California, Texas,and Florida each have over 20 cryptids
(25:48):
each in their state, and Ohio and a fewothers are in the second tier.
Okay.
But if we include the 11 differentvariations of Bigfoot that Ohio claims,
(Grassman, the Minerva Monster,Orange Eyes, Cedar Bog Monster, Clear
Creek Monster, Mohican Monster,Southeastern Ohio Wildman, Guernsey County
(26:09):
Apeman, Tuscarawas River Beast,Wayne National Forest Shadow, Hocking.
Hills Stalker) which is pretty awardworthy in its own right,
I think that putsyou guys back in the top tier.
Now, when you factorin the population of each state
divided by the number of cryptidseach state has,
that gives us a per capita cryptid rating.
(26:30):
And guess what?
Ohio ranks in with over oneand a half cryptids per million people,
while the runner up, Texas, only has 0.7per million.
The Buckeye State wins.
Well done, Ohio.
It is not just the sheer number, thoughthat is impressive, but it's the variety.
(26:50):
Everything from cryptidclassics of Bigfoot and Dogman
to the wonderful diversity of the LovelandFrogman,
the Melon Heads, Mothmanand the Pukwudgie.
Speaking of Pukwudgies,let's talk about those little tricksters.
These two foot tall, gray skinned goblinscome straight from Algonquin lore,
carried to Ohio by tribeslike the Lenape and Mohican.
(27:14):
They are magical mischiefmakers who love to shapeshift,
turn invisible, and play pranks.
The Wampanoag say the giant Maushopscattered Pukwudgies across the Great
Lakes, with some of them landing in Ohio'swoods, where they lived to this day.
Back in 2014, two kids in northwestOhio near the Michigan line
(27:36):
saw a tiny creature with big earsby an old burial ground.
They swore it was a Pukwudgiestraight out of legend.
You might find themlurking in Mohican State Park or near
the ancient mounds in Newark, drawnto spots buzzing with spiritual energy.
Ohio loves its little Pukwudgie so much
they made it into the “Ohio: An Unnatural History” exhibit (27:59):
undefined
at the Rutherford B Hayes Museumin Fremont, alongside Bessie and Frogman.
So why does Ohio have so many creatures?
Well, just look at the land.
Lake Erie's depths hide Bessie.
While Charles Mills's swampsare a great hiding place for Orange Eyes.
(28:23):
The forest covers 33% of the state fromHocking Hills to Wayne National Forest.
That is a lot of acreage for Grassmanand his 11 cousins,
with very few bearsto blame for mistaken identity.
Ohio is a cryptid Paradise.
And it's not just modern tales.
Ohio's cryptid roots dig deep.
(28:45):
Way before Reddit maps,the Seneca told of the Oniare,
a Lake Erie serpentthat might be Bessie's ancestor.
The Shawnee spoke of the Wild Ones,that sound a lot like Grassman.
The Great Serpent Mound, a 1,348foot tribute to serpent spirits,
shows Ohio's been monster centricfor a whole long time.
(29:09):
And Ohio doesn't.
Just like its cryptids.
They throw parties for them.
Salt ForksBigfoot Conference, where Grassman is
king, draws hundreds of people every year.
Hocking Hills hosts Bigfoot hikes, whileHoly shnikey!
Sandusky sends boats to chase down Bessie.
(29:30):
From festivals to the Cleveland Monstershockey team,
it is a state wide mania.
Some say Bessie's just a big fish.
Frog man's just an iguana.
But with 20 cryptids from Native Talesto today,
Ohio's tradition of belief is unbeatable.
That's why the Most Cryptid InhabitedState Award
(29:53):
goes to - Ohio!
So there you have it.
Our list of awardwinning cryptids that make Ohio
one of the most terrifying placesto visit in this entire country.
Who knows?
We might just be back with another round.
What do you think, Matt?
Thinkwe could come up with more Ohio winners?
(30:13):
Or maybe we tackle a new state.
