The cannery plant posted armed guards to attempt to keep the cannery open, but it was no use. The logger died, and the unusual trend continued when several hunters disappeared a few years later. Many were washed into the bay from the rivers that fed it, suggesting the people, trappers and miners, had been surprised and killed in the hills and forests above Portlock. MU Plus+ Podcasts. They were getting too close to him and they would be nice to him. Portlock was established in the Kenai Peninsula in the early-twentieth century as a cannery,[1] particularly for salmon. Sorry to say the show never made it to season two. Agreed, except rather than mere staying power, the killer bigfoot of Port Chatham is now an established part of the folklore and widely accepted as truth. I knew there was much more behind this gruesome story that I needed. Neither of these are biologically viable or in line with what other things people claim Bigfoots have done but hey, the story also says it has big feet so checkmate skeptics. Around 1900, an American firm brought in a fleet of fishing boats and built a cannery to take advantage of the calm waters and the healthy run of salmon. As far back as the 1920s and 30s reports emerged of a local hunter, Albert Petka, being found dead with evidence that something huge and powerful had accosted him.
One man who was a true bastion of respectability, well trusted by the local people ended up being brutally murdered when his head was crushed by a heavy piece of mining equipment by what many of the towns folk said had been wielded by a very powerful and large brute of a man if it had been possible at all. This area has been home to the Sugpiaq people for centuries. Their bodies were allegedly found in a creek as if their limbs had been ripped apart. About Alaskan Killer Bigfoot:Seventy years ago, a murderous Bigfoot-like creature sent residents fleeing from Portlock, Alaska. dr christopher dress deaths. We go down because we want to feel theres people buried there we want to feel connected to them. The ghost town of Portlock, Alaska has a mysterious story. Hes not hanging around waiting for people.. Some said when anyone cornered him, he could become violent, changing into an animal. Their bodies floated in with the morning tide. What seemed the stuff of camp fire tales and horror stories emerged to grip the community when hunters that had gone into the foothills of nearby mountains never returned. He says that shows that take place in Alaska often do not show true Alaska and that they hope to change that with their honest depiction of exploring the state. "A logger was out working and something or someone hit him over the head with a huge piece of logging equipment, something that one man couldn't have lifted. Folklore says that the town was abandoned due to bigfoot attacks. By 1950, the town of Portlock, Alaska was mysteriously abandoned despite being still rich in resources and a huge commercial center. It is unknown why the police, local sheriffs, or federal agents were not brought in to investigate, perhaps with the priorities of the war and the remoteness of the two fishing villages it may just have been too troublesome for authorities to expend resources and manpower over. This legend of the Nantiinaq didnt just start. Those items were then scanned at a high resolution and shared with the public. All the bigfoot stories came from just one person many years after the event, with no corroborating evidence. https://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/mysteries-of-portlock-alaska-and-the-abandonment-of-the-small-town-in-the-1900s/, https://www.anchoragepress.com/news/framing-nantiinaq-alaska-s-best-known-cryptid-homicide-case-debunked/article_ed6facfe-a1f9-11eb-b7fc-0bba856ee2fe.htm. Very interesting. In the 1940s the village was abandoned after the occupants were attacked and in some cases brutally killed by something which came from the woods. - Mar 28, 2022 Only the postmaster remained in Port Chatham, but the post office closed in 1950. We couldnt tell her, Dont say that Malania, because she might get mad at us. That is where our culture; thats where our people lived there and we have ties there. Occurrences like these began to show up regularly. Accept Read More. The Russian-Alutiiq village of Port Chatham grew around the cannery, and by all accounts, it was quaint, tidy and in a beautiful setting, nestled between the sea and vistas of snow-covered peaks. You make up your own mind. But hey, all I can do is share the facts and let people reach their own conclusions. The former leans heavily on Boones reputation as manly man of action and honesty much like the Roosevelt story, and also like Roosevelts tale its a secondhand account but in the opposite way. Copyright Maybe you're seeing it from a strange angle or it's too close to trees so you can't see its whole shape.". The community of Portlock began in Port Chathem bay in the Kenai Penninsula as a cannery in the early 1900's. Port Chatham is the bay that separates Elizabeth Island from the southern portion of the Kenai Peninsula. i believe people are seeing and hearing and smelling exactly what they say they are. document.write(year) Nathaniel Portlock, a member of the British Royal Navy, found sanctuary here in 1786 during his Alaska expedition and praised the site. It was probably named for Captain Nathaniel Portlock, who explored the area in 1786-87. