Here are a few Appalachian underground mysteries that I collected over time, including encounters with dinosaur-like creatures as well as supernatural elements.
Interviews with survivors of a mine explosion on Dec. 26, 1945, known as the Belva Mine Disaster, appeared in several newspapers in Pineville, Kentucky, and elsewhere between 12/1981 and 1/1982. The interviews revealed that a few of the trapped miners observed a "door" in one of the walls open, and a man dressed like a "lumberjack" emerged from a well-lighted room. After assuring the men that they would be rescued, the strange visitor returned to the room and closed the door. These "lumberjack-like" entities have been described by miners in other parts of the country and in other nations as well. There has been debate about whether these are physical or paranormal entities.
A similar incident occurred in a mine near Shipton, Pennsylvania. Of the three victims of this particular mine disaster, only two were rescued. However, both described a similar paranormal encounter with strange 'men' who entered the caverns gave light to the two trapped miners, and told them that they would be rescued. They were uncertain whether the entities were humans or supernatural beings, however, as much of their collective "hallucination" contained both physical as well as supernatural elements. The bluish "light" that illuminated the room, they said, was real, but other holographic-like visuals that appeared on the walls, when touched by their hands, either disappeared or revealed solid rock behind.
Michael Burke, in his article 'Green Thing Sparks Rumors' in The Valley News Dispatch (New Kensington, Tarentum and Vandergrift, PA., Mar. 5, 1981) described a small creature (about 4 ft. tall), that appeared to be 'half humanoid - half dinosaur' was seen emerging from a sewer tunnel in New Kensington. A group of children chased the infant or young dinosauroid creature, one of them momentarily grabbing it at which point it let out a squealing or screeching sound, and then slipped from his hands and escaped back into the sewer tunnel. This incident took place some miles west of Dixonville, PA., where in 1944 several miners were killed or turned up missing as a result of encounters with 'alien' creatures in one particular mineshaft there.
PENNSYLVANIA, DIXONVILLE - Mine inspector Glenn E. Berger reported in 1944 to his superiors that the Dixonville mine disaster which "killed" 15 men was not the result of a cave-in, but rather an attack by underground creatures capable of manipulating the earth [partial cave-ins], whose domain the miners had apparently penetrated. Most of the dead miners were not injured by falling rocks but showed signs of large claw marks, others were missing, and one survivor spoke of seeing a vicious humanoid creature that was 'not of this world' within an ancient passage that the miners had broken into. The creature somehow created a "cave-in", blocking himself and another inspector [who closed his eyes when he felt the creature's hot breath on his neck] from the main passage until another rescue party began to dig through the collapse, scaring the "creature" away. - Stoney Brakefield - NEWS EXTRA, July 14, 1974
Several years ago two boys entered a small cave in a Pittsburgh suburb that was uncovered by road excavation work, only to find a partially buried thermal-bore (a perfectly round fused polished shaft apparently melted through the rock), partially concealed by dirt, which they uncover and explore. Their dog ran down the sloping shaft, which was about 4 ft. in diameter, ahead of them until a deep, vibrating sound was heard...at which time the dog came running back out of the shaft, clawing its way over them and in total terror, running back home. The cave was then subsequently covered by further road excavation. There were also rumors of old robber gangs in frontier times who would rob banks and escape to hide away in ancient caverns underground, via an "automatic door" they had discovered in the cliffs. - THE SHAVER MYSTERY Magazine
Near Blue Ridge Summit, PA is the location of the so-called "underground Pentagon" maintained by nearby Ft. Ritchie, MD, and used as a major electronic nerve center for the U.S. military. A massive installation that is also known as "Raven Rock" or "Site R" was blasted out of greenstone granite 650 feet below. A 260,000 sq. ft. facility sprawling beneath 716 acres composed of five different "buildings" in specially excavated separate caverns, literally forming an underground "pentagon". Also contains fluorescent lights, a convenience store, a barbershop, medical and dining facilities, an underground reservoir containing millions of gallons of water, a chapel, 35 miles of telephone lines, and six 1,000-watt generators. It is a supercomputing and electronic command post linked with several military communications networks around the globe and is reportedly connected via tunnel to Camp David several miles to the south near the town of Thurmont. - UFO Magazine, Vol.7, No.6; Richard Sauder (NOTE: the original source noted that Camp David was north of Raven Rock. It is actually south in the Catoctin Mts. Raven Rock has been the subject of speculation since it was built, but I can assure you that the facility does exist and is heavily secured. Deadly force warnings are posted well before you reach the 1st checkpoint. Lon)
The reason I bring up Raven Rock is because of several sightings and the sudden 'vanishing' of odd entities in the general area. In light of the government's presence, one has to wonder if there is any connection. I have personally investigated witness reports of reptilian and small hominids in nearby locations including Michaux State Park, Gettysburg, Cunningham Falls State Park, Waynesboro, PA Watershed, and the South Mountain area.
There have been several small incidents and sightings of small strange entities throughout the Appalachian Mountains...from Georgia to Maine. But most seem to be concentrated in coal-bearing areas with deep mines or limestone quarries where caves are revealed. Food for thought.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Beyond the X-Files
Too Many Secrets: Humanity's Fight To Expose The Secret Underground Worlds
Keep Out!: Top Secret Places Governments Don't Want You to Know About
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