Oh, I absolutely think
we could come up with some more Ohiowinnres, Carol Ann.
We left outone that's near and dear to where I live.
Well, maybe not near and dear,but you know what I mean.
And I absolutely would love to revisit
(30:36):
doing this again with youand hitting some of the other states.
I can't wait to do it again.
It's always amazing having Planet 412
and The InBetweendo a collaboration together.
Thank you so much. Love you.
Thank you so much, Matt.
(30:58):
It has been a pleasure.
Special thanks to my co-host, Mr.
Matt Emch.
If you haven't already,or even if you have,
make sure you check out his YouTubechannel, Planet 412 for
his own stellar style of storytelling.
If you want to continue downthe less traveled path of cryptid
(31:20):
craziness, click right here.
Be careful out there.
And I will see youhere again, on The InBetween.
So you think you know Ohio?
Maybe not so much.
Every state has its own uniqueset of cryptids to call its own,
but the Buckeye State could win awardsfor its oversized menagerie of weirdness.
And today, we are joined by one of Ohio'svery own, Matt Emch.
From Planet 412 to call outjust a few of these top honors.
(00:55):
I'm Carol Ann,and welcome to The InBetween.
All right, Ohio, you've done it.
Not only are you the first stateI think of when I think about Dogman,
but you've popped up on the weirdnessradar enough times for other things
that it's time to call you outwith the street cred you deserve
(01:19):
with your very own Cryptid Academy Awards.
And what would an award showbe without a co-host?
Boring.
So I am proud to announce my co-hosttoday is none other than Ohio's
own cryptid master, MattEmch from the YouTube channel Planet 412.
How are you today, my friend?
(01:40):
I'm doing great, Carol Ann.
It's awesome to be backdoing a collaboration with you
and The InBetween.
And the 412 is ready to roll.
So let's get started. Awesome.
Well, we are here to give some awardsthat I think
are well deserved to some of Ohio'scryptid finest.
But first, Matt and I both havean honorable mention we want to include.
(02:05):
Matt, why don't you go first?
And the honorable mentiongoes to the Mills Lake Swamp Monster.
Ohio's own swamp thing.
From Mifflin,Ohio is where this story comes from.
In a glass frame behind the counterat Charles Mill Lake Marina,
(02:26):
a story is displayed for visitors to read.
The tale is not that of a monstrouscatfish caught at the dam,
thoughsome might claim it's a fishy story.
Others might call it childishor simply a work of fiction.
It is the tale of the CharlesMill Lake Monster, an amphibious cryptid
(02:49):
that allegedly once terrorized
the lake and its inhabitants.
Dating back to 1959,
the monster is describedas a huge armless humanoid
with luminous green eyes and largewebbed feet.
According to a storywritten by former reporter
(03:13):
Rob Morphy on American monsters.com,
which he co-created with Mark Storrs,
the most famous reported encounter took
place March 28th of that year,when three friends, Jennie Patterson,
Wayne Armstrong and Michael Lane,claimed to have run into the beast.
(03:37):
After a quick getaway,the then teens contacted authorities
to investigate the sceneon the shores of the lake.
According to the story,the officers discovered a series of tracks
that resembled the footgear worn by skin divers.
There has been only one reported encountersince then.
(04:01):
Bill Schradley, owner of both CharlesMill and Pleasant Hill Marinas,
said he has never heard too many localstalking about the beast.
The incidents occurredlong before Schradley's tenure,
and he saidthe story seemed to fade over the years.
But recentlythe local legend has resurfaced.
(04:26):
Unlike other cryptid legends,the story of the Mill Lake monster
has names and dates associated with it.
Some things Schradley saiddifferentiates it from other lore.
In 1985, Loren Coleman,
who studies cryptozoology,published a book titled
(04:50):
“Curious Encounters”,in which he wrote about the local monster.
The thing was seen again in 1963
and described as luminous and green eyed.
He wrote, “I examinedthe site of these encounters
and can testify to the Charles
(05:11):
Mill Lake's swampy affinities.
