by Scott Harper
Michigan. The Great Lakes State. The Wolverine State. Michigan is the only US state to be made up of two peninsulas. Fifty percent of Michigan is covered by forest. Many lakes, ponds, and streams dot the peninsulas that make up Michigan, as well. Deer, and other wildlife are populous. In short, the state of Michigan is perfect country for Sasquatch—despite the heavy lake effect snow the region receives during the winter. And Sasquatch have been there for quite some time.
In 1878, a woman was hanging laundry in her backyard. A noise captured her attention. Upon looking up, she saw a 12-foot-tall, white Sasquatch in the cow pasture. The creature ran on all fours, leapt over a cow, stood up to its full height, then charged the woman, now running on two feet. She screamed, and ran into the house. The creature, chasing her, got tangled up in the clothesline. The woman ran from the house, to the lumber mill where her husband worked, refusing to return home for hours. When she did return home, with her husband, her husband found footprints, but no other sign of the creature.
A report filed in 1891 told of a Wildman of "gigantic proportions" with arms to below its knees, and "hands twice the usual size". The "Wildman" was said to have killed a bulldog with "one swipe". This took place in Gladwin County.
During the winter of 1917, in Ironwood, Michigan, two hunters saw a "man in a fur suit" steal a deer they had killed. The "man" made off with the deer carcass tucked under his arm.
News of a 12' 7" skeleton being unearthed in Jackson, Michigan made front page news on September 6, 1919.
Somewhere along the Saginaw River, in 1937, a Sasquatch was seen to climb from the river, rest leaning against a tree for a time, and then return to the river.
An area in Charlotte County Michigan bears the name Gorilla Swamp due to a string of sightings of a bipedal, hairy creature seen there multiple times in 1951.
The most humorous Sasquatch sighting I've ever heard of occurred in Petosky State Park in 1962. A Michigan native was hiking in the park when he heard a noise. Upon investigating, he spotted a Sasquatch. The creature appeared not to see him, and simply kept walking. After only a few steps, the Sasquatch stubbed a toe on a raised tree root, tripped, and fell flat on its face. Afraid of drawing attention to himself by laughing, and angering the Sasquatch, the witness withdrew, and went on his way.
From 1962 until 1964 sightings of a creature dubbed the Monster of Sister Lakes was sighted off and on a number of times in Cass County. In 1964, a woman was chased into her house by a creature with long black hair, and glowing eyes. The woman estimated that the being weighed 500 pounds. It left footprints that were 6-inches-wide. It was thought that the creature that chased the woman had been the Monster of Sister Lakes.
August 13, 1965 brought a frightening account of an encounter with a 7-foot-tall, black- haired, growling Sasquatch. 17-year-old Christina Van Acker, and her mother, Ruth, were in a car, heading home. Christina was driving. Though they saw nothing in the road ahead of time, the car ran over something. After the bump, Christina stopped the car. Instantly, the Sasquatch reached through Christina's window, grabbed her by the hair, and slammed her head into the car door. Christina passed out. Ruth, later claiming that there was nothing she could do, fled to get help. Apparently, and luckily, Christina survived the ordeal with nothing but some bruises.
Sasquatch have been in the area we call "Michigan" for a very long time—long before the Patterson/Gimlin film, which was recorded in 1967. They're still there, too. Reports still come steadily from the Wolverine State. Years ago, I may have even had my own experience with a Sasquatch on Mackinac Island.
It was the late 1980s, or very early 1990s. I was on a vacation trip with my parents and best friend at that time. We were walking a trail in woodlands on Mackinac Island. Something off in the woods screamed. At the time, we chalked it up to a bobcat. Still, all four of us were unnerved, and turned around, and left the area quickly. To this day, I don't know what screamed in those woods. If it was a bobcat, though, it was a very large one!
About the Author
Scott Harper is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 published short stories, and several novels. Harper grew up in Ohio, and graduated from Marysville High School in 1993, and began screenwriting in 2007, after the publication of several short stories and novels. He has worked on projects for James Tucker Productions, and 11th Dimension Films. He is currently involved with several projects, covering literature, film, and comic books. He was also a contributing writer for "Nuclear Winter Entertainment" for several months before that site shut down. Scott is very happily married to bestselling paranormal author Desirée Lee. Together, they have a wonderful little girl, and are working jointly on several projects. Those projects include multiple books, as well as the hit webcomic "MoonWraith."
More information about his work can be found on his website: www.scottharper.net
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