About half of Franklin County is made up of wooded areas and parts of the Appalachian Mountain range come through the county, particularly the Kittatinny Mountains and the Tuscarora Mountains. While these areas are known to be the home of deer and black bears, there may be something even more sinister lurking about.
The legend of the ‘Snallygaster’
Franklin County shares a legendary cryptid creature with neighboring Washington County and Frederick County, the “Snallygaster.” This bird-like reptile will be covered in more detail later in this spooky season series, but it is worth mentioning that the German monster of lore had been reported being seen in the mountain region over Cascade and Waynesboro.
Beware of the ‘Squonk’
Franklin County has its own mysterious creature of lore, the “Squonk.” The first tales spun of this unique cryptid began in 1910, when it was described in the book “Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods, with a Few Desert and Mountain Beasts,” written by William Thomas Cox (1878-1961). He described the Squonk as a rather emotional creature that is identified by its slumped stance, misfitting skin and warts covering its body. It was said to lure hunters by its weeping in the night and would cower and cry if cornered. Not exactly frightening, but certainly strange and unusual.
Protect your apples
A mischievous little creature from local folklore is the “Albatwitch.” Short in stature and sneaky, this creature is often depicted as a mini-Sasquatch and has earned the nickname “Apple-snitch,” due to its fondness for snatching apples from the Pennsylvania Dutch country. With its origins in Lancaster County, the Albatwitch legend made its way into Franklin County and its fondness for apples came with it. It is said that the little apple thieves preferred traveling at night and would occasionally throw an apple core at anyone who came too close to them. Beware while you’re visiting a local apple grove!
The most famous cryptid of all
Every wooded area in the United States and Canada has recorded sightings of the mysterious “Sasquatch,” or as it is more commonly known, “Bigfoot.” Franklin County is included on that list. The Sasquatch of Caledonia Park is one of the most common legends in the area. Reports of Bigfoot sightings have been around for many years; large footprints had been found in the muddy areas around the creek; and some have reported (and recorded) mysterious Sasquatch “howls” coming from deep within the woods of the park.
Could it be the mysterious creature? Are you brave enough to visit the park and find out?
Monsters don’t really exist, do they? Tales of these mysterious creatures have been passed down for generations, but every story has an origin, doesn’t it? Could it be that some of these creatures really are roaming the apple orchards and mountain woods of Franklin County? Why not venture out on a cool fall evening and find out?
This is part two of a four-part series that will be featured during the month of October looking back at the darker side of Washington and Franklin counties’ history as well as the fun of Halloween around the region.
