Dark Crossroads
A podcast about all things true crime & paranormal
Welcome to Dark Crossroads Podcast! We bring you gripping stories and intriguing discussions in the fascinating world of the paranormal, true crime and the unknown. We offer a captivating range of episodes that will leave you questioning the boundaries of reality.
At Dark Crossroads Podcast, we pride ourselves on delivering thought-provoking content that keeps our listeners on the edge of their seats. Our episodes explore supernatural phenomena, unsolved mysteries, and unexplained events, providing a unique platform for those interested in the uncharted and enigmatic.
Whether you're a devoted follower of the paranormal or just searching for something off the beaten path, Dark Crossroads Podcast invites you to join our growing community of curious minds. Immerse yourself in our immersive storytelling and engaging discussions, and let your imagination run wild. Check us out at the link below and embark on a journey that will challenge your perception of the world around you. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for all bonus content!
Don’t. Trust. Anyone.
Dark Crossroads
Unraveling the Myth and Lore of the Pukwudgies
As the twilight whispers through the trees of Bristol County, Massachusetts, the legend of the Pukwudgies comes alive, and I'm here to share their enigmatic tales. In this episode, we tread carefully into the shadowy realm of these two-foot-high tricksters, whose lore is woven deep into the fabric of the Wampanoag tribe and has evolved to echo the darkest corners of American history. From their origins as whimsical helpers to their feared presence as malevolent spirits, we examine how these creatures mirror our collective psyche and compare them to other similar entities across cultures, like the gremlins and Tommyknockers, drawing a line through humanity's fascination with the supernatural.
Imagine the chill of an unseen gaze upon you in the heart of the wilderness. We delve into the rich mythology of these forest dwellers, tracing their narratives from the Wampanoag to the Cherokee, and exploring how these stories serve as a mirror to societies' histories and their evolving relationships with the environment. Experienc the eerie reality that some people still encounter these mysterious spirits, proving that the whispers of the past can still be felt in the present.
Our final venture through the undergrowth brings to light some truly unsettling encounters with the Pukwudgies. We dissect the folklore-infused accounts of their abilities to turn invisible and their habit of luring the unwary into peril. Don't forget to heed the stillness that might signal a Pukwudgie's presence, an quickly but respectfully retreat. Remember, if the forest falls silent, it's time to consider that you might not be alone. Share your thoughts and perhaps your own cryptic encounters as we navigate these dark crossroads together.
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xylophone music. Welcome to Dark Crossroads podcast, hosted by Roxanne Fletcher. This is your stop for all things true crime and paranormal. From the infamous story of the New Bedford Highway Killer to the chilling tale of the Black-Eyed Children, dark Crossroads podcast is a truly deep dive into the stories that frighten and fascinate you All. Links to the show will be provided in this episode's description, and don't forget to let us know what you think of today's episode.
Speaker 1:Wherever you listen to podcasts, dark Crossroads podcast is brought to you by Problem Wildlife. Problem Wildlife serves all of western Massachusetts and has been humanely protecting your house and your family from unwanted pests for over 20 years. Take back your space with an animal control service that you can trust. They are family owned, fully licensed, and are knowledgeable and dependable. To find out more about their services, simply visit their website at wwwproblemwildliferemovalcom. Again, that is wwwproblemwildliferemovalcom, and their information will be included in our show notes. Hey guys, so this episode we're covering a cryptid, so if you're feeling into that, stay tuned. If not, you can skip ahead to the next true crime story, and I would love to hear from all of you about what you think of the story and if you have any encounters or stories related to this one. Send them in. I would love to hear them and you could also get a chance on being in another episode. But with that said, let's just jump right in.
Speaker 1:In the southeastern part of Massachusetts is Bristol County, an area known locally as the most haunted place in all of New England. The energy that sleeps there has been rumored to cause haunted schools, ghostly armies and unexplained suicides and murders. Forested areas of the county have long been known to contain a litany of unexplained animals, ranging from bigfoot and thunderbirds to large snakes and odd bear-like monsters. For the past 40 years, cults have flocked to this area and their activities, which often has been criminal, keeps local law enforcement busy. Of all the unknown whores that live in Bristol County, the most feared is non-animal, or a ghost or the members of these satanic cults. It is a demon only two feet high and if the history of the area represents the history of our America society, these Puk Wujis are the gatekeepers of our darker side. The Puk Wujis have haunted the forests of Massachusetts since before the first European settlers ever thought about setting out for any new land. For centuries they tormented the local Native Americans and crept their way into their creation myths and oral history. They are often easily passed off as legend and, in fact, their physical description is much like a mythological creature from other cultures during other times. The difference is that these demons jumped from the page and evolved as the people around them changed, changing from reluctant helpers to evil tormentors. The difference is these demons are still seen by people today.
