image description
Eric and Tim Vogel talk about footprint castings done in search of Bigfoot at a presentation at the Dalton Library last week.

Believers, Skeptics Hear Tales of Elusive Bigfoot

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

There was an overflow crowd for the Bigfoot talk, with people coming from Vermont and around Western Mass. 
DALTON, Mass. — The library's "Bigfoot! In The Northeast" event last week was a success, attracting more than 60 people from all over the county. 
 
The Vogel brothers, Eric and Tim, presented and answered questions about their almost 20 years of experience and investigations into bigfoot, or sasquatch, a hairy folklore creature said to inhabit dense forested areas. 
 
"The Dalton library is simply located in a great area, the environment, the Appalachian Mountain ecosystems, productive farmland, streams, rivers, and wilderness areas," Tim Vogel said. 
 
"Locally, it checks all the boxes and has enormous potential for providing what a bigfoot's needs are, for something that large."
 
People filled the main floor and looked down on the discussion from balcony on the mezzanine. The audience was respectful and attentive, and many of them were believers and had many questions, Tim Vogel said. 
 
"It was pleasantly surprising to have that many people interested in the topic enough to drive to Dalton, traveling from out of town to listen and possibly participate in a subject not typically talked about, openly, anyway," he said. 
 
The Vogels retired from outdoor education and now do research and investigations of Bigfoot as the Cobble Mountain Critter Project in Russell, which raises funds for outdoor programs for youth.
 
The event exceeded its scheduled time as participants from various regions, including Vermont, spilled into the library's parking lot and continued the discussion on bigfoot in their communities, Vogel said. 
 
Library Director Janet Forest said when she looked out into the audience, she saw many new faces, which is not a common occurrence. 
 
"Anytime you get new people to come into the library, it is a win," she said.
 
The audience was diverse, welcoming, and fun, full of believers and skeptics, Forest said. 
 
"The atmosphere was light, it was fun. People were engaged with the topic of Bigfoot. We had many people discussing and sharing their own stories before the talk even started," Vogel said. 
 
"They were eager to hear our story, they were there to get information, and we provided as much as we could through our almost two decades of experience. We believe it was well received, and at the end of the night, everybody enjoyed their time."

Tags: legends,   mythical animals,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Opens 10U Little League Tournament with a Win

By Stephen Dravis
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Caleb Tiereney and Braiden Coon each went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles Wednesday to lead the Pittsfield Little League 10U All-Stars to a 15-2 win over Adams-Cheshire in the first game of the District 1 Tournament at Deming Park.
 
Luca Bassi also doubled twice and threw three scoreless innings to earn the win in the five-inning game as the starter on the mound.
 
Pittsfield came out swinging and connecting.
 
Six of its first seven hitters reached base and five scored in the top of the first. The only one who did not was Terrell Davies, who was robbed of a sure hit by Adams-Cheshire shortstop Hudson Ziter’s play on a line drive.
 
Prestley Garner doubled in a run, and Tierney hit a two-run double during the rally, which left the designated visitors with a 5-0 lead.
 
“We’ve been doing that in the cage,” Pittsfield coach Matt Stracuzzi said. “I’m telling these guys, ‘Be aggressive. Swing at good pitches. Don’t get behind in the count.’ And tonight they did a good job of that. They really did.”
 
Adams-Cheshire starting pitcher Max Bialas stranded two runners in scoring position in a scoreless second inning. But Bassi and Tiereney each doubled in a three-run third to give Pittsfield an 8-0 lead.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories