J. Nathan Couch's Blog, page 4

An Encounter with a Ghostly Hookman

In my latest book Goatman: Flesh or Folklore? I make note of a peculiar link between American Goatman legends, and the Hookman urban legend. In most areas where high school students tell stories of the legendary half-man, half-goat creature, a different clique of students will often claim the area is haunted by a crazed killer with a hook for a hand! This own link is apparent right here in Washington County, Wisconsin, where I first began my Goatman research. Some 1970s high schoolers say Goatman lived in a particular dilapidated house on Hogsback Road, while others said that was were the Hookman hung his hat.

 

The Hookman, as portrayed on TV’s “Supernatural.”

 

While Goatman legends are an odd blend of urban legends and actual eyewitness sightings, Hookman is firmly established as a perennial Lover’s Lane urban legend. Where kids park to make out, you’ll hear stories of a crazy hook-handed killer lurking just beyond the treeline. I’d never heard from anyone who’d actually encountered Hookman, that is of course, until this past October when I received the following message from a reader here in Washington County, Wisconsin.

Back in the early 1980s we had an urban legend [on Hogsback Road] called the Hookman. Now deceased, his small cottage was at the end of a narrow gravel driveway thickly lined with trees on both sides. My friends and I were pretty freewheeling back then and loved to drive about with beer in the car. One night our friend Mark wanted to show off his new Buick so we bought a couple of six packs and the six of us decided to park the car by Hookman’s old cottage.

It was a blustery night with a full moon.  Each time the wind would blow we’d lose the moonlight. We could hear the wind whistling through the trees even with window up. We were laughing and talking about nothing in particular when I heard a loud “screeee” noise scraping against the left rear window that I was sitting next to. In the light I could see a distinct 4 inch gouge in the window that was clearly visible in the moonlight. We all just totally freaked! Mark almost had an accident as his wheels spun in the gravel getting out of the place. A really strange thing about that gouge? It seemed to gradually fade out of the window the same way a scratch heals itself on someone’s arm. That was over 30 years ago and I believe it still affects me to this day. 

An impressive, unsettling story! Has anyone else had an experience similar to this?

 

Goatman Hoof-Print Caught on Camera?

While writing Goatman: Flesh or Folklore? I quickly learned physical evidence of these strange, hoofed bipedal creatures is almost non-existent. No alleged hair samples, scat, or footprints of the animals have been collected, that I’m aware, unlike other anomalous creatures like Bigfoot. Because of this–and their strange ability to occasionally disappear in a blinding flash–I’ve always assumed they were more closely related to paranormal entities than some undiscovered animal.

Imagine my surprise when a local investigation group called WPI Hunts the Truth sent me the following photograph from an anonymous source in Oak Creek, Wisconsin!

This photograph is impressive for various reasons. Notice how extremely large the print is– the size of a grown man’s hand. But more interesting is the back half of the print. It almost resembles an enormous human being’s heel. I’m at a loss to explain it. While it doesn’t prove a Goatman is wandering around Oak Creek, I can’t explain precisely what could have made such a puzzling impression in the autumn muck. Have any of you witnessed tracks like these before?

08-13-15 Blurry Photos Interview

I’ve been interviewed on the latest edition of the Blurry Photos podcast. Blurry Photos is a completely entertaining, somewhat skeptical podcast out of Chicagoland.

Give it a listen, won’t you?

Tales of the Goatman #1

In recent years I’ve done a lot I’m proud of. I’ve published two different Fortean books, launched a successful paranormal tour business, and my marriage has somehow survived it all.

But all those accomplishments (except the marriage thing) is dwarfed in comparison by how proud I am to announce I’m now a published comic book writer (a great achievement for a guy that’s been a comics’ geek since he was 10 years old).

I’ve just received word from Goatman Comics publisher and creator Tim Vargulish that Tales of the Goatman #1 has shipped!

This new anthology comic features amazing art by Vargulish, and features stories written by myself and Allen Mauldin.

In my story A trio of twisted Kewaskum, Wisconsin youths plan to exploit the Goatman, invoking the wrath of the Great God Pan, all while putting a mythological twist onto the titular hero’s Sci-Fi origin.

I discuss the history of Goatman Comics, my relationship with Vargulish, and how you can obtain a copy HERE.

 

Tales of the Goatman #1

 

Los Angeles National Forest: Goatman Territory!

When it rains, it pours. Just yesterday I was informed of the legend of the Goatman of Nags Head Woods down in Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina. This morning I woke up and discovered yet another Goatman legend previously unknown to me, this one involving the Angeles National Forest, in southern California. A 700,000 acre forest in back of Los Angeles. Elevations range from 1,200 to 10,064 feet. Much of the Forest is covered with dense chaparral which changes to pine and fir-covered slopes as you reach the San Gabriel Mountains.

Los Angeles National Forest

I owe this discovery to a Goatman enthusiast by the name of Vila. According to Vila, her mother grew up in the 1950s with legends of a Goatman that roamed the forest. In the 1950s, this “Goatman” was allegedly a strange, mentally handicapped son of an old farmer. During Vila’s own childhood growing up in the 1980s, the legend changed, specifying the farmer’s son wasn’t just mentally challenged, but a mutant who was born disfigured from atomic radiant from a nearby missile site.

Vila has recently been discussing the Goatman legend with the current generation of youth, and has discovered the legend has changed yet again. Now Goatman is allegedly disfigured and mutated thanks to exposure to DDT.

Vila writes: “The tales I’ve found from talking to kids is that the Goatman was disfigured via eating fish and game exposed to DDT that his dad brought home some time in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I only vaguely remember the massive wildlife die-off that over use of DDT pesticides caused – The California Condor was especially hard hit. Something like 50 to 60 percent of the Condor population died off and they became critically endangered.”