Speaker 1:This culture's mythology has some reference to small monsters that have strange relationships with humans. In many ways, this makes sense. While larger monsters like Bigfoot have their place in people's fears, the smaller creatures find their ways into the shadows of our rooms or under our beds. Their names and nature change, but there are always common threads that link them together. Some are called monsters and roam the land looking for human food and kidnapping anyone that they can find. Monsters are called demons, foul spirits that feed off the negative and expose a sense of mankind. When referring to one, its classification gets blurred and these two words become interchangeable, perhaps showing us how closely associated these monsters are with pure evil. Veterans are turning home. After World War II talked of gremlins tearing apart their planes or getting into jeep engines and causing complete havoc. Also, hindus speak of a similar creature, which is known as the Nightwanderer who eats human skin and jumps into the dead to possess him. Africans tell stories about the Aloko, who lure people with beautiful music, only to devour them after they have been bewitched with an ever expanding jaw.
Speaker 1:Although passed off as works of fiction and imagination, trolls and dwarfs have existed in people's fears for centuries. They have become lovable and noble now, but the original stories recorded of these monsters are anything but fairy tales with happy endings. Trolls were notorious for ambushing travelers and destroying whole families on a whim. While some are described as giants with humps and one eye, many older cultures, especially in Scandinavia, described the being as the size of a plump child. Dwarfs have always been small, in their manners, much better, but the end result seems to be the same. Like a troll, they are known as metal and stone workers, but unlike their flesh eating counterparts, dwarfs seem to avoid human contact. While they would prefer to be left alone, if impeded upon their work they become like caged dogs. One variation of the dwarf is a Tommy knocker, who lives in mineshafts and is sometimes said to be the ghost of miners who have perished in the line of duty and are doomed to work for eternity. They are known to cause caverns and fires in the shafts Perhaps the most famous of the small nightmare are seen by the Irish Fairies patrol the roads in Ireland, causing problems for any traveler who strays from the path.
Speaker 1:They live in hills or mounds and dance around fires. If a human comes across their mound or sees them dancing, they are caught and held captive. Even the beloved leprechaun was once a malicious spirit before he was Americanized and transformed into the gold keeper that he is today. Exposure to nature seems to feed these tales, and the more a society depends on the earth for its needs and the closer the relationship people have with the natural world around them, the more these stories seem to pop up.
Speaker 1:In this country, the people who first settled here had a close, if not friendly, view of small dangers around them. The Cherokee, for instance, have a mirror image demon which looks and talks like Cherokee, but are only a few feet high and have long hair that touches the ground. Although most people cannot see them, they are known to throw objects, trip up hunters and abduct people who wander off. In Canada there is also a similar creature and it looks much like the classic alien, which is gray. The Wampanoag Nation, the dominant Native American tribe in Massachusetts and southern New England had a monster who still dominates the landscape they once roamed. The Pukwajie made its first appearance in the oral folklore of the people of Cape Cod, but recent sightings have forced people to rethink this mythological creature. Standing between 2 and 3 feet tall, the Pukwajee looks much like our modern idea of a troll. His features mirror those of the Native American in the area, but the nose, fingers and ears are extremely enlarged and the skin is described as being gray or washed out, smooth and at times has been known to glow.
Speaker 1:What makes these monsters dangerous is the multitude of magical abilities they use to torment and manipulate people. They can appear and disappear at will and are said to be able to transform into other animals. They have possession of magical poison arrows that can kill and can create fire at will. They seem to often be related to a tall, dark figure often referred to in modern times as shadow people and turn. The Pukwajee's control the Tai-Pai Wankas, which are believed to be the souls of Native Americans that they have killed. They use these lights to entice new victims in the woods so that they may kidnap or kill them. In European folklore, these balls of energy or light are known as Willow, the Wisps, and are said to accompany mini-paranormal occurrences. Side note here, this is I don't know if you guys have watched Brave or watched Disney, but there is a scene with the Wisps that guides Mirada through the forest and its little balls of light, and it actually is portraying exactly what is said here, which I find extremely interesting. Modern paranormal investigators call these orbs, and catching one on film is the gold standard of field research.
