Dudley Town

Dudley Town, in Cornwall, Connecticut, otherwise known as the Village of the Damned^[1] is a ghost town, founded as a small settlement in the mid-1740s.^[2]

History

The town was founded in the mid-1740s by a family of woodcutters known as the Dudleys. The town quickly flourished and was well established with schools, a blacksmiths and a church.^[3] Between that time and the 1900s, there were reported strange sightings, murders and suicides in the town.^[2][4] In 1774, six settlers contracted cholera and a founding member of the Dudley family went mad.^[3] In 1792 a woman was murdered and in 1804 another was struck by lightning.^[3] Many newer settlers believed the founding family were cursed and by the 1850s they had fled.^[2][3]

Legend states that the founders of the town were cursed by the British Royal Family, as their ancestor was beheaded for having tried to usurp the crown.^[1][3] However, contemporary researchers have noted that the town was built far from a source of clean water, and with land that was not suited to cultivation; and that this probably had a large impact on the town's demise.^[1] It has been suggested that the town succumbed to mass hysteria, and that was the cause of many deaths.^[1] Alternatively, it has been suggested that the groundwater is contamined with lead, which could also offer an explanation for the number of deaths.^[1]

In 1892, John Brophy attempted to set up his residence in the town and moved there with a flock of sheep and his wife. Both the sheep and his wife died of unknown causes within the subsequent months.^[3] In the 1920s Dr William C Clark set up his summer home in the ghost town, only to have his wife commit suicide soon after.^[2] She had complained to him of seeing demons before her death.^[2]

Contemporary sightings

Footage has purportedly been captured of restless spirits in the area^[5] and hikers have reported seeing orbs in the area.^[1] Visitors claim that the area is unusually quiet and without wildlife.^[1]

The town's abandonment has meant that barely any ruins stand.^[6] The land on which it used to stand is now in private ownership and visitors are not allowed; fan sites state that trespassers have been arrested for trying to visit the ruins.^[1][7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Susan Campbell; Ray Bendici; Bill Heald (9 November 2010). Connecticut Curiosities, 3rd: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff. Globe Pequot. pp. 3–. ISBN 9780762759880. http://books.google.com/books?id=GEtnRV5w5B8C&pg=PA3. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Cheung, Theresa (2006). The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World. Harper Element. pp. 174–175. ISBN 13 978-0-00-721148-7. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Weekly World News (11 June 1991). Weekly World News. Weekly World News. pp. 43–. ISSN 0199574X. http://books.google.com/books?id=MvQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 
4. ^ Yeadon, David (September 3, 1995). "FAST FALL FORWARD; In New England, a Rural Ramble in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills". The Washington Post. pp. E01. 
5. ^ Catlin, Roger (July 15, 2010). "On Tonight: No Dudley Town for 'Paranormal Files'". TV Eye. 
6. ^ Samuel Chamberlain (1962). The New England image. Hastings House. http://books.google.com/books?id=xUMhAQAAMAAJ. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 
7. ^ Dudley, Rev. Fr. Gary P.. "The Legend of Dudleytown". http://www.legendofdudleytown.com/front.html. Retrieved 30 August 2011. 

Coordinates: 41°48′28″N 73°21′08″W / 41.8078°N 73.3523°W / 41.8078; -73.3523