Certainly a good home for a black lagoon
beast.” That's crazy. No.
Thank you.
Well,my honorable mention goes to Orange Eyes,
one of the almost dozen differentBigfoot variations that call Ohio home.
(05:32):
What makes Orange Eyes differentfrom your run of the mill Sasquatch
is, of course, his bright orange eyes,but also his incredible stats,
coming in at an astonishing 11fttall and weighing about 1,000 pounds.
Dang.
Orange eyes made his first public debutaround the 1960s around Charles
(05:53):
Mill Reservoir, outside of Mansfield,and more specifically, Ruggles Road,
the Lover's Lanemakeout spot for Ashland County.
Witnesses say the beast was coveredin thick, matted hair and had a stench
that required something a little strongerthan tomato juice to get rid of it.
He is said to have terrorizedpeople who made the trip to Lover's Lane
(06:15):
by looking in windows,banging on the windows, or
even rocking cars so hardthey almost tipped over.
In April of 1968, a bunch of school kids
were hanging in the area at night,Oh, those were different times.
when they spotted the orange glowing eyes.
But instead of screaming and running away,
(06:38):
they chased it with their flashlights,baseball bats, and rope.
Although I'd love to knowwhat they thought
they were going to do with itif they caught up with it.
The last recorded encountercame in June of 1991,
when two fishermenare trying their luck near Willis Creek,
which is just a little bitsouth of Charles Mill Lake.
These two guys hear something walking,look over
(07:00):
at the opposite bankand see two orange eyes.
They played statue for a few minutes,hoping to not attract
any attention,and the beast finally just moved on.
Now, in fairness,there's talk of this one being debunked.
Something about a guyrunning around the forest
waving a stick with orangebike reflectors on it.
(07:21):
Maybe it's me, but Orange Eyes
actually seems like a more plausibleanswer than that guy.
Either way, an 11ft,thousand pound, smelly creature
with glowing orange eyesdeserves an honorable mention in my book.
Okay,it's time to get to the major awards.
Matt, why don't you go firstwith your first category winner?
(07:45):
And the Meanest Hombre award
goes to the Minerva Monster.
The Minerva Monster is a cryptid,an alleged creature
whose existence is unproven.
Reportedly seen in and around Minerva,Ohio,
primarily during the late summer of 1978.
(08:08):
The small town of Minerva is located
in Stark County, nestled among dense woodsand rural farmland,
making it the perfect setting for strangesightings.
The most famous and well-documented
encounters come from the Clayton family,
who lived on the outskirts of townnear a heavily wooded area.
(08:32):
Their terrifying experienceswould soon spark a wave of curiosity,
media attention and speculationthat still lingers decades later.
In August 1978, Evelyn
and Howe Clayton,along with their grandchildren, reported
a large, hairy foul smelling creature
(08:56):
lurking in the woods behind their home.
They described it as being aroundseven feet tall,
weighing over 300 pounds,
and covered in dark, shaggy hair.
Its eyes reportedly glowed red
and it emitted a putrid odor,
a detailmany later witnesses would confirm.
(09:20):
One of the Stark County deputy sheriffs
who always seemed to be onthe scene was James Shannon.
He also had always talked about this
smell and always grabbed him.
And he also noticed, obviously,a lot of the damage to the house.
(09:40):
The creature was first seen nearan old gravel pit on their property,
appearing to be watching the houseand the people inside.
And a particularly frightening moment,the family saw the creature
peering into the windows, standing
completely still, just observing.
(10:02):
Over the following days,the creature returned
repeatedly,sometimes accompanied by bizarre howling
and the sound of rocksbeing thrown at their home.
At one point, the family's GermanShepherd disappeared and was unfortunately
later found dead, its neck snapped
(10:24):
which many took as a chilling warning.
Also through this time, peopleat different residences
had mentioned and reported
that their dogs had gone missing,The encounters were serious enough
that the Claytons contactedthe Stark County Sheriff's Department.