Speaker 1:Legends of the Pukwajee began in connection to Masha, a creation giant believed by the Wampanoag to have created most of Cape Cod. He was beloved by the people and the Pukwajee's were jealous of the affection that the natives had for him. They tried to help the Wampanoag, but their efforts always backfired until they eventually decided to torment them. Instead. They became extremely mischievous and they aggravated the natives until they asked Quant, masha's wife, for help. Masha collected as many as he could. He shook them until they were confused and tossed them around all of New England. Some Pukwajee's died, but others landed, regained their minds and made their way back to Massachusetts, satisfied he had done his job and pleased his wife.
Speaker 1:Masha went away for a while, but in his absence the Pukwajee's had returned. They again changed their relationship with the Wampanoag's. They were no longer a nuisance, but began kidnapping their children, burning down their villages and forcing the Wampanoag deep into the woods and killing them. Quant again stepped in, but Masha, being very lazy, sent his five sons to fix the problem. Instead, the Pukwajee's lured them into deep grass and shot them dead with their magic arrows. Enraged Quant and Masha attack as many as they can find and they crush them, but many escape and scatter throughout all of New England. Again, the Pukwajee's regroup and trick Masha into the water and shoot him with their arrows. Some legends say that they killed him, while others claim he became discouraged and depressed about the death of his sons. But Masha disappears from the Wampanoag's mythology altogether at this point. The Pukwajee's remained, however, but something odd ends up happening.
Speaker 1:The timing of the tales of the monster are a map through the history of the Native Americans relationship with the European settlers. The death of the five sons lines up with the very first settlers and the flight of Masha is told. Alongside the changing of attitudes about the new neighbors, the Pukwajee's, always seen in a negative light, become the foot soldiers of the devil, which may explain their modern connection to shadow people as more Native Americans began to convert to Christianity, their myths evolved until the Pukwajee's were responsible for the evil in the village and the hand of Satan on the tribe. People who spend time in the forest of New England will tell you Pukwajee's are not symbols, but a real horror that still stalks people today. They continue to see them and as the world develops around them, the monsters remain unchanged and as dark as ever.
Speaker 1:One story is of a woman named Joan who was walking her dog through the state forest in Freetown, massachusetts, on a cold Saturday morning in April when she saw this monster. As she and her dog, sid, walked down the path, sid became anxious and strayed a few feet into the woods. Joan followed him in and then stopped. Her dog was lying completely flat in the leaves and on a rock. 10 feet away was a pukwajee. She described him as looking like what she would describe a troll two feet high, with pale gray skin and hair on his arms and the top of his head. The monster seemed to have no clothes, but it was difficult to tell because his stomach hung way over his waist, almost touching his knees. His eyes were a deep green and he had large lips and a long, almost canine nose. The pukwajee just stood watching her, staring straight at her with no expression, almost like it was done to see her. Joan froze and remembers thinking that the air in her lungs had been completely pushed out. Sid, her dog, finally came to and ran back towards the trail, dragging Joan, who was still holding the leash tightly. Although the whole exchange took less than 30 seconds, it remains with Joan.
Speaker 1:10 years later, she has not gone back to the forest but also feels that that might not be enough. Three times since the event she has woken up to find the demon looking in on her. It has never attacked her or spoken to her. She has merely seen it looking through her bedroom window, staying just long enough for her to notice him. All three times she claims she was fully awake and could move if she had to.
Speaker 1:Another encounter came from a man in Framingham, massachusetts, who had an experience that scared him so much that it forced him to remain away from the woods. Tim was in a forest when he saw a bright orb in front of him. Having investigated the paranormal before, he was excited and tried to snap a photo with his digital camera. The ball of light disappeared and reappeared a few feet further into the woods. Tim followed this ball of light, losing the spirit several times before he realized he had traveled more than 30 feet off the path into a thickly wooded area. He became scared and slowly made his way back to the path, only to find a two foot man standing there walking towards him. He ended up turning and running and, looking back, saw the figure move back into the woods. Tim reported that what he saw had walked upright and had used its arms to push something aside. When he fled to the forest, he had moved with a slight limp, but also moved like a human.
