The Real Dark Entry Forest
A paranormal discussion on Dark Entry Forest and Dudleytown.
Welcome to the Dark Entry Forest! I want to make quick little posts about the places, events, and legends that have inspired me to write New England based Horror. I’m starting with my publications namesake as it’s a place that does exist and has an interesting history besides the demons that may or may not live in the forest.
The Dark Entry Forest is a heavily wooded valley located near the Northwest corner of Connecticut in the town of Cornwall. The valley's dense canopy, rocky soil (thanks to ice age glaciers), and being shadowed by the surrounding hills made for an awful place to build a farming community. So of course, the Dudley brothers moved in to create a small farming village named Dudleytown in the 1740’s.
People moved to Dudleytown to create their own way and to start fresh. A quiet life away from the larger towns and the bigger cities like New York City.
At Dudleytowns peak there were only about 26 families that lived there in 1854 and by the time the early 1920’s hit it was completely abandoned, besides the home of Dr. William Clarke (we will get to him later) who lived in the valley. A village of new hope fresh starts turned into a village of regrets and disappointment for the people that bought land and built homes there. Many that are local to Connecticut speculated why. I believe there are real world reasons for the abandonment, as I have already stated, but what fun is that when there are tales of curses and creatures that haunt the woods?
The Dudley’s, who came from England, were believed to have a curse brought upon them when Edmund Dudley was beheaded for treason. He tried, and failed to overthrow King Henry IIV in 1510. I really don’t know if that is true or not. With stories like these it becomes a 500 year long game of telephone, but it’s the main reason why people think Dudleytown has been cursed.
The people of Dudleytown, or so the stories go, have dealt with demonic possessions, seeing creatures, and completely losing their minds to the horrors of the Dark Entry Forest.
Dr. William Clarke, who I have mentioned above, left his summer home one weekend in the Dark Entry Forest on an emergency call. His wife stayed behind, since he was only going to be gone for a couple days. When he came back 36 hours later she was only a shell of who she once was. Ranting about creatures in the forest. Sadly, she later took her life after being admitted to an asylum. Strangely enough this wasn’t an isolated incident. Many who lived in Dudleytown had similar things happen to them. They slowly went insane ranting about creatures and dying soon afterwards.
I grew up in Connecticut and I have heard about Dudleytown since I was a child. One of the main things I have heard was how quiet it is there, not even a bird sings. How you feel a sense of dread while walking through the village that has been mostly reclaimed by the forest. All that remains are some foundations to old root cellars. It always seemed like such a mysterious place tucked in the Connecticut country side. I wanted to go, but dreaded the possibility of being touched by the Dudley curse.
Dr. William Clarke kept his summer home and eventually, with friends and colleagues, created The Dark Entry Forest Association. This also included the abandoned Dudleytown. The rumors of the curse never really died down, even in the 1940’s people still claimed to see things in the woods. Those seeking paranormal thrills really started to show up after the Warrens did a special televised Halloween event in Dudleytown in the 1970’s.
These days you can’t step foot into Dudleytown. Due to vandalism, those that are a part of the Dark Entry Forest Association have forbidden entry in the 1980’s, which is unfortunate as it was open public land before that. The closest you can realistically get is driving down Dark Entry Road and the second closest place are the trails in Mohawk Mountain State Forest Park. With that said, don’t leave your car or the trails. In my opinion, just stay away. Law enforcement takes trespassing in the forest very seriously and you will get fined or arrested. That doesn’t stop people from trying.
Keep in mind that a lot of what happened in Dudleytown are based on stories that have been told and morphed throughout the years. Of course, that doesn't mean you can’t believe that there is a more sinister force lurking in the Dark Entry Forest causing misfortune to those that cross its path.
Besides, beloved Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd, has stated that Dudleytown “Is the most haunted place on earth”. He also apparently said that it’s located in Massachusetts, so take it for what you will.
I hope you enjoyed this read. If you are interested in my sources and learning more about Dudleytown and the Dark Entry Forest check out the following links:
Damned Connecticut Dudleytown entry Look at the comment section for personal stories of those who have visited
I have not read it, but there is also a book written by a member of the Dudley family.