Now that the cold war is long dead, the fear of nuclear radiation, while still a terrifying possibility in an age when all sorts of rogue nations (cough. North Korea. cough) are putting together nuclear missile programs, seems outdated: the stuff of 50s sci-fi films and Silver Age comic books. One of this generation’s chief concerns is pollution and our own impact on the environment. It’s no wonder that ecological concerns have been tacked onto a Goatman legend.

Thanks Vila, for not only pointing out there’s a Goatman legend in Angeles National Forest, but also for mapping out its evolution of the past 60 plus years!

Now that the legends are known to me, I wonder if anyone has actually seen a strange creature like Goatman in the Angeles National Forest? It’s certainly big enough, and wild enough, to be ideal cryptid territory. If anyone has seen a strange creature sighting there, please contact me!

For more information on Goatman legends and sighting across the country, please check out Goatman: Flesh or Folklore?

More of beautiful Angeles National Forest

The Goatman of Nags Head Woods

Even after two years spent researching and writing my latest book, Goatman: Flesh or Folklore?, I still didn’t track down every Goatman legend out there (which doesn’t surprise me at all). Part of what attracts me to the subject of Goatman in America is the plethora of legends (and sightings) that thoroughly saturate American suburbia, yet they mostly remain completely unknown to people who live more than a twenty minute drive from said legend.

Today I was contacted by Catherine Kozak, a reporter for the Virginian-Pilot, a Chesapeake Bay-area newspaper, regarding an upcoming article on the Goatman of Nags Head Woods, a Goatman I’d previously been ignorant of. Such are the perks of writing about really weird things for a living.

Unlike its peers though, this particular Goatman isn’t described as a monster but rather as an eccentric transient that enjoys terrifying children, horny teenagers, and conducting satanic rituals on dead cats.

The Goatman of Nags Head Woods is rumored to occupy a tiny yellow cottage located deep inside the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve.

A photo of the legendary Nags Head Yellow Cottage by Chris Curry of the Virginian-Pilot.

The youth of Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina frequently mount safaris in search of the old man, which unfortunately often involve kicking in the doors of the small cottage, and spraying it with graffiti. As someone who has an intense passion for visiting legendary locations, I have to say this: KNOCK IT OFF! Vandalizing is never cool, and it ruins legend tripping for everyone!

Kozak’s 2009 article about the Yellow Cottage is available HERE via HamptonRoads.com. Watch this blog. when Kozak’s next article is published, I’ll be sure to share a link!

P.S. I’d like to send a personal message out to the people of Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina: your town has the coolest name ever! Hell, Michigan has nothing on you guys!

 

2015 Milwaukee Paranormal Conference: Aftermath

I spoke at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference yesterday. I met Bigfoot. She was really nice, and had lovely blue eyes (FYI, I’m not normally so pale. My scanner didn’t like the glossy finish on the photograph).

J. Nathan Couch scores face time with Bigfoot at the 2015 Milwaukee Paranormal Conference

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported this amazing event. Rumor on the street says its returning next year even bigger, and if possible, even better (watch MilwaukeeParaCon.com for details down the road).

There was standing room only in the room when I gave my Goatman presentation, and I’m told the same could be said for most every other presentation yesterday.

Thanks for all the support. I’m actually inspired to get back to work on all my various works in progress that I’ve ignored thanks to my natural inertia.

Also, a heartfelt thanks to “Monster Hunters” author Tea Krulos who created not only a successful, fun event, but an amazingly organized event as well. Do check out his new book, that examines the culture of us Fortean investigators.

Monsters Hunters (2015). New book by Tea Krulos examines the culture of the Fortean investigator.

June 5th Ghost Walk Cancelled

Tomorrow night’s Downtown West Bend Ghost is cancelled due to illness. I regret this, but I’m conserving my energy so that I can fulfill my obligations as a speaker and vendor at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference, this Saturday.

You’re all welcome to come out to this event and see me, and dozens of other guest speakers and panelists. Attendance for the con is absolutely free. Please visit www.milwaukeeparacon.com for more info. – J. Nathan Couch

2015 DOWNTOWN WEST BEND GHOST WALK DATES (PT. 1)!

Hi Gang!

Sorry for the delay in announcing this year’s Downtown West Bend Ghost Walk schedule. Wisconsin’s weather has been so crazy lately, we decided to start the season the second weekend in May as opposed to last weekend in April.

Dates for May through July have been announced! And as always, if we don’t have a tour schedule and a group of 5 or more people would like a walk (and we have no conflicting engagements) we can always arrange a private tour!

All the walks are listed HERE! August through October will be announced later this summer.

May 16: Threshold Showcase of Authors II

Hi all! Come out and meet me, and lots of other local writers including (but absolutely NOT limited too) Lisa Lickel, John Radcliffe, and many others, at the Threshold Showcase of Authors II, May 16!

The event is to raise awareness of Threshold Inc. The Threshold is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that strives to help individuals with disabilities of all ages reach their potential, and become an integral part of their community. There will be a scavenger hunt with prizes donated by the authors, as well as a brat fry.

Please come out and learn more about the Threshold!

Date: May 16, 2015

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM CDT

Where: Lawrence and Vivian Stockhausen Center (The Old Pick ‘n’ Save).

2380 W. Washington Ave, West Bend, WI.

Website: http://www.thresholdinc.org


Official Event Description:

This is a perfect opportunity for the avid reader to peruse favorite genres, meet local authors and hear their presentations, purchase a book or two, have your book personally signed, attend a listening session, grab a sandwich made by Schwai’s Meat & Sausage and tour the Lawrence and Vivian Stockhausen Center. Proceeds from Author fees will go to the Threshold to help them continue in their mission! What a great way to spend a few hours on a Saturday!