Bigfoot Encounters.com

Two Articles out of Agawam, Massachusetts, 1977

HOAX: - The 1977 Agawam, Massachusetts 27-inch long footprints were hoaxed by
teenager David Deschenes, at the time 16 years old. Police found and confiscated
two 28-inch long plywood boards that had been constructed to look like feet with 5 toes.
See second news item -
http://www.bigfootencounters.com/articles/mass2.htm
Investigated by Ron Schaffner, Creature Chronicles rschaffner1@cinci.rr.com

See Map below:


BIGFOOT' ELUDES TEAM ON OVERNIGHT CAMPOUT

By Mary Migliore, Union Staff - Springfield, Massachusetts Morning Union- December 31, 1976

AGAWAM, Massachusetts. - "Bigfoot" remained at large Thursday in a wooded area off Moore Street, but a New York investigator says the 27-inch footprints left by the creature could be authentic. "The prints look good - but "Bigfoot" tracks are a dime a dozen...we really need to see him," said Lee Frank, who reportedly travels all over the United States investigating sightings of the legendary animal.

Frank and other trackers spent Wednesday night camping in zero temperatures beside the footprints in the snow, but failed to spot a 7 to 12-foot monster on the prowl by Westfield River. "Bigfoot" investigators also planned to spend Thursday camping in the woods in hopes of spotting the big fellow.

"Whatever the tracks are, they merit further investigation," Frank said, adding that it is impossible to determine at this point how the tracks were made.

Agawam Police have called off their "Bigfoot" team for the time being, but dozens of interested residents are continuing to visit the site of the huge tracks near Robinson State Park.

Marianna Cascio of Agawam, who asked Frank to conduct an investigation at the site, said she believes the tracks are authentic and belong to a 1,500-pound giant. But no fresh tracks have been spotted since the first prints were discovered Monday evening, and she said the creature may have left the area.

Police, who say this is their first investigation into reports of a monster on the loose, still maintain they have no idea whether the five-toed tracks are that of a legendary ape-
like mammal or the work of a prankster.

© Springfield, Mass. Morning Union; December 31, 1976
This article courtesy of: Ron Schaffner, Visit his website: Creature Chronicles

- ---
...and two of two articles:
BIGFOOT SORRY ABOUT STEPPING ON LAW

Agawam, Massachusetts 1977


Agawam, Massachusetts. (UPI) - A teen-ager says he's sorry his "bigfoot" joke was taken more seriously than he intended. Police say they confiscated two, 28-inch-long plywood boards constructed to look like big feet from David Deschenes, 16, of Agawam. A police spokesman said Deschenes told authorities he spent two days shaping the boards and then wore them on a walk along the river Dec. 20. Dozens of huge, five-toed prints were found in a wooded area along the Westfield River two weeks ago. "I did it as a joke for the little kids around here, but it got out of hand. The next thing I knew the police were out at two in the morning looking around, taking it seriously. I didn't feel like going out to tell them I was 'bigfoot'", Deschenes said. Deschenes said he hopes to get the feet back from police. If they are returned, he said, he's not going to take them on any more strolls through the woods."I want to have them mounted," he said.
 

© Kenosha (Wisconsin) News; January 6, 1977
August 2001 - News article courtesy Ron Schaffner, visit his website Creature Chronicles



Article Courtesy Ron Schaffner

Back to Hoaxes?
Back to Bigfoot Encounters Main page
Back to Newspaper & Magazine Articles
Back to Bigfoot Encounters "What's New" page


Portions of this website are reprinted under the
Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright Law
as educational material without benefit of financial gain.
This proviso is applicable throughout the entire website...