(10:46):
Like I mentioned, James Shannonspecifically.
When the officers arrived,they noticed the unmistakable stench
described by the family, though,they didn't see the creature themselves.
The damageand the scent could not be ignored.
Police conducted interviewsand filed official reports,
(11:10):
but ultimately could not explainwhat the family saw.
Though they remained neutralin their public statements,
some officers,like James Shannon, privately admitted
they believed the family truly encounteredsomething unusual.
The family always seemed to be extremeupset.
(11:32):
He had also mentioned that there wasno way that this family was lying.
People that distressedjust did not make these things up.
Soon after, local
newspapers and TV stationspicked up the story,
and the term Minerva Monster was born.
(11:54):
Following the Clayton reports,other local residents came forward
claiming they, too,had seen similar creatures over the years.
Tall, ape like silent figures
wandering through fieldsor emerging from the woods.
Sometimes with two or more.
(12:15):
While the sightings were localizedto Stark County,
they echoed tales from other regionsin the US,
most notably Bigfoot reportsfrom the Pacific Northwest.
This led many believe the Minerva Monster
was Ohio's own version of Bigfoot.
(12:35):
Though the Minerva Monster vanishedas suddenly as it appeared,
its legend endured.
Interest was revived in the 2010swith documentaries and interviews,
most notably the 2015 independent film“Minerva
Monster” by Small Town Monsters,which explored the story
(12:58):
in depth and interviewedsurviving witnesses.
Today, the creature has becomea symbol of local folklore.
Minerva has even hosted festivals
and gatherings in it's honor,
Whether the Minerva Monster was a rareundiscovered animal or the product
(13:18):
of a frightened community's imagination,
it left a lasting mark on Ohio lore.
It remains one of the most credibleand widely investigated cryptid sightings
in the Midwest, and continuesto captivate those drawn to the mysteries
lurkingjust beyond the edge of the woods. Wow.
(13:42):
never really wanted to meet a Bigfoot,but I really don't want to meet that guy.
Okay, my first categoryis going to the biggest cryptid.
and out of all the Ohio cryptids,I think it's fair
to say that the award for the biggesthas to go to Bessie,
a snake like water serpent better known tosome of you as the Lake Erie Monster,
(14:03):
measuring in by some reportsat almost 50ft long.
Well done.
Now, I know the idea of a 50ft serpent
in LakeErie can be kind of hard to believe.
Most people probably go to the “swamp gas”excuse for
any given sea monster, lake sturgeon.
I'm certainly not trying to throw shadeon sturgeon.
(14:25):
For freshwater fish, they're huge.
But they don't crack ten feet.
Sightings of this enormousaquatic beast date back
before newspapers got to Ohio.
In fact, all of the local NativeAmerican tribes surrounding the Great
Lakes, including all six nationsof the Iroquois Confederacy,
hold legends of a great horned serpentthat lives in the underworld.
(14:50):
So the stories of this beast
have been around as long as therehave been eyes in the area to see it.
The first recorded sightingcomes from Holy shnikey!
Sandusky, Ohio, in 1793, when the captainof the sloop Felicity reports
disturbing a large snake like creaturewhile
shooting at ducks north of Sandusky.
(15:12):
He described it as more than a rod,
which is an old unit of measurementequaling 16.5ft in length.
The next report just a few yearslater in 1818, and this one is recorded
in the very first edition of the ClevelandGazette in Commercial Register.
The first newspaper startedin the Cleveland area.
(15:33):
And it was a lettersubmitted by Simon Honesty.
So, you know he's not lying.
Not only does he mentionmany previous reports in the area
of this creature stretching backthe previous three summers,
but goes on to describe that the daybefore he was on the sloop Speculation
when they spied somethingthrashing in the water about a mile ahead.
(15:55):
As they got closer,they could see the head and tail
sticking out of the water,and they guessed its length
at 50ftand circumference of around four feet. So
just over a foot in diameter.