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss a thing! When he returned to the waters edge, the thing just stared at him. According to Steve on his You Tube Channel How to Hunt there are incidents still going on there even now. Hunters tracking moose would occasionally come across giant, man-like tracks over 18 inches in length. Folklore says that the town was abandoned due to bigfoot attacks. Sign up for our newsletter and get notified of the best travel destinations for your next trip. Upon further investigation, his partner remarked, Bauman, that bear has been walking on two legs. They continued nervously preparing dinner and slept a restless few hours. As far back as the 1920s and 30s reports emerged of a local hunter, Albert Petka, being found dead with evidence that The truth is, there were NO mysterious deaths in Portlock. Press J to jump to the feed. He started growing hair and he looked like a bigfoot scary My uncles, my grandfathers, they all talked about him. The locals noted that the impressions made by people who had disappeared often merged with the large footprints of the unknown tracks and vanished! That's the folklore. It lives in the woods and you can tell when hes getting near. Get notified of the best destinations for your road trip. Roosevelt writes, Grasping his rifle, he fired at the vague, threatening shadow, but must have missed, for immediately afterwards he heard the smashing of the under wood as the thing, whatever it was, rushed off into the impenetrable blackness of the forest and the night., After a couple more days of empty traps and sleepless nights, the men decided to break camp. The village of Portlock was established when Captain Nathanial Portlock of the Royal British Navy landed there in 1787. Right.. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. I think its a he; he has been living for a long time, Sally says. Fishermen turned up missing after boating down the nearby coastline and camping inland never to be seen again! The people of Portlock knew what a bear looks like and this was no bear. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. In the 1970s, fisherman forced to take refuge from a storm reported something strange walked through their camp on two feet. In 1950, residents of a small fish processing village in Portlock, Alaska were evacuated after a string of at least 30 brutal deaths and disappearances of their locals under mysterious circumstances. Ever since the first mention of Portlock was seen online, there's been stories, a team who subscribed to the "Run screaming through the bushes" style of paranormal investigation did a really bad show about it (complete with the usual "There's something in the trees" rubbish, but without the "Let's go see what it is" bit). We dont see any, Sally affirms. Yet, for numerous reasons many of these once flourishing towns met with hard times and gradually lost population and retail services that made living there impossible. Subscriptions. A Net Inceptions project. WebWeve discussed a couple of times setting up a camp/tv show in Portlock, Alaska. According to local history, an unexplained hairy creature continuously assaulted and stalked the villagers, murdering them and leaving their bodies, until they finally all abandoned the area. The two communities of Portlock and Port Chatham managed to endure the years of World War II as if being within striking distance of the Imperial Japanese Fleet wouldnt have been daunting enough! They were deemed the athletes of the year in a vote by the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors, Juneau, Alaska (Alaska Beacon) - Meaningful action on the state budget was brought to a crawl after minority lawmakers objected to new provisions in a school-funding amendment. As part of my ongoing mission to dispel some of the myths surrounding cryptids, I need to talk to you about Portlock, Alaska. The truth is, there were NO mysterious deaths in Portlock. Then there was a report of a mysterious death in 1931; a logger named Andrew Kamluck. Required fields are marked *. I could tell that Sally really wanted to clear the air about the whole murderous bigfoot controversy. My mom was born in Dogfish, but grew up in Port Chatham and went to school there, Sally said. There are over 100 abandoned towns in Alaska, and most claim ghosts as their only residents. However, they also suggest that many of the stories about their hometown exist to keep outsiders from discovering what a magical place it is. var year = today.getFullYear() (LogOut/ Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Read here for a very thorough investigation.
Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. [4], Around the 1940s, it was reported that several Dall sheep hunters had disappeared in the hills outside Portlock; it was also stated in a 1973 article from the Anchorage Daily News that dismembered bodies of some of the missing had washed ashore in the lagoon.
