Today in Wheeling History: September 15--Wheeling's encounter with "Bashful Billy," the local variant of the Flatwoods Monster phenomenon that had occurred three days earlier in Braxton County (1952).
Wheeling's own chapter in West Virginia's most famous UFO incident occurred on September 15, 1952, just three days after the original Flatwoods Monster sighting in Braxton County. The story began with reports of a streaking bright light cascading across the sky that appeared to have crash-landed near the Vineyard Hill Housing Development, close to Oglebay Park. Residents also reported a terrible metallic smell emanating from the Vineyard Hills area, similar to what witnesses described in Flatwoods.
The Wheeling Intelligencer and police were flooded with calls from across the city as residents sought confirmation of the strange reports. One particularly disturbing call asked if it was true that "the horribly burned body of a woman was found at Vineyard Hills and that a city policeman was burned mysteriously about the arm." The Wheeling Intelligencer dubbed the creature "Bashful Billy," reporting that this "monster from outer space and southern West Virginia, arrived in Wheeling by flying saucer yesterday."
Unlike the Flatwoods incident, no direct witnesses came forward, and the police dismissed the reports with considerable skepticism. The creature was described as a "10-foot tall monster from another world" that was "gas-breathing." Police Lieutenant John P. Murphy attributed the rumors to "over-active imagination following yesterday's Intelligencer story" about the Braxton County monster, noting that callers were merely "passing on reports from people who had talked-to-people who had talked to people." The incident remains one of Wheeling's lesser-known but intriguing pieces of local folklore.
To learn more: 'Monster' From Outer Space Arrives Here Via 'Saucer' - The Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/3w9zhcd8), Myth or Legend: Wheeling's Flatwoods Monster - Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/4zrwr9s8), Bashful Billy Alien of Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/5y95j7j9), Flatwoods Monster - Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/mrxf2b7b), Flatwoods Monster West Virginia (https://tinyurl.com/mrmhkwec), The Flatwoods Monster - Braxton, WV (https://tinyurl.com/33zn6jmn)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer
Wheeling's own chapter in West Virginia's most famous UFO incident occurred on September 15, 1952, just three days after the original Flatwoods Monster sighting in Braxton County. The story began with reports of a streaking bright light cascading across the sky that appeared to have crash-landed near the Vineyard Hill Housing Development, close to Oglebay Park. Residents also reported a terrible metallic smell emanating from the Vineyard Hills area, similar to what witnesses described in Flatwoods.
The Wheeling Intelligencer and police were flooded with calls from across the city as residents sought confirmation of the strange reports. One particularly disturbing call asked if it was true that "the horribly burned body of a woman was found at Vineyard Hills and that a city policeman was burned mysteriously about the arm." The Wheeling Intelligencer dubbed the creature "Bashful Billy," reporting that this "monster from outer space and southern West Virginia, arrived in Wheeling by flying saucer yesterday."
Unlike the Flatwoods incident, no direct witnesses came forward, and the police dismissed the reports with considerable skepticism. The creature was described as a "10-foot tall monster from another world" that was "gas-breathing." Police Lieutenant John P. Murphy attributed the rumors to "over-active imagination following yesterday's Intelligencer story" about the Braxton County monster, noting that callers were merely "passing on reports from people who had talked-to-people who had talked to people." The incident remains one of Wheeling's lesser-known but intriguing pieces of local folklore.
To learn more: 'Monster' From Outer Space Arrives Here Via 'Saucer' - The Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/3w9zhcd8), Myth or Legend: Wheeling's Flatwoods Monster - Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/4zrwr9s8), Bashful Billy Alien of Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/5y95j7j9), Flatwoods Monster - Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/mrxf2b7b), Flatwoods Monster West Virginia (https://tinyurl.com/mrmhkwec), The Flatwoods Monster - Braxton, WV (https://tinyurl.com/33zn6jmn)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer
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