Sounds like it needs to eat a sandwichor two.
Once they got to within about 150ft of it,it got a little anxious,
(16:15):
stuck its forked tongue out at them,splashed its tail
enough to froth up the water,and disappeared under the surface.
That same year,it showed up around Toledo,
to the great surprise of two Frenchsettlers, the Dusseau brothers.
These guys hit the beachonly to find a 30ft long sturgeon
(16:36):
looking thing writhing on the groundlike it wasn't long for this earth.
And yes, you heard that right.
They said it looked like a sturgeon.
However,they also said it had human like arms.
They ran to get help.
Or more likely, witnesses.
But the creature was gonewhen they returned,
(16:57):
leaving only some disturbed sandand a few silver scales.
Fast forward to 1892,
and there's a report from another shipgoing from Buffalo to Toledo.
They see a 50ft long,
four footwide, (Sounds like he got that sandwich.)
brownish creaturechurning the water ahead of them.
(17:17):
The description noted this aquatic terroras having
“viciously sparkling” eyes and large fins.
What exactly does viciously sparklingmean?
We're going to fast forward again to 1931.
But don't think for a second thatthese are all the sightings on record.
A search of Newspapers.comfor “sea monster” or “lake monster”
(17:40):
through the 19th centurybrings up all kinds of stories,
not only internationally,but right here around our own Great Lakes.
So back to 1931.
Several people around Sandusky report
seeing what looks like a row of kegs,
which disappears as an alligatorlike head pops up.
(18:01):
And because human nature is quitepredictable, the sighting is quickly
followed by a report of two cementsalesmen from Cincinnati.
Clifford Wilson and Frances Coggins.
Coggins toes. Coggins. Toes.
Hogan's toes. Sorry. Frances.
Clifford Wilson and Francis Cogenstose,claiming, “We got her!”
(18:25):
The two men say they were just floatingaround between Sandusky and Cedar Point
when they happened to notice this thinggliding through the water.
They hit it on the head with an oar,(apparently that was enough to kill it),
towed back to shore,throw it in a crate, (because
we all have those laying around),and nail it shut.
The next thing out of their mouths?
(18:45):
Where's the reward money?
We just saved you all from this menacingmonster.
People of Sandusky say sorry, guys.
Not to let an opportunity go to waste,the two men put the creature on display
at one of the Cedar Point carnivals,where people can see the one
and only Lake Erie Monsterfor the bargain price of $0.15 a head.
(19:07):
That is, until Clifford's uncle getswind of what's going on.
He let people knowthat Clifford is not a cement salesman.
He's a carnival worker.
Better check that serpent.
They did.
Turned out to be most likely an IndianPython, but certainly not a lake serpent.
Okay, one bad apple.
(19:28):
But there are so many more sightings.
In 1960,Ken Golic is fishing off of Sandusky Pier
when he sees a cigar shaped creature 1to 2ft wide, rise
from the water and crawl onto a beachusing four flippers.
1969 Near South Bass Island,
(19:48):
Jim Schinderreported a serpent about two feet wide,
coming withinsix feet of him while he was fishing.
He doesn't know how long it was,but the rest of the description
sounds just like Bessie.
1981 On the Cedar Point Causeway.
From her house on the Causeway,Theresa Kovach sees a snake
like creaturelarge enough to capsize a boat.
(20:12):
1983 In Rye Beach, Mary
M Landoll sees a 40 to 50ftgreenish brown creature
with a long neck and one visible eyenear her porch.
1985 Around Vermilionand the Lorraine Coast Guard Station.
1986 again near Lorraine.
(20:32):
1990. 1991.
1993 had enough sightings that eventhe Weekly World News did a story on it.
And on and on up to the latest reportI could find, which was 2021.
But remember,those are only the reported sightings.
How many are not reported?
