This article first appeared in September 2009
A couple dozen members of Irvington’s “Ichabod Crane Society of Things that Go Bump in the Night” met at Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana to search for the mythical “Pukwudgies” that have reportedly roamed the forests and river banks of central Indiana for centuries. According to legend, a “Pukwudgie” is a two or three foot tall troll-like being from Native American oral tradition. A Pukwudgies’ features resemble those of a human with disproportionately enlarged noses, fingers and ears and skin described as being grey and smooth which gives it a glow-in-the-dark appearance.
Anderson’s Mounds State Park features ten different structures sculpted into the earth by ancient Native Americans. The biggest, called the “Great Mound,” was a central ceremonial site constructed around 160 BC. Of the hundreds of mounds and earthworks that were originally prevalent throughout Madison County, only the few in Mounds State Park survive. Originally these mound complexes were connected in an elaborate geometrical system of tunnels that ended at caves near the riverbanks. The Great Mound and the Horseshoe Mound are part of a great triangle that includes the now non-existent mound once located where the Anderson High School Wigwam Gym, built in 1911, stands today.
Our group was treated to a detailed description of these mischievous little beings by local experts Bob and Crystal Pardieck. Crystal explained to us how the Pukwudgies possess the ability to appear and disappear at will, transform into other animals, use magic at will, defend themselves by using poison arrows, and could create fire at will. She explained how locals in the years before World War II were so comfortable with the little forest beings that they often placed leftover food and hand-me-down children’s clothes at the edge of the woods surrounding the park for the little creatures to use. Reportedly, they always returned to find their offerings accepted and their baskets empty.
The Pardiecks went on to speak of the modern-day sightings of the Pukwudgies within the park’s boundaries. Crystal explained how the park’s nature center was once home to the family that originally donated the land to the state for use as a park. One of the family’s daughters recalled how, as a child, she was often visited by small groups of the little people who would dance and play with her in the home’s backyard. She further explained how the creatures seem to be partial to the color blue and that witnesses claim upon seeing them, that they were always dressed in blue.
According to their research, the Pardiecks discovered that Native Americans believed that Pukwudgies were best left alone. They informed us that should we see a Pukwudgie during our visit, we are best advised not to disturb them, as we might be repaid with dirty tricks or dangerous pranks. Worse yet, they might just steal your unattended children. Humorously, Bob explained that the main problem with the Pukwudgies stealing mortal children is the fact that children grow up. As the kids quickly overtake the Pukwudgies in size, they are quietly returned to their parents.
Bob shared with us the more nefarious details of the Pukwudgies, who were once friendly to humans until they turned against them for some unknown reason. He said that they are known to kidnap humans, push people off of cliffs, and attack their victims with short stone knives or sharpened sticks (turned into spears) as well as to use sand thrown into victims faces to blind them. Bob went on to explain how the little people have the ability to control the spirits of those they have killed and how they then used these controlled spirits to lure more victims in.
Bob described in detail the signs of Pukwudgie habitation. They survive in the honeycomb of hills located in the riverbeds and creek banks found throughout the area. They will also build small shelters made of stacked wood and stone resembling knee high teepees. No-one is really sure if these structures are used by the diminutive Pukwudgies to live in or to bury their dead. They have also been known to leave undecipherable designs of rocks and shells in geometric patterns that have been found throughout the park. When asked what it is that has turned the little creatures against man, Bob speculates that it is the repeated destruction of Pukwudgie villages and shelters by visitors to the park that may have angered the little buggers.
Indian folklore claims that Pukwudgies, once released from their graves, continue to cause mischief in the area and therefore never really die.
When asked how they survived, Bob answers that they mainly subsist on the nuts and berries found in the forest, but during the wintertime Pukwudgies have been known to raid the homes of Andersonians bordering the park in search of food. Pukwudgies will rifle through the foodstuffs in the pantry, drawers and refrigerators and take what they want. Rumor says that they take nothing but food, although in the old days before in home washers and dryers, the Pukwudgies would often steal articles of clothing from clotheslines.
On our visit, we did not see any Pukwudgies in the park, although we tried. It was interesting though that our group did find a couple of the little triangular stacked shelters as well as some designs on the forest floor made of stones, sticks and shells. My wife was quite concerned however that our son Addison and friend Morgan Hunt did not return from their Pukwudgie search for over a half hour after everyone else had made it back to our Woodland Shelter. Thoughts of Pukwudgies stealing our unattended young ones undoubtedly filled her head, but the duo made it back safely with no sightings to report.
While it might be considered a fool’s errand for adults to spend an afternoon looking for mythical little people in the forests of Madison County, I take a slightly different view on the subject. In trying times like these, I believe it is important for all of us to remember that folklore existed in this country centuries before it was the United States. Long before telephones, television, the Internet, and the stresses of 2009 America, folklore was here. It was our first form of history, a valuable part of oral tradition, and perhaps most important, our first form of entertainment. And couldn’t we all use a little more entertainment in our lives?
Al Hunter is the author of “Haunted Indianapolis” and “Irvington Haunts. The Tour Guide.” and the co-author of the “Indiana National Road” book series. His newest books are “Osborn H. Oldroyd: Keeper of the Lincoln Flame”, “Thursdays with Doc. Recollections on Springfield & Lincoln” and “Bumps in the Night. Stories from the Weekly View.” Contact Al directly at Huntvault@aol.com or become a friend on Facebook.