The Bennington Triangle: 5 Vanished in Vermont's Quiet Woods
The Origins of the Bennington Triangle
Between 1945 and 1950, a quiet stretch of southwestern Vermont became the site of five baffling disappearances. The area, centered around the abandoned logging town of Glastenbury and the Long Trail, was later dubbed the "Bennington Triangle" by author Joseph Citro. While the name evokes the supernatural, the real mystery lies in the harsh, unforgiving terrain and the complete lack of evidence left behind. The first to vanish was 74-year-old Middie Rivers, an experienced outdoorsman who disappeared in November 1945 during a hunting trip in Bickford Hollow. Despite a massive search involving the US Army, the only trace ever found was a single ink-stained handkerchief.
The Disappearance of Paula Welden
The most famous case of the Bennington Triangle is that of 18-year-old Bennington College sophomore Paula Welden. On December 1, 1946, Paula set out for a walk on the Long Trail wearing a distinctive red coat. Multiple witnesses saw her heading into the woods, but she never returned. Her disappearance triggered an enormous search that eventually led to the creation of the Vermont State Police. Over the years, countless theories emerged—from foul play to starting a new life—but no physical evidence was ever discovered.
Three More Vanish Without a Trace
The strange pattern continued with three more inexplicable cases. In 1949, 68-year-old veteran James Tedford seemingly vanished from a moving bus between Burlington and Bennington. The following year, 8-year-old Paul Jepson disappeared from a local dump in a matter of minutes, leaving behind only a few footprints leading toward a road. Finally, in October 1950, 53-year-old Frieda Langer vanished while walking a short distance back to her cabin. While her body was eventually found six months later in an area that had been extensively searched, the cause of her death only deepened the mystery of the Bennington Triangle.
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