Of course, this area of South Bayhas embraced its slimy, slender celebrity
(20:57):
who's been the inspirationfor not only the AHL hockey team,
kind of like the baseball minor leagues,the Cleveland Monsters,
but also for the Great LakesBrewing Company, Imperial
IPA beer called the Lake Erie Monster.
So if you find yourself hanging aroundnorthern Ohio
in the Holy shnikey!
(21:19):
Sandusky area, take a few minutesand look out at the water.
You never know what slippery celebrityyou might see.
Okay, Matt.
What's the next category on your list?
And the Weirdest Cryptid Award goes
to the Loveland Frog creatures.
(21:40):
The Loveland Frogman is a legendary
creature rooted in Ohio folklore,particularly associated
with the town of Loveland,near Cincinnati.
Described as a humanoid frog standingapproximately four feet tall,
this cryptid has been the subjectof various reported sightings
(22:02):
and has become a notablefigure in local culture.
The earliest known report of the LovelandFrogman dates
back to May 1955.
According to the legend,a traveling salesman driving
through Loveland late at night,claimed to have seen three
bipedal, frog like creaturesstanding by the roadside.
(22:26):
These creatures were describedas having leathery skin
and frog faces,and in some versions of the story,
one of them held a wandthat emitted sparks.
This initial account laid the foundation
for the Frog Man's place in Ohio folklore.
(22:47):
The legend gained renewed attentionin 1972
with reports from local law enforcement.
On March 3rd, officer Ray Sharkey
reported seeing an unidentified animalwith leathery skin
crouched like a frog nearthe Little Miami River.
Two weeks later, officer MarkMatthews encountered a similar creature
(23:11):
and shot it, later identifying it
as a large iguana missing its tail.
Matthew believed the animal was an escapedpet, and both officers
concluded that the earlier sightingswere likely misidentifications.
I will say this, considering that these
(23:32):
were two policeofficers, highly trained individuals
whose opinions are based on
watching and learning from what they see.
You have to take this very seriously.
Police officers generally are the types
that don't talk about cryptidsand supernatural or paranormal things.
(23:56):
it makes you wonder,since he changed his opinion
about what happened, was ithis superiors that told him to do so.
Was it other officersthat started to give him some guff
because of what he supposedly saw?
Despite the 1972 clarification,
(24:18):
the Loveland frogmencontinued to capture public imagination.
In 2016, a local teenagerclaimed to have seen a creature resembling
the Frog Man while playing Pokemon Go,
reigniting interest in the legend.
The Frog Man has since become an integralpart of Loveland's identity.
(24:42):
In 2023, the city embraced the creatureas its official mascot,
featuring a Frog Prince characterat community events.
The legend has also inspired various
cultural works,including the 2014 musical “Hot
Damn, It's the Loveland Frog” and the 2023
(25:04):
horror film “Frog Man.” Today,
the Loveland Frog Man standsas a symbol of regional folklore,
blending mystery, community identityand cultural expression.
And they definitely deserved gettingthe award for the weirdest cryptid.
(25:25):
Now. That guy I want to meet.
Anyway, our last award for the eveningis more of a general category.
And I get the feelingI am about to tell you Ohioans,
something about yourselfthat you did not know.
According to a map createdby Reddit poster, truthisfictionyt,
California, Texas,and Florida each have over 20 cryptids
(25:48):
each in their state, and Ohio and a fewothers are in the second tier.
Okay.
But if we include the 11 differentvariations of Bigfoot that Ohio claims,
(Grassman, the Minerva Monster,Orange Eyes, Cedar Bog Monster, Clear
Creek Monster, Mohican Monster,Southeastern Ohio Wildman, Guernsey County
(26:09):
Apeman, Tuscarawas River Beast,Wayne National Forest Shadow, Hocking.
Hills Stalker) which is pretty awardworthy in its own right,
I think that putsyou guys back in the top tier.
Now, when you factorin the population of each state
divided by the number of cryptidseach state has,
that gives us a per capita cryptid rating.
(26:30):
And guess what?