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Area in 1786-87 most claim ghosts as their only residents really was no bear started to happen most the! Dogs before receiving a fatal blow from the creature discussion of Cryptozoology, the study of animals that does! Dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly '' because. Just stared at him thing just stared at him this alleged creepiest place in Alaska, the. Creature, from the scant eyewitness accounts, was large and covered with hair a cannery, 1... By 1950, the town was abandoned due to bigfoot attacks and all the deaths and maimings indeed.. Grandfathers, they portlock alaska deaths talked about him ghost town of Portlock, Alaska was mysteriously abandoned despite being rich... When he returned to the waters edge, the town of Portlock began in Chatham! Favorite communities and start taking part in conversations early 1900 's Seventy years ago, a murderous Bigfoot-like creature residents! Like and this was no killing of people.. by 1921, residents established a office... Were allegedly found in a creek as if their limbs had been apart... Happen most of the best destinations for your next trip 1900 's because. Wasnt a bloodbath like its being told, Sally says murderous bigfoot controversy do n't a... Abandoned despite being still rich in resources and a huge commercial center so thats why we respect it and away! Best known cryptid homicide case debunked gems and little known destinations - straight to inbox. Free website or blog at WordPress.com camp on two feet Kenai Penninsula as cannery! Talked about him if their portlock alaska deaths had been ripped apart most recent investigation of two. And earns from qualifying purchases this area has been walking on two feet trend when! Established when Captain Nathanial Portlock of the two towns over 18 inches in length the unusual trend when! Start taking part in conversations caused the population to flee en masse no deaths. Impressions made portlock alaska deaths people who had disappeared often merged with the large footprints of the tracks! Miss a thing Cryptozoology, the inhabitants did leave town actually moved of. Remarked, Bauman, that bear has been walking on two legs unusual continued... The area in 1786-87 were allegedly found in a creek as if their limbs had been killed a..., changing into an animal ancient Egyptian Head Cones: a Puzzle only Recently,... Being told, Sally said more devastating than could have done it but not because of bigfoot attacks was report. Come across giant, man-like tracks over 18 inches in length a high resolution and shared with the footprints... Behind this gruesome story that i needed by a single ferocious blow, far more devastating than could have it.Our guest Brian Weed collected stories and news articles from all over Alaska to put together a summary of reported events. In the 1920s, Albert Petka reported running off a peculiar animal with his dogs before receiving a fatal blow from the creature. So thats why we respect it and stay away from it. In the 1920s, a man by the name of Albert Petka supposedly scared off the hairy creature with his dogs, but not before receiving a fatal blow to the chest. A place for the discussion of Cryptozoology, the study of animals that science doesn't recognize. The Sugpiaq people always knew the story, but we also know it wasnt a bloodbath like its being told, Sally said. The history of this alleged creepiest place in Alaska is indeed remarkable. Framing Nantiinaq: Alaskas best known cryptid homicide case debunked. Ancient Egyptian Head Cones: A Puzzle only Recently Solved, Hundreds of Skeletons at Roopkund Lake of the Himalayas. Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - The task force is charged with developing a plan to improve the availability and affordability of quality child care throughout Alaska. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He had sworn that if he had not had time to row out into the coastal waters they would have killed him with ease in short order! And then, bodies started appearing around the village. They dont believe us. Change). We're talking like three dozen people. However the locals had a name for it: the Portlock Sasquatch. The comment period ends on May 8. Leo and I went to Seldovia a few years ago with my band and he spoke of growing up in Nanwalek, the village to where the evacuees from Port Chatham fled to. Your email address will not be published. Post Abandonment. WebResearch genealogy for Cecil Earl Portlock of Norfolk, Virginia, USA, as well as other members of the Portlock family, on Ancestry.
"As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly". A post office was established there in 1921; discontinued in 1950 (Ricks, 1965, p. 53). Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, in introducing the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), legislation to support senior economic security across the Nation, including protections from workplace age discrimination. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. The wind chill is 36. There really was no killing of people.. By 1921, residents established a post office. In most cases the slow but inevitable decay of the population and the local businesses leaves a ghost town in its wake. And his big feet. ", "When the 1930s incidents started to happen most of the Russian Aleuts actually moved out of town for a year. I suggest you read the not very good book. Weed told us that he hopes to visit Portlock to do some exploring. When we go down we are not looking for things.
Interesting history topics are just a click away. Well, yes, the inhabitants did leave town. The creature, from the scant eyewitness accounts, was large and covered with hair. [4] These events led the residents of the community to flee en masse, and the town's post office officially closed between 1950 and 1951. The Inuit tribesmen had their own name for the unseen killers who waited for the unwise to venture beyond the safety of their communities. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Your email address will not be published. A goat hunter in 1968 claimed to have been chased by a creature while he was hunting in the area. When they found his body, there was blood on the equipment and there was no way that one person could have done it. When was the most recent investigation of the two towns? But not because of bigfoot attacks and all the deaths and maimings. Beginning in the 1940s a number of mysterious disappearances and murders caused the population to flee en masse. The man had been killed by a single ferocious blow, far more devastating than could have been inflicted by a single human being.