Speaker 1:The second time that he saw the Pukwajis was a few years later, in a parking lot near the same forest. He was listening to the radio quietly and then ended up checking his rearview mirror to look for a friend that he was waiting for when he saw the same small figure of a man. Every detail was identical and the Pukwajis just stood there watching him. The car turned on by itself and his radio began to get louder and louder. He pulled out of the parking lot and took the long way home to try and stop his hands from shaking. Although the monster seemed content to only frighten Joan and Tim.
Speaker 1:There are still physical attacks happening. Several people have been assaulted and one person came down with a mysterious illness after seeing them in a cemetery in New Hampshire. Another woman suffered scratches on her arm after following an orb in a forest in Taunton, massachusetts. The most disturbing, reoccurring attack might be taking place at the Pukwajis' favorite hunting ground In the Freetown State Forest. There is a 100-foot cliff overlooking a quarry known as the ledge. There have been many hauntings at this site, but the most frequent experience is an overwhelming feeling to jump to the rocks and water below. In the folklore of the Wampanoag, the Pukwajis were known to lure people to the cliffs and then push them off to their death. There have been several unexplained suicides at the ledge, often by people who had no signs of depression or mental disease before entering the forest.
Speaker 1:Pukwajis are usually described as being knee-high or even smaller. Their name literally means person of the wilderness, and they are usually considered to be spirits of the forest In some traditions. They have a sweet smell and are sometimes associated with flowers. Pukwajis have magical powers, which vary from tribe to tribe, but may include the ability to turn invisible, confuse people or make them forget things. They have also been known to shape-shift into cougars or other dangerous animals or bring harm to people by just staring at them. One of the main things that makes them different from other cryptid indices is the sheath of porcupine spines that run from the top of their head all the way down their back. In fact, when you see one from behind, you may actually mistake it for a porcupine, until it turns around and gives you the stink eye. And I find it no coincidence that where these creatures lie is in the center of the Bridgewater Triangle.
Speaker 1:If you happen to encounter one of these creatures, these little pukwajis, it is said to please leave it be. Pukwajis are still bitter about past grievances with human beings and can cause a lot of problems if you bother them. Usually they will leave you alone. If you leave them alone, at worst they'll mess with you a little bit. They're tricksters, but if you make them very angry, you could be facing serious injury. Whether pukwajisidings are a sign of supernatural activity or an actual cryptid being cited, their status as one of the oldest mythical creatures in North America has been uncontested. Alright, besties. So now I just want to leave you with this. If you are anywhere where Pukwajis are known to be and you're on a hike or a walk and you suddenly hear that the surrounding area has gone silent. The birds have stopped chirping, you no longer hear squirrels running about. Please be respectful, back away slowly and exit before any harm is done.
Speaker 1:My sources for this episode include Wikipedia, spookysouthcoast, nativelanguagesorg and the lineup. Alright, guys. So thank you so much for hanging out again today. For more details on the podcast or the cases that we covered, then head on over to the website wwwdarkcrossroadspodcastcom, where we have all of the episodes, information about the podcast, merch and also a blog covering every single case and it going into more description, including links to all the places that you need to make phone calls to or resources regarding the case. You can also find us on most social media platforms.
Speaker 1:Don't forget to like, share, rate, review, subscribe wherever you're listening to us. You can subscribe to the podcast. There is a link in all episodes in the notes that will send you to our subscription page and with that you will get bonus content, discount on future merch and a lot of other extra goodies and kind of behind the scenes information. So every single donation through the subscription and any other place goes straight to the podcast. It helps fund research and it really helps us out to keep this podcast going. So before I go, I just want to thank all of my listeners for your continued support and for sending in cases that you wanted covered and stories that you wanted read on the podcast. We truly accept all stories scary, paranormal, funny. Anything that you want read or you want me to know, send it in. And any cases that you want covered, please send in. You can email those to dotcrossroadspodcastgmailcom. And, with all of this said, please don't forget to be weird, stay different and don't trust anyone.