Ohio ranks in with over oneand a half cryptids per million people,
while the runner up, Texas, only has 0.7per million.
The Buckeye State wins.
Well done, Ohio.
It is not just the sheer number, thoughthat is impressive, but it's the variety.
(26:50):
Everything from cryptidclassics of Bigfoot and Dogman
to the wonderful diversity of the LovelandFrogman,
the Melon Heads, Mothmanand the Pukwudgie.
Speaking of Pukwudgies,let's talk about those little tricksters.
These two foot tall, gray skinned goblinscome straight from Algonquin lore,
carried to Ohio by tribeslike the Lenape and Mohican.
(27:14):
They are magical mischiefmakers who love to shapeshift,
turn invisible, and play pranks.
The Wampanoag say the giant Maushopscattered Pukwudgies across the Great
Lakes, with some of them landing in Ohio'swoods, where they lived to this day.
Back in 2014, two kids in northwestOhio near the Michigan line
(27:36):
saw a tiny creature with big earsby an old burial ground.
They swore it was a Pukwudgiestraight out of legend.
You might find themlurking in Mohican State Park or near
the ancient mounds in Newark, drawnto spots buzzing with spiritual energy.
Ohio loves its little Pukwudgie so much
they made it into the “Ohio: An Unnatural History” exhibit (27:59):
undefined
at the Rutherford B Hayes Museumin Fremont, alongside Bessie and Frogman.
So why does Ohio have so many creatures?
Well, just look at the land.
Lake Erie's depths hide Bessie.
While Charles Mills's swampsare a great hiding place for Orange Eyes.
(28:23):
The forest covers 33% of the state fromHocking Hills to Wayne National Forest.
That is a lot of acreage for Grassmanand his 11 cousins,
with very few bearsto blame for mistaken identity.
Ohio is a cryptid Paradise.
And it's not just modern tales.
Ohio's cryptid roots dig deep.
(28:45):
Way before Reddit maps,the Seneca told of the Oniare,
a Lake Erie serpentthat might be Bessie's ancestor.
The Shawnee spoke of the Wild Ones,that sound a lot like Grassman.
The Great Serpent Mound, a 1,348foot tribute to serpent spirits,
shows Ohio's been monster centricfor a whole long time.
(29:09):
And Ohio doesn't.
Just like its cryptids.
They throw parties for them.
Salt ForksBigfoot Conference, where Grassman is
king, draws hundreds of people every year.
Hocking Hills hosts Bigfoot hikes, whileHoly shnikey!
Sandusky sends boats to chase down Bessie.
(29:30):
From festivals to the Cleveland Monstershockey team,
it is a state wide mania.
Some say Bessie's just a big fish.
Frog man's just an iguana.
But with 20 cryptids from Native Talesto today,
Ohio's tradition of belief is unbeatable.
That's why the Most Cryptid InhabitedState Award
(29:53):
goes to - Ohio!
So there you have it.
Our list of awardwinning cryptids that make Ohio
one of the most terrifying placesto visit in this entire country.
Who knows?
We might just be back with another round.
What do you think, Matt?
Thinkwe could come up with more Ohio winners?
(30:13):
Or maybe we tackle a new state.
Oh, I absolutely think
we could come up with some more Ohiowinnres, Carol Ann.
We left outone that's near and dear to where I live.
Well, maybe not near and dear,but you know what I mean.
And I absolutely would love to revisit
(30:36):
doing this again with youand hitting some of the other states.
I can't wait to do it again.
It's always amazing having Planet 412
and The InBetweendo a collaboration together.
Thank you so much. Love you.
Thank you so much, Matt.
(30:58):
It has been a pleasure.
Special thanks to my co-host, Mr.
Matt Emch.
If you haven't already,or even if you have,
make sure you check out his YouTubechannel, Planet 412 for
his own stellar style of storytelling.
If you want to continue downthe less traveled path of cryptid
(31:20):
craziness, click right here.
Be careful out there.
And I will see youhere again, on The InBetween.
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