Did You Know This Connecticut Town Survived a Terrifying Bullfrog Attack?

Once upon a time, in the small village of Windham in eastern Connecticut in 1754, residents were startled awake by a fearsome, shrieking, terrifying roar that began shortly after midnight.

Windham residents were already stressed to the max due to the outbreak of the French and Indian War which had broken out in the early part of May. At first, townspeople thought the horrific sounds were the war-whoops of attacking Indians. But, unfortunately, the townies didn't realize what had happened until the morning sun rose. Imagine thousands of bullfrogs screaming like this one in the short video below.

According to newenglandhistoricalsociety.com, some residents thought the extremely annoying cacophony was the trumpets of Judgement Day. Some villagers claimed they heard the sound of names being called out.

As the morning sun rose above the tiny village of Windham, waking residents noticed the loud outcry of noise had stopped entirely. A search party was sent out to investigate, and what they found 100 yards into the woods was mind-blowing!

The search party found a dried pond with hundreds of bullfrog carcasses lining the pond's dry bed. The gruesome scene was labeled the Battle of the Frogs, a massive die-off of frogs due to a severe drought.

Because Windham residents panicked and just about lost their minds, people throughout the colonies began making fun of Windham for their silly fear of loud croaking bullfrogs. However, Windham chose to embrace the story as part of its identity.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and the largest frog landmark in Willimantic is a bridge officially named "Thread City Crossing," but everyone calls it, The Frog Bridge because it has four copper frog sculptures on each end of the bridge, sitting on concrete thread spools. It is a site to behold!