Maine folklore is rich in tales of humans confronted by strange beasts, both wonderful and terrifying. The Abenaki, or “First People” had their tales of Glooskap and Pamola. Other tales came with European settlers; and others sprang up almost out of nothing around the fires of the logging camps. Based on meticulous research into these legends and folk tales, this volume is an encyclopedia, a field guide to the creatures that can be found in Maine and beyond. While the tales are whimsical and fun, they can also be considered serious scholarship.

Maine is well known as a land of fresh air and clean water, as the home of L.L. Bean and as one of the most popular camping and outdoor recreation destinations in the country. But what lies behind this idyllic facade? Unmapped roads. Whispering rocks. Deadening fog. Ghost pirates. Lonely islands. THINGS in the woods. This is the great state of Maine, home of Stephen King, land of the Great Northern Woods and all the mystery that lies within their dark footprint. What better setting than this for tales of strange creatures, murderers, madmen and eccentric hermits? From the "Headless Halloween of 1940" to the mystery of who lies in the grave of V.P. Coolidge; from Bigfoot sightings to the "witch's grave" in a Portland cemetery, writer and illustrator Michelle Souliere brings to life these strange-but-true tales from the Pine Tree State.

Like a bird-watching guideà only for monsters Monsters represent the dark side of humanity–the primal, animal impulses that reside in every single one of us. They have preyed upon our imaginations and our fears since the dawn of civilization. North America is home to a wide array of fearsome beasts, including hairy monsters, flying monsters, lake monsters, and other unexplained phenomena. Monster Spotter's Guide geographically catalogs more than one hundred legendary monsters reported to inhabit the continent. From the mythical Sasquatch of the Pacific Northwest to the vicious Mexican goatsucker known as El Chupacabra, you'll read about the legends and major sightings of the most widely feared creatures reported to exist–plus a few you might have never heard of. Within these pages you'll find detailed pen-and-ink drawings, helpful quick-reference boxes for immediate identification of key monster traits, a glossary of cryptozoology terms, useful appendices, case studies and more. Let this book be your guide, and explore the legends for yourself. Anyone can be a monster spotteràwhen you start looking, you never know what you might find.

John Gould's family first settled in Maine in 1618, so by the time he came along in the early 20th century, the Gould's were well steeped in the vernacular of the region, and his first inheritance was the turned-around, honed-down, and tuned-up language of his farming neighbors who seldom strayed beyond the village store. Maine Lingo was first compiled in 1975, when TV, radio, and other leveling media had begun to seriously erode regional speech distinctions, and this dictionary will furnish anyone interested in Maine or regional dialects with the terminologies of regular folks, from lobstermen to farmers to woodsmen. Altogether it is a fun and fascinating collection of lore, humor, and straight information that will have you able to tell your billdad from your wazzat in no time flat.

The dark woods of Maine have been the setting for many eerie and unexplained events, none more captivating than sightings of a giant hominid known as Bigfoot. But what makes this corner of New England such a perfect place for this cryptid to live? Learn about the ecology and geography that support the legend and meet the people forever changed by close encounters with it. From previously unpublished eyewitness accounts to modern-day media portrayals, author and illustrator Michelle Souliere presents this detailed history of the phenomenon and folklore that has lurked in shadows for generations.

As Down East Books celebrates 50 years of great book publishing, it seems appropriate to reflect upon the contributions Maine has made that have had significant cultural and historical impacts on both the United States and the World. Did you know that the caterpillar tread, common on bulldozers and tanks, originated from the design of Lombard’s steam log hauler; or that the dry plate photographic process was created by the Stanley brothers, who also invented a speed-record setting steam powered car and whose sister, Chansonetta, was a well-known photographer in her own right? Maxim’s machine gun forever changed the practice of warfare. The humble peavey is a simple tool well-known to any forester or lumberjack. The ubiquitous lobster boat, the microwave oven, earmuffs, and Monopoly—all came from the minds of Mainers. This book is a celebration of Maine’s creative ingenuity—from the very large, such as Portland Head Light and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge to the very small, such as the toothpick and the Bean boot.

Introduces monsters from Greek and Roman mythology, such as the basilisk and the phoenix, and includes a "monster quiz" and pronunciation guide.

The ultimate quest for the world's most mysterious creatures The Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, the Abominable Snowman -- these are the names of the elusive beasts that have caught the eye and captured the imaginations of people around the world for centuries. Recently, tales of these "monsters" have been corroborated by an increase in sightings, and out of these legends a new science has been born: cryptozoology -- the study of hidden animals. Cryptozoology A to Z, the first encyclopedia of its kind, contains nearly two hundred entries, including cryptids (the name given to these unusual beasts), new animal finds, and the explorers and scientists who search for them. Loren Coleman, one of the world's leading cryptozoologists, teams up with Jerome Clark, editor and author of several encyclopedias, to provide these definitive descriptions and many never-before-published drawings and photographs from eyewitnesses' detailed accounts. Full of insights into the methods of these scientists, exciting tales of discovery, and the history and evolution of this field, Cryptozoology A to Z is the most complete reference ever of the newest zoological science.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Loren Coleman is the first and last name in cryptozoology. He's blazed the trail for so many of us. Massachusetts mysteries like the Dover Demon and the Bridgewater Triangle have names because Coleman discovered and named them. His years of research gathering the cryptid sightings, physical evidence, and details of these strange creatures and legends have paid off in a big way in Monsters of Massachusetts. --Jeff Belanger, author of Weird Massachusetts Bizarre beasts of the Bay State featured in this volume include . . . • Dover Demon • Gloucester Sea Serpent • Hockomock Swamp's Beasties • Pukwudgees • Bigfoot