Urban legends are all over the place, every state and town has its own unique set of them to go along with all of the nationwide garden-variety-type urban legends we are all accustomed to. Legends like 'Bloody Mary', 'Hookman', 'The Kidney Heist', 'The Slender Man', and more.

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Connecticut has its fair share of 'urban legends', way more than its fair share I think it would be fair to say. Weird stuff like 'melon heads' in Milford, Dudleytown in Cornwall, The White Lady in Easton, and the list goes on and on. However, we found three that you may or may not have heard of. They are Hannah Cranna of Monroe, The Winsted Wildman, and The Sea Serpent in Essex.

Let's start with a giant eel-like creature that caught the eye of the New York Times and Scientific America in the early 1800s. According to a story from WTNH News 8, Middletown residents allegedly spotted this 'monster' that was said to be as long as 10 feet. It also allegedly sported a head that was black in color with eyes "as big as small plates." Legend has it that it found a home in the Hog River Tunnel under Hartford, but it's been over a century since anyone has reportedly seen the creature, but that doesn't mean it won't turn up again someday. This pic is associated with the Gloucester Harbor serpent in Massachusetts, but you get the idea...

YouTube/New Englands Insomniac Theatre
YouTube/New Englands Insomniac Theatre
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Next is the Legend of Hanna Cranna of Monroe, or maybe we can call her the 'Wicked Witch of Monroe.' The story involves someone named Hannah Hovey who was said to have practiced the 'dark arts' and was suspected of witchcraft. Damned CT, tells us that Hannah's reputation as a 'witch' was expedited by the strange death of her husband and her odd behavior toward some of her neighbors.

YouTube/National Writing Project
YouTube/National Writing Project
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There is also a story about a man who was fishing on her property without her permission, she didn't like it, put a "curse" on the man and he never caught another fish again, allegedly. What an amazing, weird, spooky, and fun story that is. The Hanna Hovey (Cranna) gravesite is right next to the road in Gregory Four Corners Burial Ground. Here is the best shot I have of it right now, courtesy of Google Street View...

Google Street View
Google Street View
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YouTube/National Writing Project
YouTube/National Writing Project
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The third is something called The Winsted Wildman in Winsted. You, of course, have heard of bigfoot or a yeti, well, not to be outdone, Connecticut has its own version of this wilderness-residing beast. The Winsted Wildman has been described as a large, naked dude with "teen wolf" type long dark hair and the stories date back to 1895.

YouTube/Fast Fridays Facts
YouTube/Fast Fridays Facts
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The last time Mr. Wildman made an appearance was in the 70s and chronicled by the Hartford Courant, where the folks who saw it said, "it was no bear." Who knows what the hell it was or if there even was anything there, that is the beauty of "urban legends", no one really knows for sure.

Fast Fridays Facts
Fast Fridays Facts
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Thanks for hanging out with me kids and please check out my other articles that you simply cannot live without by tapping or clicking right here, including a recent one about the 11 fast food restaurants in the northeast named best in each state by Food and Wine Magazine. See you all again real soon.

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